Head-dibs

The Prophecy of Scripture and John the Baptizer

2012-02-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

Superman iseasy to pick out in a crowd provided he is not out of costume. Any figure ableto squeeze into smashing tights and a cape instantly conjures the image of “hero.”The Incredibles helped us rethink the whole cape thing; nevertheless, we stillhave this modern-day picture of a figure based on those tell-tale signs.

The Gospel ofMark begins with a description of a very peculiar man. He is dressed in camel’shair with a leather belt around his waist and his diet is locusts and wildhoney. We are also told the whole country of Judea was going out to him and allthe people of Jerusalem and they were being baptized by him in the Jordanriver, confessing their sins.

Now, what wasattractive about this man? Why were so many going out to him, spilling theirguts and being baptized? Was it is attire? What does the dress say about a man?Guys, there’s a great website out there called, “The Art of Manliness” whichcomes complete with a section on dress and grooming.Yes, men must be told how to dress and groom; otherwise, we would look like abunch of wild men, and smell like wild men too. Catching where this is going?John the Baptist was a sight to behold, to be sure. I am confident that manydid not go out to copy his attire nor did anyone come very close to him unintentionally.One almost visualizes people approaching him for baptism, holding their noses.But they were not looking at him this particular moment, were they? They werelooking beyond him . . .

People weregoing out to him not because of his wardrobe and diet. People were going out tohim because of his voice and because of what he was saying. People were goingout to him because his voice was recognizable. Why is his voice so familiar? Hisvoice is ancient and the gospel writer tells us something about John longbefore he is identifiable with the eye.

God in Hisunchanging Word said he was coming. “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, ‘Behold,I send my messenger before you who will prepare your way. The voice of onecrying in the wilderness . . .” 400 years before John was born, God made thisvoice heard and anyone who read scripture heard it. This is why his voice wasfamiliar. Mark says in the next verse, “John appeared in the wildernesspreaching . . .” What was John preaching but the same message God said he wouldpreach, “Make ready the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight!” When Johnpreached, he said “One is coming who is mightier than I . . .” John said theLord was coming, so get ready. This is why people repented: God’s Word was atwork.

Dr. RobertsonMcQuilkin in his book, “Understanding and Applying the Bible,” describes threepurposes for prophecy: first, to establish the authentic of the one who isspeaking. God had John’s back. Second, to cause a change in those who heard andthis is precisely what happened. Finally, to establishing confidence in God whoforetold the events. People were directed to look beyond John through the lensof scripture in the power of God’s Holy Spirit to see Him who was coming.

John is a divinelypromised messenger preaching a divinely promised message for the divinelypromised Messiah. The message he delivered was in a recognizable propheticvoice declaring “Make ready the way ofthe Lord,” meaning that people cannot carry on as they always have. Changeis required—not a change of clothes or diet but change of heart.

The Bible is God’sunchanging word, so as you move through the world, take a moment to considerthe source of your confidence for ministry. Who is your supreme your subject inevery way you handle and dispense scripture? How dare anyone presume it fails!

New Site Announcement

2012-02-01T08:09:00.002-05:00

I've created a new blog site where I will be posting more along the lines of creative writing. If you like short stories (anywhere from one page to as many as four or five), then this new site is the place for you: Headdibs, Too.

The Swing

2012-01-31T08:40:00.001-05:00

I was about to beginwith, “remember when we were kids and loved to swing at the playground?” Then I remembered that some haven’t grown upyet and the swing has as much attraction now as it did when we were six.Anyway, remember when we loved to swing? That thick black plastic strip couldheat up to nuclear temperatures in summer, but that didn’t stop us, did it? Ok,the heat made us think twice about the slide, but not the swing. The swing seatcould be flipped over and it would not burn our bottoms so bad. We couldtolerate hot swing seats on our butts, but not that summer sun-baked slide. YoungElementary School teachers would run and scream for us to avoid the slide—but wewere too small to question the wisdom of the slide in the first place. How manyyears of sliding did it take until slides became shorter and made of plasticthat gets no cooler in the summer sun? And then they put those bumps and ridgesin to slow the descent, causing our little ones to burn their buns on the waydown?

Anyway,remember when we loved to swing? We would grab the chain, one in either hand,give a little kick down in the rut carved out by other swingers and startpumping our legs, leaning backward and forward, up and down, higher and higher.Sure was fun then, or now, depending on whatever keeps akiddie state of mind in some . . . kids.

When it comesto writing, I feel as if I am on a swing and the ride is not as pleasant as theone in the playground when we were six. When I free write, the creative side ofmy brain kicks in and the words flow; but, if there is a mistake, the otherside of my brain kicks in and makes the correction. This causes the technical sideto swing over, even override the creative side. I swing back and forth betweencreative flow and the technical.

The fact that Iwrite this on a computer makes the ride worse. As much as I enjoy writing onthe computer, I also enjoy writing in notebooks but the reason I don’t write innotebooks is that I like a final product. And my handwriting is atrocious. Idon’t like drafts. I should like them, but I don’t. Drafts are maps, showing “youare here and this is where you need to go.” A final draft means “arrival” butthe journey has only begun. Computers tempt the transporter effect.

Writing on thecomputer wreaks havoc on the creative side because of the auto editor, for one.Sure I drop a typing error and backspace or misspell a word and have to correctit but I try not to correct to keep the flow going (I am free writing thisnow), keeping the creative tap open. I try to kill my inner editor, but byinner editor like a zombie awakened by the auto editor eats at my brain, azombie that wants to swing. Words are underlined with red squiggles because theprograms dictionary does not recognize the word, not because the word ismisspelled. These optical clues send a distress call to my inner ~~zombie~~editor, causing it to moan and reach out for correction. Green squiggle linesunder phrases show me the sentences the computer program does not like. “Fixthis”. Too bad.

