Witness in Daily Life: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

*Blogger's note- This is the first in a series of summer lessons I am writing for Adult Bible Study Online, a Faith and Life Resource. This lesson can be found at: http://www.faithandliferesources.org/curriculum/abs/abs100606.html


As an artist I have a drawing table where I sit each day and do my work. My 6 year old grandson, Gavin, likes to watch me draw. He is a budding artist himself. One day he gathered up his clipboard of paper, stack of colored pencils, grabbed a wooden TV tray and set up his drawing table right behind me. The sight of him sitting right behind me drawing reminded me of how much he imitates what I do and the responsibility I have to provide a good example for him.

In probably one of the earliest written books of the New Testament the apostle Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they “became imitators of us and the Lord” (1:6). Long before the “imitation of Christ” (imitation Christi) became practically synonymous with the monastic devotional book by Thomas á Kempis, Paul encouraged Christians to imitate Christ and himself. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” Paul admonished (1 Cor. 11:1). Model your lives after Christ and those who seek to reflect the life of Christ in their own.

We all learn first by imitation. Artists, like my grandson, learn by copying artists. Novice musicians imitate masters. Everyone learns first by imitating others until they become models themselves. The Thessalonian church had become a model or witness to other Christians in their world.

In our increasingly secular, postmodern society in which the credibility of Christianity has been marred by scandals, bad examples, divisiveness, exclusiveness, violence, oppression, racism, bigotry, and xenophobia, there is a desperate need for authentic models of the Christianity as individuals and faith communities. Granted, we cannot simply repeat what Christ or even what his followers did in their time. But, when we model the kind of life Christ lived, or live in the spirit of Christ in our own world and time, we will be a witness to Christ through our lives to those around us.

Custom Classic Cars by Leo Hartshorn

My drawing of Oscar Romero in Madonna magazine

Just received my copy of Madonna magazine, July-August, 2010 edition. It is an Australian Jesuit publication. They used my drawing to illustrate an article on Oscar Romero, martyred archbishop of San Salvador. A number of Roman Catholic organizations have used my drawing of Oscar Romero.

The Hippies

This weekend I watched for a second time the History Channel documentary entitled "The Hippies" and drew the above illustrations (Yeah, that's me in 1968!). The documentary itself can be seen at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7434881801914630046#

It makes you feel old when a time you lived through becomes part of "history." The documentary seems to be a bit imbalanced on the negative side of the 60's, the hippie movement and its broader impact upon society. I remember the time positively as a peace-loving artist doing psychedelic artwork and a Rock musician living and playing the LA scene with Beauregard Ajax, light shows, strobe lights, psychedelic music, long hair, and wild trippy clothes. Maybe it was more positive because I wasn't high on drugs, but was more of a Jesus Freak who was exploring not only Christianity and Catholicism, but world religions. The documentary brought back some good as well as bad memories (i.e., Vietnam War).

Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Church

finished this icon of Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Church (1968), a Christian church that affirms and nurtures LGBT people. Perry started off with 12 people: "Nine were my friends who came to console me and to laugh, and three came as a result of the ad." There are now over 300 MCC churches in 18 countries.

A Pacifist's Memorial Day Reflection

On Memorial Day I will be thankful….


that I am no longer in the military and that I did my time

that at the age of 19 I had the conviction to not want to kill people for the government

that I received a conscientious objector status

that I was trained as a medic and did not carry a weapon

that I did not go to the killing fields of Vietnam

that instead of entertaining daily thoughts of dying I entertained troops with music

that I do not cherish the idea that other soldiers died for me or my freedom



On Memorial Day I will remember….


those who, like myself, did not want to spend their youthful years in the military

those who left this country rather than going to war to kill

those conscientious objectors who served their country through alternative service

those young men who went to war and died believing the war was not justified

those young men who went to war and died believing the war was justified

those older men still suffering from the nightmares of war

those young men we called “enemies” who went to war and died for their own country

those politicians and common people who pressed for more military money and an escalation of the war as young men returned home in flag draped coffins

I will remember

Short Review of The Naked Anabaptist by Stuart Murray

Stuart Murray has written a significant introduction to the Anabaptist tradition stripped of the cultural and ethnic baggage associated with the groups descendant from the 16th century movement (Mennonites, Hutterites, Amish). Murray’s reflections on the Anabaptist tradition grow out of his work with the Anabaptist Network, begun in 1991 in the United Kingdom, which in turn emerged from the groundwork done by the London Mennonite Center. The Anabaptist Network affiliates with leaders and congregations, predominantly from other church traditions, who are interested in drawing from the wellspring of Anabaptist thought. This book emerged as a resource for answering many questions arising from those interested in the Anabaptist tradition.

The major chapters of the book present the essence of the Anabaptist tradition through reflections on seven core convictions, which are more contextual theology than doctrine. I can only briefly outline them: 1) Jesus is our example, teacher, friend, redeemer and Lord; 2) Jesus is the focal point of God’s revelation; 3) Western culture is slowly emerging from the Christendom era, which distorted the gospel; 4) The frequent association of the church with status, wealth, and force is inappropriate for followers of Jesus and damages our witness; 5) Churches are called to be committed communities of discipleship and mission, places of friendship, mutual accountability, and multivoiced worship; 6) Spirituality and economics are interconnected; 7) Peace is at the heart of the gospel. Also included is a chapter on Anabaptist history, a final chapter on the weaknesses and limitations of the Anabaptist tradition, resources, and a study guide.

As one who was first attracted to Anabaptism from outside its historic ethnic traditions, this book resonated with my own long held view that the Anabaptist tradition is a treasure for the post-Christendom church and for its ancestors who have often taken it for granted or who, like the biblical Jacob, have sold their “birthright” for a pot of Evangelical beans.

Pete Seeger: iconic folk singer/songwriter

I believe God is everywhere. Pete Seeger


This evening I finished an ink drawing for my M.U.S.I.C. series (Musicians Undermining Social Injustice Creatively) of Pete Seeger, an iconic American folk singer/songwriter, who is known for writing protest songs, like Where have all the flowers gone?, If I had a hammer, and for popularizing We shall overcome during his involvement in the Southern Freedom movement. Seeger has been involved in music since the 40's and is still going at the age of 91! He is the epitomy of a musician undermining social injustice creatively.