Feature

Osteen preaches "your best life ever" to 30,000 faithful at his church in Houston. He talks about his elegant home, his well-adjusted kids and his wife—his adoring "partner in ministry." "Be positive," says Osteen, "and you too can have all of these things."

Two years ago, one of my students wrote a master's thesis defending just war.Then he joined the U.S. Air Force. I suppose you could look at it as a pedagogical success: I helped him turn the corner from theory to practice. But as a pacifist, I took it pretty hard.

Sabbath observance was not simply a moment of my grandfather's week. It framed his attitude, focused his desire, and helped him shape the pace and direction of his daily walk.

Worship: Act five

At age eight, Sam became totally paralyzed. A year later he emerged with brain damage, learning disabilities, complex emotional problems and severe behavioral problems. His family began to disintegrate under the strain. His mother committed suicide, and Sam was placed in a psychiatric hospital. In this horrible situation, what earthly difference can Jesus make?

All the elements of worship have led us here, to the Eucharist, or communion table. Now a reshaping of human society begins. Just as the bread and wine are offered, transformed and received, the congregation—and through it the whole creation—is offered, transformed and received by God.