When I am finished,I might go back and edit what I’ve written and will probably make a few changes.Perhaps by the time you read this, I will have edited and you will never knowwhat was corrected or changed. That is what happens when the creative flow is shutoff and the other side of the brain kicks in. I can no longer be creative whenthinking technically. The ride is over.

Starting with awarm up of free writing gets the flow going and is not to be shut off untilcreativity is exhausted. Unlike the swing we can’t jump on the seat and justsit there. Who were friends with kids who just sat on the swing? “Get off andlet me ride!” we screamed. Nor can we can’t say we are swinging when we kickout and remain suspended in mid air. Sure, it would be downright weird if thatwere to happen and might draw a crowd, but physics will not allow it.

I concede: thefun of swinging is the ride back and forth. Perhaps when my writing getstronger, I will enjoy the ride a little more between creativity and the technicalbut right now, switching back and forth is too much like work to have much fun.That zombie kid needs to go away. He’s creepy.

The Beginning of the Gospel

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Like a stringof firecrackers on the Fourth of July, the Gospel of Mark strings together verya concise and very explosive account of the life and ministry of the Lord JesusChrist. The gospel opens with quite a pop: “The beginning of the gospel ofJesus Christ the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1)

When Mark wasinspired to write this gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ had already beencrucified, resurrected and ascended back into heaven. Reading through the bookof Acts one is able to grasp what the world was like as the news of Jesus andHis followers spread. Today there are many ideas about who Jesus is and what Hedid and the same was true in the ancient world. Mark wants his readers to knowunmistakably who Jesus is, and this is what he means by “the beginning of thegospel.”

The way “gospel” is used today is not the same as in the ancient world. Presently,we underscore the trustworthiness of a testimony as “the gospel truth.” Wedescribe the integrity of a friend as “gospel.” Mark borrows a familiarword from the culture to say something new. The cultural understanding referredto good news about the Roman emperor, particularly the savior god of the imperial cult. They would refer to “the gospel of Caesar.”Mark introduces a new meaning, “the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” Thegood news just got better because of the person of the gospel!

So,who is Jesus? Who is the person of this gospel? Mark explains Him with short, explosivestatements. He is a person of time and space and the whole world has beenreeling since He came. Even the enemies of Jesus can’t discount that Jesus wasan actual historical person and not a mythological daydream. His is a humanstory. I met a very old man who surprised me with his understanding of Jesus,describing him as “the power of God Himself,” an impersonal idea that makesenergy. This is why he wore a cross, to direct the Jesus energy around himself.This is the reason Mark writes concerning Jesus. He is a real person.

Heis called “Christ.” This is not his last name. His mother and father were not “Mr.and Mrs. Christ.” The word comes from the Greek, “Xristos,” meaning, “anointedone,” implying God’s selection for kingship. This is borrowed from the Hebrew, “Messiah.”While Caesar may be the king of the known world at the time of Mark’s writing,what would be the implication concerning Jesus to the original audience? Do youhave the right concept of Jesus? Mark wants to make certain we have the rightunderstanding concerning Jesus.

Jesusis called “Son of God.” A question heard often is “how can Jesus be God’s son?”The ancient world understood what the present does not. “Son of God” is theMessiah’s title and does not refer to “father” and “offspring.” The term meansthat God stepped into time and space in this person and this is the subject ofthe gospel, the person of whom Mark will write.

Thetruth of the good news, is centered on the historical person of Jesus who reignsas king and Savior, God Himself.

Death Comes Unexpectedly?

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

“In the middleof life it happens that death comes and measures a man. The visit is forgottenand life continues. But the suit is made, quietly.” (Thomas Transtromer,Swedish Poet)

Many of us rememberthat scene of Karl Malden acting as Reverend Ford in the 1960 movie "Polyanna,"preaching an abridgement of Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon, “Sinners in the Handsof an Angry God.”

This powerful message reminds us of the suddenness with which death comes, and Transtromer reminds us that death has already sized us up.

"The Universe does not know we are here," Harlan Ellison says. It just grinds on and on and on and we are in the midst of the machinery--just don’t get caught in the mechanism. The Universe is not a personality; but, as Ellison echoes Twain in another assumption: something is wrong with the Universe! What is wrong is death. Did God make a screwed up machine? Is God a monster? If so, then why is the Universe still idolized? Death was not part of God’s design but a consequence of a decision made in response to The Creator (Ellison and others admit there is a Creator, they just doesn’t like it when He speaks). Now, death is here sizing us up and quietly making what is coming to each and every one of us.

Strange how we say death is sudden or unexpected when each person knows their day is coming. We say it is unexpected because we would rather not face death. One-time events like this are difficult to comprehend; yet, our life began with a one-time event and we have no difficulty (in a manner of speaking). Since birth, life has become fixed around culture and tradition and idea and relationships and practice and doctrine and survival, which ultimately leads to THAT end, at the end. How can we not see it coming?

There are proper and improper ways of viewing death. Every proper way, no matter what culture dictates, acknowledges its presence. John Donne reminds us when we lay down to rest or sleep we foreshadow what is coming, the day approaching when we will lay down and not rise up again. Donne also reminds us death is not to be feared, so death has no reason to be proud for a day is coming when death itself will die. That in itself is a marvelous truth and should be a release.

Death was not included in the design of the Universe, so within the Universe death too, will come and go. Death will become history, a memory not mourned but celebrated as a defeated foe.

