JAC Online

The God Gallery: Images of the Holy
by Major JoAnn Shade

 

Reprinted below is one of the chapters from The God Gallery: Images of the Holy. This is a book I did to connect with the series of radio broadcasts that will be done through Wonderful Words of Life, the USA South SA radio broadcast.  Thought it might give a flavor of the book for JAC readers.  
…Major JoAnn Shade

  

 

Faith is a matter of life and death. The Bible is a serious book. A person’s connection to Jesus has eternal consequences. That’s solemn Kingdom business. Yet in our walk of faith and in our coming to Christ, there is a sense of great joy, an invitation to celebration, for our God is a Party Host. As one of twenty images of God explored in The God Gallery: Images of the Holy, the following excerpt provides scripture, song, poetry, prayer and intentional actions that remind the believer of the joy of salvation. 

 

We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been — a place half-remembered and half-envisioned we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends.
Someplace where we can be free.

Starhawk

 

The picture of God that will be our focus for this chapter is one that doesn’t show up in the Bible’s index or concordance, but is prominent in the stories of Jesus. While some may see God as a heavenly game show host, urging us to spin the wheel of fortune or choose between door number one and door number two, that image isn’t consistent with scripture. But what is clear is that God is definitely a party host.

 

Turning to the pages of the Old Testament, the people of Israel were expected to celebrate, to share in feasts and festivals on a regular basis. It’s an image found in many of the Psalms, such as Psalm 23 ‘He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” In the Old Testament narratives, God often provides food, such as the manna in the wilderness, and the flour and oil that never ran out for the widow at Zarephath.

 

As recorded in Nehemiah, the people of God were weeping as they listened to the words of the Law during a day of worship.  Nehemiah gave strong direction to them: “Do not mourn or weep. Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

 

As we move to the New Testament, we find God as a generous host at many parties, as we see at the wedding party at Cana in John chapter 2, and at the huge picnics that came to be known as the feeding of the thousands. And then there is the ultimate celebration, recorded in the book of Revelations - the wedding feast of the Lamb. “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’”

 

But perhaps the most moving image of God as the party host is found in Luke 15, as Jesus tells the stories of a lost lamb, a lost coin and a lost son. Each of the stories ends with rejoicing. Listen to how they are described by Luke: “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent,” “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" and, as announced by the father of the prodigal son, “We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” This is a God who knows how to celebrate, how to host a party.

 

If we are created in the image of a celebratory God, then we too need to live in a spirit of rejoicing. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Yes, we are challenged to the disciplines of solitude and fasting, but our celebratory God invites us to rejoice, to share meals together, to dance and to sing.

 

Rabbi Abraham Heschel warns us: “People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation.” Perhaps it’s time that we join our party host God in celebrating his glory, and the gift of life he gives to us in Christ. Leo Buscaglia challenges us: “Life is meant to be a celebration! It shouldn’t be necessary to set aside special times to remind us of this fact. Wise is the person who finds a reason to make every day a special one.

 

He came to bring celebration into people's lives that have had nothing to celebrate. This is true religion, says the epistle of James, to visit the fatherless, the widows, and the afflicted and bring celebration into their lives. He is the Christ who saves you from sin and fills you with his joy, commissions you to go out and to spread that joy to the world because the Lord has come.

Tony Campolo

 

 

HYMN

 

I was once a sinner, but I came
Pardon to receive from my Lord:
This was freely given, and I found
That He always kept His word.

 

There’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
And the white robed angels sing the story,
“A sinner has come home.”
For there’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
With my sins forgiven I am bound for Heaven,
Never more to roam.

C. Austin Miles

 


POEIMA

 

at the table

 

simon’s banquet

pharisee-crony party crashed

host offended, guests miffed

Christ anointed and adored, harlot esteemed and redeemed

storyman at work, canceled debt, exposed arrogance

forgiven

 

passover’s meal

upper room observance etched in eternity

Jesus resolute, disciples unsettled

servant-heart modeled, pastoral prayer pled

sacrificial lamb prepared, bread broken, wine spilled

remembered

 

galilee’s communion

seaside fast-breaking at dawn’s first light

crackling fire, sizzling fish

sustenance offered, grace extended

risen redeemer engaging hearts, rooster silenced, mission bestowed

restored

 

Lamb’s supper

heaven’s marriage table rich with lavish fare

radiant bride purified, groom expectant

ransomed saint embraced, Christ exalted

lion of judah enthroned, jerusalem reborn

home

 

 


INTO OUR HANDS, INTO OUR HEARTS

 

  • Sing a new song to the Lord.
  • Share in a delicious meal with friends, old or new.
  • Release a balloon.
  • Dance with joy.
  • Do the polka.
  • Read Phillip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace, especially his re-telling of the Lost Son parable as experienced in a bus station.
  • Learn a Jewish dance.
  • Celebrate the new Christian in your church.
  • Celebrate the faithfulness of the saints.
  • Plan a recognition dinner or reception for those who serve.
  • Go on a picnic.
  • Give a compliment.
  • Start a new tradition in your family by inviting the celebrated person to eat from a special red plate to recognize birthdays, good report cards, anniversaries, or a job well done. Use it to honor a guest, to recognize achievement, or “just because!”
  • Jump for joy.
  • Create greeting cards to celebrate friendship.
  • Read Tony Campolo’s The Kingdom of God is a Party. a sermon given at the Crystal Cathedral.

 

PRAYER

 

Our glorious God, we rejoice today in our salvation.

We rejoice today in your presence.

We rejoice today because we’re alive to celebrate your goodness.

We sing today with the angels.

Accept our sacrifice of praise today, in the name of Jesus,

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

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