Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/20028
Saturday, November 20, 2010 – Daily News – 3B Religion Faith&Worship Seeing the Lord's Prayer in a new light SANTA ROSA (MCT) — "Our father ..." Most Christians can fill in the words that follow: "... who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done ..." But wait — let's rewind. John Dominic Crossan, a renowned, if controversial, scholar of Christianity, says the essence of the Lord's Prayer can be found in those first two words, in fact, in the single word "father," which, he believes, encapsulates an entire first century worldview lost to modern churchgoers. "After that," he says, "everything would follow." Crossan, a former Catholic priest who teaches at DePaul University, is an old hand at challenging contemporary Christian assumptions. A slight man with a thick Irish accent, a deep spiritual well and an impish sense of humor, he is one of the founders of the Jesus Seminar, a liberal Christian organization that is devoted to the study of the his- tory of Jesus and early Christianity. The group, which recently celebrated its 25th anniver- sary with a gathering in Santa Rosa is respected in some cir- cles for its scholarship, and in others, viewed as heretical for its skepticism. Among its more controversial declarations are that many of the miracles attributed to Jesus did not occur, at least not as described in Scripture, and that Jesus did not physically rise from the dead. Crossan has written several books about the historical Jesus. In a sense, he said in an interview, each one has helped lead to his latest book, "The Greatest Prayer: Redis- covering the Revolutionary Message of the Lord's Prayer" (HarperOne 2010). In it, he dissects the Lord's Prayer (also known as the Our Father), line by line, word by word. There is nothing new about this: Most faiths do the same with their important liturgies, and there is a long tradition in Christianity of pars- ing the Lord's Prayer for its deeper meaning. But Crossan's interpretation is not exactly conventional. "Let's say it's a fresh and defensible reading of the prayer text, though definitely not the traditional interpretation," said Clay Schmit, a professor of theology at the Fuller The- ological Seminary in Pasadena and academic director of its Brehm Center for Worship, Theology and the Arts. "The traditional interpretation focuses on the relation- ship between the Father ... and the individual," Schmit said. "It seeks an alignment between the will of the person mak- ing the prayer with the will of the Father." Crossan calls the Lord's Prayer "a prayer from the heart of Judaism on the lips of Christianity for the conscience of the world." To understand it, he said, it is necessary to comprehend the culture in which it was written, that of first century Judaism. The prayer appears in the New Testament twice, in slightly different forms: In Matthew 6:9-13, and in Luke, 11:2-4. In both cases, it is delivered by Jesus, which helps explain the revered status it holds. When Jesus' disciples heard the prayer, Crossan said, they would have responded differently than a modern churchgoer. To begin with, he said, the term "Father" — "Abba" in the original Greek or Aramaic — connoted a "householder," one who oversaw the affairs of a family. A householder, he added, would have been judged by how well he provided for everyone. When the prayer continues with "hallowed be thy name," he said, what it means by "hallowed" is "a fair dis- tribution for all, the justice of an equitable household." In other words, Crossan said, the prayer is about "dis- tributive justice," about making sure that all are cared for. God’s masterpiece When I look at the faceted beauty of a diamond, it is hard for me to image that it used to be just a lump of coal hidden in the earth. Like the dia- mond, you and I were hidden in our mother’s womb. Psalm 139: 15-16 says it best, "My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." We are God’s masterpiece in the making. Each of us is made in the eternal image of God for relationship with Him. It is through that relation- ship that He begins the process of con- forming us to His image. Jeremiah was instructed to go to the potter’s house so God could talk to him through a visual illustration. Jere- miah 18:3-4 says, "Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good for the potter to make." Though God is speaking about Israel, we can apply it to our lives. Jeremiah 18:6 says, "...can I not do with you as this potter? Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand." I used to do wheel pottery. There are many steps before a piece is turned on the wheel. The clay has to be mixed with water, then kneaded, then centered on the wheel. Centering requires consistent pressure to squeeze out all the little pockets of air, etc. It was thrilling to have the clay take shape in my hands. God is the Potter in our lives, and we are the clay. Like a potter, God centers us. He uses the pressures of diffi- cult circumstances, the fiery trials, the disappointments, and the broken expectations to squeeze out unbelief, doubt and fear; purifying our faith. He alone is in control. No matter what we go through, we are always in His hands. Though we may be marred by circumstances, He does not throw us away. No life is wasted. We are all created for God’s glory. Ephesians 2:10 says, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Isaiah 64:8 says, "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand." We are God’s work in progress. He isn’t finished with us yet. The more live in the world Rushdy El-Ghussein, former president of the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City: "(Remember that) whatever you are given (now) is nothing but a pro- vision for the transitory life of this world. Better and more enduring is the reward that God has for those who believe, put their trust in their Lord, avoid major sins and shameful deeds, forgive even when they are angry ... are constant in prayer, con- duct their affairs with mutu- al consultation, spend out of the sustenance that we have given them, and when they are oppressed, help and defend themselves." The Qur'an, 42:36-39 Islam is what gives me my vision of life. The verse above gives a glimpse of this vision. We are to live in this world the best way we can with faith in God and acting according to his guidance, seeking his help and forgiveness for our errors and shortcomings. At the same time we must remember that this life is just a preparation for the next, that there is a judg- ment to come, and that the next life is even more important than this one. It is eternal, and we will be rewarded with bliss or punishment according to the faith and good deeds we demonstrate in this life and the mercy and forgiveness of God. Harmony, unity Arvind Khetia, an engi- neer and a Hindu: The Hindu view of life is influ- enced by the spiritual vision of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-Gita. The sages of the Upanishads meditat- ed on the nature of reality and realized that at a deeper Marilyn Adams GodTalk we yield to Him in our lives, the more pliable we are in His hands. The more we center our thoughts on Him, the more enduring strength we have for the circumstances He is using to shape our lives. Nothing is in vain. God uses every situation for our good. I think of Joseph. His brothers were envious of him and sold him into slavery. The circumstances of his life were hard. In the end, he told his brothers, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good..." Gene- sis 50:20. Have you resisted God? He has made a way for you to have eternal life, simply by believing that Jesus died for your sins. He is personally offering you forgiveness from the wrath to come by accepting Jesus as your personal Sav- ior. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for you. You are His potential masterpiece. J.Marilyn Adams is the local author of Freedom From Past Hurts and a minister to women inside and outside of the hospital and prison systems. She ministers healing from her own experience and the Word of God. How is your vision of life influenced by your faith? Use God’s guidence to spiritual level of conscious- ness, there is a divine pres- ence within all beings and in all of existence. Thus, they recognized the under- lying unity and consequent- ly eliminated the distinction between life and religion, the secular and spiritual, and work and worship. Also, they saw the spiritual unity between all faiths as infinite reality (Brahman) that can be worshipped by different names. The Hindu vision of life aims at integrating human personality and character to see harmony through unity in diversity and achieving fulfillment by doing one's given duty (dharma). Paul Veliyathil, in Newsweek magazine, has observed that, "Hinduism ... does not proselytize or polarize, dominate or conquer, but it just encourages its members to follow their dharma or duty. Hinduism has some valuable lessons for our divisive world." New Church! Grace PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 5 p.m. Sundays at Antelope School, 22630 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff Info. 530-227-3630, Pastor David Stark Biblical, Calvinistic, Evangelistic Westminster Confession of 1648 Tehama County Church Directory HOYT-COLE CHAPEL OF THE FLOWERS 816 Walnut St. - Red Bluff Red Bluff.... ABUNDANT LIFE FELLOWSHIP — 21080 Luther Rd. — Pastor J.E. Heitman 528-2499 — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6PM ANTELOPE HOME FELLOWSHIP(SBC) — Berrendos School — 401 Chestnut St 200-4112 — Pastor John Bohrer — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:45AM APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY — 1321 Nelson Dr., Red Bluff. — 527-8541 Pastor Rudy Cepeda — WORSHIP — Sunday 1:00PM & Friday 7PM BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD — 625 Luther Rd. — 527-0445 Pastor Ron Fortenberry — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM CALVARY CHAPEL — 12375 Paskenta Rd. — 527-8219 Pastor Gilbert DeLao Jr. — WORSHIP — Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 am CHURCH OF CHRIST — 1605 Park Ave. — 527-3036 Evangelist Gary Dent — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6:30PM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS — Antelope-545 Berrendos 529-2506 — Bishop James Beeman — SERVICES Begin Sunday 11:00AM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS — Red Bluff-545 Berrendos 527-7012 — Bishop Earl Wintle — SERVICES Begin Sunday 9:00AM COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH — 598 Round -Up Ave. 527-4203 Pastor Dr. Paul Wright — WORSHIP — Sunday 9AM & 6PM CORNERSTONE CHURCH OF GOD — Hwy. 36, Jorgenson 527-9210 — Pastor Roy Duggins — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM & 5PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH — 501 Pine St. — 527-4361 Pastor Bruce Cloutier — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:15AM FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH — Hickory & Madison — 527-4688 Pastor Dan Woolery — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM FIRST CHURCH OF GOD — Jackson & Luther — 527-5717 Pastor Rod Thompson — WORSHIP — Saturday 6PM & Sunday 10:15AM FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE — Johnson & Hickory — 527-3361 Pastor Jesse Morris — WORSHIP — 10:30 AM FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH — 585 Kimball Rd. — 527-5083 Pastor Stan Kolbert— WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — 525 David Ave. — 527-5754 Rev. Kate O’Leary— WORSHIP — Sunday 11:00AM GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, IND. FUND. — 12830 Glasgow Dr. — 527-2964 Pastor Jeff Eldred — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6PM GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RED BLUFF — 22630 Antelope Blvd. —227-3630 Pastor David T. Stark — WORSHIP — Sunday 5PM LAKE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHURCH — Lake Club — 347 6970 Jim Bredow, Pastor — WORSHIP — Sunday 8:30AM-10:15AM LUTHERAN CHURCH, ST. PAUL — Jefferson & Elm — 527-3414 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke — WORSHIP — Sunday 8:30AM & 11AM NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH — 1625 Johnson St. — 527-8134 Pastor Vern Milliken — SERVICE — 10:00AM NEW HOPE FOURSQUARE CHURCH — 925 Walnut St. — 528-0642 PastorS Steve and Linda Priest — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM — Youth, Thurs. 6:00 PM NORTH VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH (Ind.) — 345 David Ave — 527-0543 Pastor Mark Roberts — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:50AM NUEVA VIDA — 11841 Hyw 99W — Red Bluff — Spanish-speaking Pastor Freddie Villasenor — WORSHIP — Sunday 11:00AM Red Bluff.... OPEN VISTAS AWARENESS CENTER — 900 Walnut St. — 529-9285 Rv. Tresha Wing — SERVICE — Sunday 10:00AM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — Jefferson & Hickory St. — 527-0372 The Rev. Beth Whittier, Pastor — SERVICES 11:00AM —Sunday School 9:30AM PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD — 370 Kimball Rd. — 527-6346 Pastor Mike Cox — WORSHIP — Sunday 11:00AM RED BLUFF COWBOY CHURCH — Hampton Inn, Round-Up Room Pastor Coy Huffman — For infomation call 209-559-9965 RED BLUFF GOSPEL ASSEMBLY — 836 Washington St. — 529-9909 Pastor John A. Partsch — WORSHIP — Sunday 1:30PM - Wednesday 7PM SABBATH COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN — 705 So. Jackson St. — 529-1890 Pastor Ron Largent — WORSHIP — Saturday 10:45AM SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH — 515 Main St. — Father Joyle T. Martinez MASS — Saturday 5:15, Spanish 7PM — Sunday 8:30AM, 10:30AM, Spanish 12PM THE SALVATION ARMY — 944 Walnut St. — 527-8530 Majors Frank & Susan Severs, Pastors — SERVICES — Sunday 10AM & 11AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHRUCH — 720 S. Jackson — 527-3733 Pastor Jon Spoolman — WORSHIP — Saturday 10:45AM SHEPHERD HOUSE OF PRAYER — 601 Monroe St. 529-5350 — Pastor Brent Kohler — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:00AM ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH — Jefferson & Elm — 527-5205 Rev. Maryly Adair — Sunday 9:30AM, Holy Eucharist Rite II SUNRISE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP — C.B.A. — The corner of Cedar & Jackson — 527-6818 Pastor Byron Shaw, Pat Hurton — WORSHIP — 10:50AM — Bible Study 9:30AM TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL — 8529 Placer Rd., Redding 243-5726 — For service dates & times — 529-9246 TRINITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH — 20920 Hampton Rhodes Drive — Cell:925-980-5396 Pastor Jim Williams — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:45AM - Wednesday 7:00PM TRUTH TABERNACLE — 285 Gilmore Road, Red Bluff — 527-5533 Pastor Sam Howard — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM - Sunday School 9:30AM UNION SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH — 1256 Walnut St. Bidwell School Cafeteria — 840-6177 Pastor Robert M. Wheatley — WORSHIP — Sunday 3PM only UNITED CHURCH OF GOD — 645 Antelope Blvd. Suite 13 — 824-3657 Elder Dick King — WORSHIP — Saturday 12:30PM VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP — 738 Walnut St. — 527-2449 Pastor Steve Igarta — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM WALNUT GROVE CHRISTIAN CENTER — RHEMA Bible Church 435 Round Up Ave. — 527-9065 — Pastor Michael Ragsdale — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM ZION CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES — 836 Washington St. 529-1836 — Pastor Joshua John McKim — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:15AM Bowman... COMMUNITY CHURCH — Bowman Rd. & Landes — 347-6130 Pastor Mark Lugg — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM This directory sponsored by: Los Molinos.... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — Sherwood & Josephine 527-3490 — Pastor Kathleen Smith — WORSHIP 11AM MILL CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH — HWY 99E and Taft St., 384-1564 — Pastor Carl DeBiase — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6PM SPIRIT OF LIFE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD — 25235 Orange St. — 384-0100 Pastor Richard Tucker — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Corning... BELIEVERS CHURCH OF GOD — 783 Solano St. — 824-6502 Pastor Dan Steigmn — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:00AM BETHEL CHURCH — 1520 East St. — 824-0175 Ron Cottingham, Pastor — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM CHURCH OF CHRIST — 1418 South St. — 824-3603 WORSHIP — Sunday — 10:30AM CHURCH OF CHRIST — 1440 Yolo St. — 824-4333 David King, Minister — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6PM CHURCH OFJESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS — Marguerite & Blackburn — Bishop A. Daniel Drum — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM CORNING FOURSQUARE — 404 5th Street — 824-5776 Rev. Sue Duffy WORSHIP — Sunday: adults 9:15, 10:30 AM — Tues.10AM prayer meeting FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH — Marin & Pear Sts. — 824-0989 Pastor Joycel — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:45AM & 6PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH — 506 Colusa St. — 824-3490 Pastor Chris Fissori — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:15AM — Sunday School 9AM FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH — 1421 Marin St. — 824-5739 WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — 824-5535 — Marguerite & McLane Pastor Howard Sanborn— WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM HARVEST CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH OF GOD — 1006 6th St. Corning 824-2091 — Pastor Michael Sharp — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:00AM IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH — 824-5879 — 814 Solano St. Father Juan Manuel Ponce — MASS — Sunday 10AM, 12:00PM - Spanish MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH — 341 Solano St. — 824-5530 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke — WORSHIP — Sunday 9AM NEIGHBORHOOD FULL GOSPEL CHURCH — 901 South St. — 824-2323 Pastor Ken Killinger — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:50AM & 6PM NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY CHURCH — 824-3426 Pastor J.R. Gonzales — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:00AM - Sunday School 9AM OLIVE BRANCH BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP — 565 1st St. — 824-3661 — SERVICE — Sunday 10:30 AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH — West & Butte — 824-2153 Pastor Jose Torres — WORSHIP — Saturday 11AM ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH — First & Marin Sts. — 824-4979 Pastor Maryly Adair — CHURCH — Sunday 11AM TRUTH TABERNACLE — 1308 Solano. — 824-4586 Pastor Ed Schaefer — WORSHIP — Sunday 2PM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — 824-5841 — East & Solano Pastor Ray Watkins — WORSHIP — Sunday 9AM AUTO ELECTRIC INC. 1055 Main St. - Red Bluff 527-5170 Vina... VINA COMMUNITY CHURCH — 5th & D Street — 839-2340 Pastor Larry Peterson — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Cottonwood... ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN CENTER — 19019 Gaspoint Road — 347-9208 Pastor Doug Hamblin — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM ASSEMBLY OF GOD — Gaspoint Road — 347-3313 Pastor Bob Whitman — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:45AM & 6PM FOURSQUARE CHURCH — 2400 Rhonda Rd. Rev. Paul Shrum — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Dairyville... CONE COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH — 11220 Hwy. 99E — 527-2329 Pastor Kathleen Smith —WORSHIP — Sunday 9AM El Camino... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — Hwy. 99W — 385-2314 Pastor Nancy Pharis-Curie — WORSHIP — Sunday 9:30AM SHADY REST FULL GOSPEL CHURCH — 7211 Hwy. 99W 385-2155 — Pastor Andrew Dalson — WORSHIP — Saturday 7PM Gerber... BAHA’I FAITH OF TEHAMA COUNTY — 22870 Reno Ave., Gerber 385-1091 FAITH HOPE LOVE MINISTRIES — 21941 Chard Ave. 385-1431 — Pastor Ina Driggers — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM GERBER BIBLE FELLOWSHIP — 301 Samson @ Ventura 385-1718 — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM Las Flores... LAS FLORES FULL GOSPEL — 9662 San Benito Pastor Rev. Elroy & Martha Lake — WORSHIP — 10:00AM Wed. 6PM Manton... MANTON COMMUNITY CHURCH — Forward Rd. — 474-5156 Pastor Michael Stiener —WORSHIP — Sunday School 9:30 Sun. 10:45 Platina... ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA MONASTERY — Begum Gorge Rd. Abbot Herman — LITURGY — Sunday 8:30AM Rancho Tehama... COMMUNITY CHURCH (Non-Den.) — 585-2526 WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRIES — 585-2975 Pastor Don Luke — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM/6:00PM Tehama... ASSEMBLY OF GOD — Third St. — 384-2603 Pastor Walter Bright — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM 11:15 AM & 6PM ST. STANISLAUS CATHOLIC CHURCH — 824-5879 Corner of 4th & D — MASS — Sunday 8:00AM - English RED BLUFF