A Quick Look Back

2012-01-25T08:01:00.001-05:00

I should like to imagine for a moment what I would be if I were not busy being what I am at this moment. This is not the place I intended to be in many respects (geographically, professionally, spiritually, emotionally, etc.) and though I am able to accept where I am at present, and knowing how I got here, I can say “this” was not my intention; but is better than I imagined.

Don’t get me wrong. I like where I am now and there are not many opportunities in the world today that make such a place possible. I like the quiet, but I also like helping people and I like being busy. I like academics and reading and study. I get to do all this and many combinations of all of the above; but, this was not my plan.

Long ago, way back in the back, back, back part of my mind was an inkling of a writer in me. While I enjoy the exercise, I daresay I am far from being a writer (the saying is that one is not a writer until he or she is told one is a writer). I suppose I would pound or scratch my fingers to nubs. Maybe someday. Tomorrow perhaps. My dream growing up was to be a musician, an orchestral conductor.

I was in love with music once. Deep passionate love. Once upon a time, I lived music. I closed my eyes at night and watched as musical notation floated in negative through the dark. My personal "Fantasia." I sat in a quiet room and sensed orchestral strains and rhythmic refrains echoing through the silence. My right thumb was flattened from holding the cello bow and the tips of my fingers creased and calloused from the strings.

Let me be clear: not any music. Classical orchestral, from Renaissance through Baroque, though the “standard” composers are present as well (I loathe referring to them as “standard,” for the record). This music is alive.

The sun rises and rivers flow as Grieg and Smetana describe. Vivaldi announced the seasons. Beethoven captured the sound of the moon. Bach falls before the Majesty of God and no one weeps like Barber. Who is as humorous as Mozart? Wagner grasped dark and Handel displayed light! Holst, the music of the spheres.

Consider for a moment what it takes to produce these sounds: heart and soul. Think not of these as two separate entities but one. As we say we are “good and hungry” to describe the greatness of our hunger, so “heart and soul” means the whole person. It is one thing to view the dots on the page and reproduce what spilled from the brain pan of the composer. It is another to fill space with another perspective on viewing a thing.

Look at the instruments and how they are an extension of the person: strings, winds and percussion (in no particular order). These are the bones, sinew, flesh, breath and heartbeat of music. Even the piano (a percussion, not a stringed instrument) has a place, albeit, an odd one (in my own world, I would release Dr. Terwilliker from his dungeon once in a while; otherwise we would have no “Pines of Rome”).

My instrument is the cello. I should say “was,” but that’s another story for another time. One embraces the cello, against the heart. The person disappears into the instrument from which are drawn the depths and heights of all emotion and mood, breath and movement. The violin and viola rest under the chin and are part of the face, expressive. The bass turns even the smallest who mount into a giant.

Winds make their sound with life-giving air. Of the woodwinds, the oboe and bassoon are the most difficult on the head.

Percussion is the heart, and one can feel the pulse in every phrase. Blood moves with rhythm.

Take all these together and in their various parts construct a body that for the eye to enjoy must be showered, shaved, tuxedoed, dressed and coiffed. Otherwise, only a structure fills the stage. One does not appreciate a painting by viewing the staples and nails stretching and holding the canvas. This body will produce sound that requires imagination to interpret and understand.

Then there is the one who stand with his back to the crowd. He is God’s man on earth instructing the sun if but for a moment, gliding the swan, thundering over Black Mountain. He is the one who gives reason to weep, tickles into laughter, draws out wonder from the things we cannot see, hear, touch or taste.

This was where I was going.

Where To Go From Here?

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve been in all theseSouthern United States and nearly forgot one trip to Wisconsin when a smallchild. Other than the sunflowers, I don’t remember much as I slept my waythrough three other states. I will never forget the sunflowers but could not say if they were in Iowa or Illinois. Regardless, I’ve never seen so many in my life. I disctinctly rememberlistening to Neil Diamond on the radio singing some song blue and Donna Fargo (or was it Tanya Tucker?) pop herfoot in the whole USA.

I’ve made a couple of tripsout of the states: the Grand Cayman islands (just as they were beginning thetourist boom about thirty years ago) and Africa.

Airport agencies today add somuch quality to the overall travel experience, one find difficulty deciding whereto go by plane. Getting fire-hosed by CNN or Fox News or Headline News at eachgate makes my confidence soar while waiting for flights, catching up on thelatest in terrorism. Thank you, Dallas, for not choosing the Big Brother décor;; however, since your passengers are disinclined to be distracted by thelooping headlines, simple communication with your passengers regarding smallthings like oh, I dunno, maybe flight delays--would be copacetic. I met onefellow in Dallas who after a short time had me convinced by his accent he was SouthAfrican. Turns out he was English and lived in Texas so long he soundedAustralian. He does a better South African, but what do I know? The short timewe talked our flight had been delayed without the smallest interruption by somuch as speaker static.

My list of travel options isclearly marked with a burn, the scorch of the Ponderosa marks the place where“trains” should be found. Trains are not on my list. Now, the “Cinders andSmoke” coal-fueled steam engine tour dragging tourists from Durango toSilverton is a worthy venture, but this is not quite travel. No, nothingcompares to the Amtrack disaster of 1985. You won’t find this one in theheadlines, but it was enough to make this globe-hopper reconsider the tracks asan option for travel. The overnighter to LA was agreeable (truthfully, thewhole trip could have gone un-gone), but the overnighter back as exciting as anarrow in the knee (that’s right, I said it). Long story short: I spent thenight in the baggage compartment with a throwing-up slimsey jackaroo visitingfrom Down Under. Oh, no! That’s not the bad part. The bad part was Coach and that’sall you need to know.

