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A Webinar with Dr. Lydia Dugdale
Guest speaker, Dr. Lydia Dugdale spoke to the changes in our perception of death throughout art and history in CU New York’s first virtual forum on Monday, April 13, 2020. This webinar hosted more than 100 guests from across the nation - a unique opportunity for CU New York supporters, friends, and CU Alumni to commune together at this challenging time.
With reference to her forthcoming book The Lost Art of Dying, Prof. Dugdale began her presentation with an examination of the Triumph of Death, a work of art completed by Dutch painter Peter Bruegel (the Elder) in 1562. The work depicts the struggle of society to logistically handle the dead and escape death itself during the Black Death plague of the 14th century. The images in this painting - piles of bodies, skeletal-like figures, a man begging for mercy from a skeleton with his sword raised - are strikingly morbid to our modern eyes. She used this piece to reference the sharp contrast between the modern perception of death and the prominent reality of death throughout history.
A Greater Threat than the Coronavirus
Monday, April 13, 2020The Heart Committed to Jesus
Sunday, April 12, 2020The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. - Revelation 9:20-21 (ESV)
The above passage teaches us that even in extreme situations, a large populace will harden its heart to God in a time when they should repent. John the Beloved apprises his readers that days will come when people will have stubborn hearts set on sin no matter what its aftereffect. Many will “think they are wise when they are not” (Proverbs 26:12) and will suffer sanctions for their decisions. The compassion of Jesus offers a way of refuge in times of extreme woe. Unfortunately, scripture teaches us that it will be rejected.
Revive Your Work and Remember Mercy
Saturday, April 11, 2020O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy.
- Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV)
Habakkuk’s prayer for mercy in the opening of chapter 3 follows the back and forth dialogue between the prophet and God in the first two chapters. Much of this dialogue revolves around some of the questions that have haunted us throughout history, especially in times of difficulty: Why is there so much oppression? Why do evil people prosper while the righteous suffer? Why doesn’t God enter into these tragic places and clean them up? Habakkuk, and a battered Judah, is in desperate need of perspective.
Repent of Loving Money
Friday, April 10, 2020
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. - 1 Timothy 6:6-10, ESV
“It is for our own good that we are warned,” a friend of mine quipped in response to my question, “What is it about the love of money that is so dangerous?”
God’s Promise: I Am with You!
Thursday, April 9, 2020God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved. Be still, and know that I am God. The Lord of hosts is with us. - Psalm 46: 1-2, 4-5, 10-11 (ESV)
It might seem like our whole world is falling apart around us. We are facing uncertain times; a pandemic, an uncertain market, isolation from friends and family, a shortage of medical supplies, to name a few. These realities cause real fear. It was in the middle of a similar upheaval that the psalmist wrote the words of Psalm 46. In the midst of disaster, the psalmist reminds the people that they do not have to fear because God promises to be present. When our world seems to be collapsing, we are offered the hope of turning our eyes to the God who promises “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."
— Isaiah 26:3-4
Shock and Awe
Wednesday, April 8, 2020See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. - Hebrews 12:25-29 (ESV)
As we fast during this time of global crisis, we wake up each morning to a world that is changing rapidly. The structures, the rhythms, and the pursuits that we all take for granted have been in many ways taken away. We might safely assume these are temporary changes, and yet there may be a lingering wake left behind. We have been changed, shaken.
Dress for Action and Wait with Joy
Tuesday, April 7, 2020“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” - Luke 12:35-40 (ESV)
When my wife was pregnant with each of our three children and as her due date neared, my job was to get us ready for the trip to the hospital. This entailed having our bags packed, gas in the car, and the house in order. Each night I readied our things for our eventual hospital visit. When it’s three in the morning and the baby is coming, no one wants to be caught unprepared, frantically packing, or worse, stopping for gas. We prepared because the birth of our child was certain and imminent.
Repent of Spiritual Complacency: The Call
Monday, April 6, 2020
“I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” - Revelation 3:1 (ESV)
The book of Revelation offers the good news of a triumphant end! It’s the projection of ultimate victory and the clarion call for every believer to persevere in faith, examine the heart with diligence and to remain watchful. The tenor and tone of the book leave no stone unturned as it even calls the most earnest of believers to address easily ignored stumbling blocks; snags, like that of complacency.
