Three New Additions To My Desk
Actually, it’s an ad-duck-tion.
Father Abraham
Now don't break out in Sunday School motion songs. It’s not that I have anything against dancing, it’s just that when some people get a song stuck in their heads (and you know how it stays there all day?) they just have to do something with it. Besides, you would look funny reading my blog praising the Lord with arms flappin', head bobbin', marchin' in place. If you're already at it, we'll wait patiently till you 'turn around and sit down.
Alrighty then . . . And just to prevent another outbreak of the Christian Hokey-Pokey, might I suggest we get another song get stuck in our heads--"Zaccheus" maybe?
I want to reflect today on the many faces of Abram. This guy is charismatic (in the Baptistic sense, of course =;0)= ). I notice as I read that the scripture does not simply give a record of a man in history. Scripture records a man of action, a man of struggle, a man of change, a man of hope, a man of faith. I think of the life of Rembrandt when I think of Abraham, each chapter of Genesis being a panel of his life.
In Genesis 12 he is the Relative Leaver, the Go-forther, the Promise Receiver and Egyptian Confuser. 75 years old and pulling up stakes.
In Genesis 13 he is the Wealthy Nomad, the Conflict Settler and Promise Receiver.
In Genesis 14 he is the Fugitive Hearer, a Warrior and Rescuer and Tenth-giver.
In Genesis 15 he is the Childless Heir-giver, the Star-Counter, the Night Sleeper and Covenant Reciever.
In all, I get the impression Abraham was a quiet and very wise man. I think he sat back and watched people and tried to see things through God's eyes as much as possible. He was not selfish, he kept the peace, he watched over his family. He did what he was told. God said "go" and he went. God said "receive" and he worshipped. God said, "look here, walk" and he moved. God said "receive blessed in My name" and he worshipped. God said, "do not fear" and he wondered . . . (to be continued)
Literary observation:
Chapter 15 describes one event. How many times does the sun set in one day? How would you explain it, Grasshopper?
Alrighty then . . . And just to prevent another outbreak of the Christian Hokey-Pokey, might I suggest we get another song get stuck in our heads--"Zaccheus" maybe?
I want to reflect today on the many faces of Abram. This guy is charismatic (in the Baptistic sense, of course =;0)= ). I notice as I read that the scripture does not simply give a record of a man in history. Scripture records a man of action, a man of struggle, a man of change, a man of hope, a man of faith. I think of the life of Rembrandt when I think of Abraham, each chapter of Genesis being a panel of his life.
In Genesis 12 he is the Relative Leaver, the Go-forther, the Promise Receiver and Egyptian Confuser. 75 years old and pulling up stakes.
In Genesis 13 he is the Wealthy Nomad, the Conflict Settler and Promise Receiver.
In Genesis 14 he is the Fugitive Hearer, a Warrior and Rescuer and Tenth-giver.
In Genesis 15 he is the Childless Heir-giver, the Star-Counter, the Night Sleeper and Covenant Reciever.
In all, I get the impression Abraham was a quiet and very wise man. I think he sat back and watched people and tried to see things through God's eyes as much as possible. He was not selfish, he kept the peace, he watched over his family. He did what he was told. God said "go" and he went. God said "receive" and he worshipped. God said, "look here, walk" and he moved. God said "receive blessed in My name" and he worshipped. God said, "do not fear" and he wondered . . . (to be continued)
Literary observation:
Chapter 15 describes one event. How many times does the sun set in one day? How would you explain it, Grasshopper?
Popular posts from this blog
“Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?”
July 2004 I went to Kenya, Africa to speak in two Pastor’s Conferences on the subject of Man, Sin and Salvation. At the end of each day I left just over an hour for questions (half the time were questions touching the subject of my lectures, and the other half for “open questions”; that is, people could ask anything). For the next few weeks, I will be sharing the questions that were asked of me, and my answers—and believe me when I say these people really know how to think! Question from Kenya #1: “Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?” [“ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! ’” (Exodus 33:20) was the basis of the student’s question]. Answer: First, consider those who did see God—how did they respond when they saw Him? They were instantly aware of their sinfulness, and God’s holiness and righteousness (to name a few. And notice also that each responded in an attitude of worship, bowing down): Abraham built altars, wors
A Sonnet
“My God, where is that ancient heat towards thee, Wherewith whole shoals of martyrs once did burn, Besides their other flames? Doth poetry Wear Venus' livery? only serve her turn? Why are not sonnets made of thee? and lays Upon thine altar burnt? Cannot thy love Heighten a spirit to sound out thy praise As well as any she? Cannot thy Dove Outstrip their Cupid easily in flight? Or, since thy ways are deep, and still the fame, Will not a verse run smooth that bears thy name! Why doth that fire, which by thy power and might Each breast does feel, no braver fuel choose Than that, which one day, worms may chance refuse. Sure Lord, there is enough in thee to dry Oceans of ink; for, as the Deluge did Cover the earth, so doth thy Majesty: Each cloud distills thy praise, and doth forbid Poets to turn it to another use. Roses and lilies speak thee; and to make A pair of cheeks of them, is thy abuse Why should I women's eyes for crystal take? Such poor invention burns in their low mind Wh
A Fresh Perception
“In primitive times, when man awakes in a world that is newly created, poetry awakes with him. In the face of the marvellous things that dazzle and intoxicate him, his first speech is a hymn simply. He is still so close to God that all his meditations are ecstatic, all his dreams are visions. His bosom swells, he sings as he breathes. His lyre has but three strings—God, the soul, creation; but this threefold mystery envelopes everything, this threefold idea embraces everything. The earth is still almost deserted. . . . He leads that nomadic pastoral life with which all civilizations begin, and which is so well adapted to solitary contemplation, to fanciful reverie. He follows every suggestion, he goes hither and thither, at random. His thought, like his life, resembles a cloud that changes its shape and its direction according to the wind that drives it. Such is the first man, such is the first poet. He is young, he is cynical. Prayer is his sole religion, the ode is his only form of