My wife grew up in busstation. Her father operated the Trailways bus depot in Gallup, New Mexico formore than 20 years. My dad sent me down to the Trailways station once to send apackage (for some reason, the bus went where UPS could not—probably thestandard desert distances as those found in New Mexico and Arizona put theaddress outside the UPS route). This was the first time I met my futurefather-in-law. Neither of us had the foresight that such a relationship was on ourschedule at the time. My wife may not be bothered if the bus was travel option(I’m not going to volunteer it) though I am confident she may find another modeof transportation, should one be required.

This may sound strange, but Ican’t think of a better place I would like to visit than “home.” I miss ourtown. Then we can go to Tristan Da Cahuna or the Polynesian Islands, oksweetie?

Write

2012-01-23T08:01:00.000-05:00

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. This doesn't happen much, though." (J.D. Salinger, "The Catcher in the Rye)

I once readsomewhere that writing a book is the closest a man will ever come to deliveringa child. The source is correct. This particular contribution will not turn outto be a book of any size despite the amount of labor that goes into writing it.Nevertheless, it is still close enough to child delivery. Permit me for amoment to stain this page with the blood and water of this effort.

Composition isa fascinating exercise, allowing one to speak to a page for an audience of oneor millions, for old times’ sake or for all time or for a waste of time. Thereasons are myriad why one would write and while one may today say, “this isthe reason I write,” he may find another reason tomorrow or none at all.Perhaps he may reflect and embarrassed, decide yesterday’s reason for writingwas no reason at all. One can only imagine how he must view the child of hisimagination.

One reason forwriting is finding voice. Many exercises exist to help one find a voice. I hopeto find my own someday. Those with voice often speak just as they write and thesewriters are audible in their penned words: John Lithgow and Harlan Ellisonwrite as they speak. Poe and Twain take a mere pinch of imagination, but theycan be rendered. Can you discern Steinbeck, Dickens, Hemingway, and Melville asthey speak? Then there are some whose voice cannot be heard (Patterson andClancy come to mind) and the myriads who have simply lost theirs.

Yet, look atall those children! Consider all those words, captured, frozen. Each one tellof its sculptor who, well their passions read, stamped on lifeless pages handsthat mocked and hearts that fed.

Writing is oneway to fulfill the design of The Creator with intention. He created withlanguage, so we who are made in His image, are creative with language; but,writing is much more than simply arranging words on a page. Writing iscommunication (at the least) and expression (at the most). Here is the peak ofcreativity. My greatest personal and greatest challenge is to communicate inways un-typical. I may be predictable, but here on the page, I cannot be. Whywould I desire to write the same as everyone else? I don’t want to be read thesame as everyone else—I would have no voice! Creativity is a uniquecontribution, as far as human effort is concerned and will allow.

Advance Warning

2012-01-20T17:01:00.000-05:00

I am considering taking this blog on an adventure by redirecting the content that will be posted. Not certain how long I will be on this journey.

I will be working through some writing excercises, so if you read something that is less "devotional" or "spiritual," don't be alarmed. I do have a broader range of interests you know, so have a little fun with me. "Loosen up!" they tell me.
Should you desire to keep reading, I appreciate any and all feedback!

George Bernard Shaw on Children

2012-01-20T09:14:00.000-05:00

"If you treat it [a child] as a little wild beast to be tamed, or as apet to be played with, or even as a means to save you trouble and to make moneyfor you (and these are our commonest ways), it may fight its way through inspite of you and save its soul alive; for all its instincts will resist you,and possibly be strengthened in the resistance; but if you begin with its ownholiest aspirations, and suborn them for your own purposes, then there ishardly any limit to the mischief you may do. Swear at a child, throw your bootsat it, send it flying from the room with a cuff or a kick; and the experiencewill be as instructive to the child as a difficulty with a short-tempered dog ora bull . . . .

There is a point at which every person with human nerves has to say to achild 'Stop that noise.' But suppose the child asks why! There arevarious answers in use. The simplest: 'Because it irritates me,' may fail; forit may strike the child as being rather amusing to irritate you; also thechild, having comparatively no nerves, may be unable to conceive your meaningvividly enough. In any case it may want to make a noise more than to spare yourfeelings. You may therefore have to explain that the effect of the irritationwill be that you will do something unpleasant if the noise continues. Thesomething unpleasant may be only a look of suffering to rouse the child'saffectionate sympathy (if it has any), or it may run to forcible expulsion fromthe room with plenty of unnecessary violence; but the principle is the same:there are no false pretences involved: the child learns in a straightforwardway that it does not pay to be inconsiderate. Also, perhaps, that Mamma, whomade the child learn the Sermon on the Mount, is not really a Christian."

(From: "A Treatise on Parents and Children")

Game Plan, part 2

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

How wonderful to start the day with Dr. Hamilton’sdevotional thoughts from Hebrews reminding us that Jesus is the same yesterday,today and forever. “There is nothing more certain than uncertainty,” he shared,reminding us that change will happen—like it or not.

If I were to compare my plans for my life and thecurrent state of my life in terms of “wins” and “losses,” I recognize that my “losses”are really my “wins,” and vice versa. My plans, my “wins” included being asuccessful symphonic conductor and making enough money that I should not haveto think about it. I also had no plans concerning friends or family and gave nothought to education (beyond that which was necessary). I lost all that.Instead, I am privileged to conduct souls to Christ and make so little moneythat I don’t have to worry about it. I have more friends than I ever dreamedand a HUGE family. I also have quite an education, both academically andexperientially. All “wins.”

What Saul met Jesus on the Damascus road I imagine thatat first, he was not thinking at all about himself. When he was blinded andleft to sit and wait, it must have all come crashing down in his mind—allalone, in the quiet with his thoughts. Life as he knew it no longer existed. Hegot out of bed that morning with one thing on his mind: destroy Christfollowers. By the end of the day, he was waiting for arrival of aChrist-follower of Damascus, who would come and begin ministering to his pain.He himself had been destroyed.

I thank God for my wife because she was the one whowas there to listen to my dreams then watch those dreams become something else.She was there when God called and we started heading one direction, only tohave our plans change. She has ministered to me after all my boasting and in myblindness. God used her in my healing process.

I am learning to be flexible, to be humble enough tobe led. I like order and I like to have a plan, but I cannot order life. Wheninterruptions happen, I panic because all my plans are thwarted and I losedirection. There can still be order and there can still be a plan, but it hasto be given to me from He who never changes. When interruptions happen, I canthen recognize it as His hand directing my steps, taking me the direction Ishould be going.

(Reflecting on Ch. 1, “What is your Game Plan:Finding God in the Midst of Frustrating Plans” in Tony Dungy’s book, “QuietStrength Men’s Bible Study.”)

Game Plan, part 1

2012-01-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Funny how things start out, seeing now how thingswind up. When I was a child I wanted (like most boys) to be a fireman, apoliceman or a cowboy and all of life consisted of anticipating summer andChristmas. As a teen, I fell in love with literature and music, but the musicbug bit harder and deeper. Summertime was filled with moonlit meanderingsinduced by the Bard but the deep weeping of Samuel Barber’s Adagio or thesoul’s breath released from Bach’s pipe organ was life itself. My love formusic was so deep that once I was punished by being grounded from music (Iseriously do not remember what I did to receive such punishment) except forthat required for school practice. I was devastated. That was most horrible sixweeks of my entire life. Regardless, I was looking forward to spending the restof my life standing on the podium before a full orchestra, pouring my life intothose sections and drawing out music. I would conduct the sunrise.

Life has not gone according to plan. Matter of fact,a series of significant events challenged my love for music as I discovered anew passion: reaching the lost for Christ. Actually, I get ahead of myself, butit was there. Actually, instead of seeing myself before an orchestra (with myback to the crowd), I was facing a congregation (with my back to the choir, asit were). I was going to pastor a church and to do that I needed the education.The family was packed and moved half-way across the country where we attendedBible College then Seminary. I was able to serve in various capacities in a fewchurches and the base of my experience broadened significantly. My wife and Iprayed for “whoever” our congregation would be.

Now, it may be debated as to whether or not my lifehas gone according to plan. I can safely say that it has not gone according toMY plan. I may not be pastoring in the “traditional” way, but God is using meand my family to reach more people than would set foot inside a church. Notonly that, but each of us have a musical talent and my love for music isgrowing once again . . .

Have a set a goal for my life? I did once or twicebut just ‘tween you and me, such planning is a set-up for disappointment. Ireally can’t tell you where I will be in 5 years, 7 years, 10 years—and somepeople are upset when I can’t answer. If I set a goal like that, I am tellingGod what to do and make things harder on myself. I tried it a time or two andbeing stripped of my own plans hurts. I don’t like pain. My plans were onlyfrustrated when I made plans. Permit me to rephrase that: things turned outmuch better than planned. Perhaps it’s good that I did not go the direction Iintended for my life.

Have my plans been interrupted or thwarted? Withouta doubt—and I am grateful, not bitter because (as already mentioned) life hasturned out better than expected. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your planswill be established . . . The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORDestablishes his steps” (Prov. 16:3,9) is advice to live by. “Commit” here meansto take the load off my back and put in on the back of the one who is strongenough to carry. I can see how God directed our way to be where we are now and,while I expect changes in the future, I understand how I am best equipped forthis current ministry.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T08:01:00.001-05:00

Unto You is Born

2011-12-24T08:01:00.003-05:00

Randoms

2011-12-22T08:01:00.000-05:00

No Room In the Inn?

No Room in the inn--literally!

Why Does The Star of Bethlehem have 14 points?

Overtime May Add More to Your Waistline than Your Wallet.

Archaeologists stumped by ancient markings found under Jerusalem.

He did nothing wrong! Really!

Happy Birthday!

2011-12-21T08:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my darling wife!

I am so blessed to have you in my life!

Thank you, God, for Leslie!

Go For The Ride of Your Life this Christmas!

2011-12-20T08:01:00.000-05:00

There is thisgreat chapter in John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden,” wherein he describes thisdarling country mother (Olivia Hamilton, by name) who disbelieves a war istaking place (World War 1) until a neighbor boy is killed in Germany. Thisdeath snaps her to her senses so strongly she declares her own personal waragainst the Kaiser himself and sells so many war bonds that the Army rewardsher efforts with a plane ride. The only problem is that she does not believe inairplanes. What happens next is golden—but you read that for yourself.

Truthfully (andon a very human level) the Christmas story is hard to believe; yet, with allthe historical evidences alone, the event is undisputed and we can embrace andrejoice with the news of the Savior! We can, to some degree, begin to grasp theconflicting emotion experienced by Mary and Joseph who both received angelicannouncements concerning what was going to happen. The news is unbelievable;however, they trusted God.

And what aboutthe shepherds? The news is unbelievable, but they trusted God.

And the wisemen? Not only were they able to divine the news, but trekked quite a ways overa long period of time because they believed God.

The Christmasstory must be believed!

But that’s ifwe jump over Luke 1 and go straight to Luke 2.

Luke 1 tellsanother story, before Mary receives her announcement. Luke 1 is the story of unbelievablenews—and a man who did not believe . . . at first.

This is no accidentthat Luke 1 comes before Luke 2. When he arranged his account, Luke begins withthe record of a man who did not believe God. And why not? This sets the tonefor the rest of the book: God is to be believed and the news is world-changing.When you climb on board and believe God by faith, you will get the ride of your life.

Truth: the Unifying Factor in Pastoral Ministry

2011-12-19T08:01:00.000-05:00

The Greektragedian Aeshylus (525-456 BC) wrote, “God is not averse to deceit in a holycause.” Nothing could be further from the truth. One of the greatestdifficulties pastors face today stems from this damaging worldview. Truth isthe unifying factor of all the pastor is and all the pastor is to do;otherwise, the badge of office is “scandal,” and the world knows this. Justread the headlines.

We catch aglimpse of the centrality of truth in pastoral ministry where Paul writes toTimothy, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to the commandment of godour Savior, and of Christ Jesus, our hope; to Timothy, true child in faith . ..” (1 Timothy 1:1-2). This entire letter to Timothy encourages truth and warnsagainst those who speak otherwise. There are those who shipwreck their faith onthe reef of untruth.

Truth definesboth the person and work of the minister. Let’s get this right, from thebeginning. “Ministry” is an outward orientation, taking care of others.Ministry involves the application of truth to the minister first, then toothers because the context in which we live is un-truth. The task of theminister is to spread truth around in the sunshine for all to see (alaSteinbeck). If he has no truth applied to himself, then there is no ministry.Early Christian writer Lactantuis (240– 320 AD) is quoted by Calvin saying, “No religion is genuinethat is not in accordance with truth.” (Institutes 1.4.3).

Paul’s instructionto Timothy makes the connection between truth and that which the minister is entrusted.Paul says, “I have been entrusted with the gospel” (1 Timothy 1:11), thetrustworthy fact that Christ came to the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).Now, Timothy is entrusted to wage good warfare against those who live andspread untruth, particularly concerning Christ (1 Timothy 1:18-20). Paul admitshe is not worthy of this work, but is thankful for Christ’s appointment toservice (1 Timothy 1:12-16). The minister today should reflect on his ownposition in this same light.

Since God desires all to come to the knowledgeof the truth, truth must characterize our conversation with God and with others(1 Timothy 2:1-4). Furthermore, not only is the church is built on truth, butthe minster himself is characterized by specific evidences that even hispersonal life is engaged with truth (1 Timothy 3:1-13, 15). One task he is toperform is exposing error, so the training required is constant study of truth(1 Timothy 4:6-15). Just as water finds the lowest point, so ministry flows inthe direction of truth, affecting the way we touch the lives of others (1Timothy 5:7, 5:24-6:20).

PaulTautges has a wonderful two-part series covering 1 and 2 Timothy in “FellowPastors, Pay Attention.” Get Part1 here and Part2 here. Mark these in your Bibles, men!

The Spielberg Face

2011-12-16T08:01:00.000-05:00

"With his two new movies War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin, Steven Spielberg commands our attention once again. We've taken the occasion to produce the following video essay exploring what may be the most singular visual element to his films: the face."

I must admit that after all these years, I never saw the scene described in 4:35-38 as an orchestra, but now it is so perfectly obvious: the music playing in the backgound while all the people are standing in orchestral formation . . . stunning visual composition! Truly masterful.

How Great My Joy!

2011-12-15T08:01:00.001-05:00

Last week didnot make it to the gym or walk at all last week, yet still dropped another 4pounds (lost a total of 30 pounds since August). Excellent!

During my week of non-activity, I was thinking more about mywalking and looking forward to doing more 5k (these are getting to be regularfeatures, daily when I can excercise). I've been trying to jog once again, but only able to do about3/4 mile--even in increments. More on that momentarily.

During my"break," I watched this documentary called, "Running theSahara" about three guys (who typically run the equivalent of 2 marathonsper day) who ran from the Atlanta Ocean in Senegal, West Africa all the wayacross the Sahara to the Red Sea in Cairo, Egypt in 111 days. Talk aboutinspiration!

Well I finallymade it back to the gym and jogged 2 miles of the 5k in increments--Ifound my stride and divided up the run thus:

1) walk .25miles;

2) jog .75miles;

3) walk .25miles;

4) jog .75miles;

5) walk .25miles;

6) jog .25miles;

7) walk .25miles;

8) job .25miles;

9) walk to end,then cool down 2 min.

For a fat man, that's pretty good I think!

I was amazed athow much finding my stride contributed to the workout (as opposed to justpushing myself through, as I was doingbefore). I kept thinking of those guys out there running the Sahara and triedto figure out what pushed them through. Most of it had to do with stride. Therest had to do with the direction of the mind.

This morning asI reflect, I think of Jesus where in the scripture it says of Him, “for the joyset before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at theright hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2). This is the concludingstatement of the encouragement we have to lay aside every encumbrance and runwith endurance—joy.

Jesus found Hisstride in the joy that was on the other side of the pain. After thatunparalleled marathon, He sat down—game over.

Now, many runnershave a personal “mantra” (the practice derived from Buddhism of repeating aword or phrase) as a focal point to push themselves along (such as “one morestep,” or “keep going,” or in the case of one of the Sahara runners, his wife).Imagine for a moment what Jesus kept before His eyes as He entered this world;as he made those repeated trips to Jerusalem during Passover and watched those lambsbeing slain; as He entered Triumphally; and finally, as He enduring the cross. He had thejoy of knowing it would all be finished: the satisfaction of God’s justice andthe redemption of those who will repent.

When I jog (andone day, run), my mind is focused on Him and “the joy set before Him enduredthe cross”—for me.

How Great My Joy!

"All Seated on the Ground"

2011-12-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

Our last posthad us thinking a bit deeper about the Angels and the Shepherds. Departing atthis time from the Christmas story would have us miss a very crucial aspect ofGod’s plan in stepping into time and space in the person of our Lord JesusChrist. Ponder this in your heart: God chose shepherds.

So what? (Ihave grown to love the journey launched by these two words). We catch ofglimpse of what sort of person Jesus would be by God’s selection of this firstaudience and God’s selection of the shepherds was not arbitrary, but veryintentional.

First, “so what”is the very attitude most of the world has always had about shepherds; yet,shepherding is part of the structure of Israel’s history. Their work is tied tothe integral part of worship in what we may now call “Old Testament life.” So,why are they so despised? One reason is the nomadic lifestyle of the ancient shepherd,preferring a home on the range instead of settling down under a roof. They hadto move constantly to fresh food and water. Dr. Harold McManus indicated that, “thebest grazing lands were in the central highlands, the hills of Syria, portionsof the Negev, and the Transjordan plateau.” (“Biblical Illustrator,“ Fall1986). Summertime necessitated larger forays as opposed to Winter grazing, whengrass was not burned by the searing heat and was more readily available. Theshepherd’s responsibility was to find food and water.

Reading thegospels we find Jesus ministering all over the countryside as the Good Shepherdto people who are like shepherd-less sheep (John 10:11; Matthew 9:36). We alsofind him being despised and rejected, giving up His own life as the Lamb of Godwho takes away the sin of the world (Is. 53:3; John 1:29). Jesus, the Bread ofLife (John 6:35) was born in Bethlehem (literally from the Hebrew “House ofBread) and the Living Water (John 4:10).

Sheep needprotection and for the flock to feel safe, he must remain in sight at all time.Moreso, shepherds protect other shepherds, not just the sheep. Shepherds relateto one another and support each other in various ways.

Jesus movedaround the land and among the people providing spiritual and physicaldeliverance from sickness, demons, death and sin. Just as the shepherd led his flock,so Jesus was followed everywhere He went. He trained others to do what He didand sent them out, each with responsibility for their portion of the flock. Hegave them all necessary tools to do the work correctly—and they always cameback and enjoyed fellowship with one another.

There is so muchmore to consider about God’s choice of the shepherds as the first of publicears to receive the news—I just wonder what caused their joy when they laideyes on the manger baby.

Angels, Shepherds and Birth Announcements

2011-12-13T08:01:00.000-05:00

Play the scenein your mind: angels appear to the shepherds with the divine announcement ofthe Savior’s birth and the shepherds go find baby Jesus and return to theirflocks rejoicing. And that’s it, right? The event is so short that we canencapsulate the whole affair in one sentence. The Nativity scene is burned intoour brains. When we slow down and ponder the event, we discover the scene is soincredibly rich.

Luke 2 tells usthe shepherds were minding their business when an angel of the Lord appeared,shining the Lord’s glory all around them. The shepherds were terrified! Why?Well, let’s break it down: dark night, bright light where one should not be, anoff-subject announcement (who know what they shepherds were discussing, or ifthey were asleep)—fear seems to be the default response—but don’t stop there.Look and ponder.

The Angel ofthe Lord appeared to the shepherds, then a multitude of angels. Look at the heritageof these shepherds: Angels guarded the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24); Abraham encounteredangels (Genesis 18; 22:11-12); Joshua saw the commander of the Lord’s armyarmed with a sword (Joshua 5:13-14); the centerpiece of God’s presence in themidst of Israel was the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-20).

There are over hundredsof references to angels in Israel’s past, and this birth announcement to theshepherds (“you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”) isnot the first birth announcement they’ve been able to deliver: they announced thebirth of Isaac and Ishmael (Genesis 15-16. Note: 16:11) and Samson (Judges13:3-5). This means that the shepherds knew this particular announcement was uber-significant;after all, they did not announce the birth of just anyone!

Here’s where itgets really interesting: the angels merely announced the birth, so where didthe idea come from to leave the sheep and go find the baby? Did the angel tellthem, “Go find the baby”? Actually, the idea came from the shepherds, “theshepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then,and see this thing that has happened which the Lord made known to us.’” (Luke2:15) And why not, as this birth-announcement pattern historically producedvery notable individuals! And they had good reason to rejoice, having gone (Lk2:20).

Now, as wecontinue in the Christmas season, think about the people in your context: theyare overwhelmed (I believe I can safely say) with the sights and sounds of thecelebration of Jesus’ birth; but, who is going to suggest they leave what theyare doing for a time and actually go search out the Savior?

The Writing Assignment

2011-12-12T08:01:00.000-05:00

While stuck in “revision-land”with my novel, I am trying to keep the creative juices flowing by using promptsand various writing assignments. Admittedly, I’ve not been writing as much as I’vewanted, despite my best efforts. Regardless, here I am staring down my latestassignment and frankly, I don’t want to do it. It frightens me.

Here it is: “Createa character with personality traits of someone you love, but the physicalcharacteristics of someone you don’t care for.”

Immediately thefaces of two individuals come to mind and just as quickly comes the horror: I mustdestroy someone I love for the purpose of creating a person who does not exist.
Then came thegreater horror: there exists someone in my life for whom I don’t care.

All thediscipline I require to press on with my duty has crashed head-on with myrefusal to do the assignment. I havelove for one and I have hatred for another. There exists within me deep respectfor one and deep disdain for another. One draws and another repulses. I wouldfight for one and throw another to the wolves.

I am sick withthis realization.

Then, as if themirror shifted just a little to give me a look into a place I did not knowexisted, I am stunned by another realization. First, I realized that the oneperson I love was not truly the person I love most. I actually love myself more.Then I saw the true monster and the reason why I don’t love the other person atall.

See, standingover me in back of this deeper reflection is the most beautiful person of alltime; matter of fact, time itself turns on Him—the central figure of Christmas.Jesus showed me that I don’t have the love He has for the person I can’t standbecause I am in the way. I don’t have the forgiveness for the one I cannotforgive. I can’t see the beauty He sees in the one I can’t bear to even lookat. He threatens me because He wants to see me changed and I don’t want tochange—change is scary.
Here is theproblem: the Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that supreme love with all heart,mind, soul and strength belongs to Him and I have not loved Him supremely everyday of my life. No person deserves not being cared for, so what I need is Himto care through me—I need His care for that person. No person deserves toremain without forgiveness, so I need Him to forgive through me. The realchallenge is that I am not alone in this position.

Look atbeautiful Jesus and see, “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beautythat we should desire him. Hewas despised and rejected by men; a man ofsorrows, and acquainted withgrief; and as one fromwhom men hide their faceshe was despised, and weesteemed him not.Surely he has borne our griefs and carried oursorrows; yetwe esteemed him stricken,smitten by God, and afflicted. But hewas wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him wasthe chastisement that brought us peace, and with hisstripes we are healed.”(Isaiah 53:1-5) Jesus Himselfwas so plain that nobody took a second look at Him—He got lost in crowds at thepeak of His ministry!

Think about it:what kind of person did Jesus chose to be his up-front man? A hippy! A stinkywild man who ate bugs, dressed in camel skins and liked to dunk people. Who didJesus chose to have as his closest friends? Fishermen (don’t tell me “Old Spice”was the fisherman’s cologne of choice), tax collectors and a political radical!When Jesus called for more, He asked for the worn out and burdened people tofollow Him. What’s wrong with this guy?

What’s wrong isthat He did not seek out the outwardly beautiful in order that He might makethem beautiful both inwardly and outwardly.

I can’t dothat. I have to have it done to me and for me.

Books I'd Like to Write

2011-12-09T08:01:00.000-05:00

Here are titlesfor 10 books I’d like to write. What are your first impressions of the titles? Whichgenre do you think each would fall? What do you think the books would be about?

1) Spankey’sNewfangled Monster-kicker: An Illustrated Guide

2) EatingGreens

3) ThatHorrible Skin

4) Deathor Die Trying

5) Priority

6) ResurrectingJoy

7) WhyBe Great?

8) WhyLead?

9) ForgottenEtiquette

10) Crossbound

Randoms

2011-12-08T08:01:00.004-05:00

Jonathan Edwards: A Missionary? PhD. Candidate Jonathan Gibson takes a closer look at the famed preachers' service in Stockbridge.

Paul Tripp examines anger, the beautiful characteristic of God.

How about some Biblical Roundup for the Root of Bitterness? Paul Tautges mixes up a batch of "15 Ways To Kill Bitterness."

The Necessity of Sleep for Proper Recovery.

Here's a great question: Why Do We Love C.S. Lewis and Hate Rob Bell?

The Christmas Journey of Worship

2011-12-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

Bible teacherWoodrow Kroll writes this provoking thought: “If the star of Bethlehem firstappeared on the night Jesus was born, then two groups started a journey towardworship that evening. The shepherds didn’t have far to go. They could probablysee the dim lamplights of the little town from the hillside where they weretending their flocks. Meanwhile, in a distant land, wise men marveled and beganpreparations for an important journey. It may have taken them as long as twoyears of travel to reach Bethlehem.”

As you ponderthe things of Christmas in your heart, take a moment to reflect where you are nowin your journey with Christ:

Was it a shorttrip (perhaps you came to Him when you were young), or were you a long time incoming (perhaps you repented later in life)?
What it was that drew your attention to The Savior?
Who or what wasit that pointed the way? How did you find out about Jesus?
Are you drawingeven nearer to Him in your everyday walk?
Why do youworship Him?
How will your Christmas worship be different this year?

Anticipating Christmas

2011-12-06T08:01:00.000-05:00

Ready forChristmas? When we were school children, we looked forward to being out ofschool and getting presents. Now we are grown and we groan, looking forward totime off of work—not much, but any amount is deeply anticipated. But really,why are you looking forward to Christmas?

Most of usreadily vocalize the Christo-centricity of the holiday, but why long for thisparticular day? Is it because of a memory, a smell, feel, sound, or sight? Isit because we like to see Ralphie in that pink bunny suit all day long?Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra ra-ra ra-ra!

Sure we love tohear Linus recite, but we are so familiar with the events in Bethlehem thatunlike Mary, we do not ponder these things in our heart. When was the last timewe stopped everything in order to truly understand? Instead of rockin’ around theChristmas tree, how about a quiet “sit and think” about Christmas for a while?Why did God step into time and space as a helpless infant in a village soobscure that even the gospel writers had to identify it for their readers?

Starthere: “but made himself nothing, taking the form of aservant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Phil 2:7) You know thatalready? Slow down and think. Why did He do this? The clues are found in thenext few verses:

Clue #1: verse 8—to die on a cross;
Clue #2: verse 11—to glorify God the Father.
Clue #3: verse 12, notice the first word. “Therefore.” This means means that Jesus was born in order to give us God’s glory to shine in theworld. See verse 15.

God emptied Himself in order that we should shineas lights in this dark and dying world, blameless and innocent children of God.

If we like Mary ponder things like this in ourhearts, we may need to step away from Christmas (as it were)—away from thenoise, Noise, NOISE so that we can intentionally hear and see from God what Hewas accomplishing by His birth, death and resurrection.

I am looking forward to Christmas so God canreflect His glory through me.

Following a Star

2011-12-02T08:01:00.011-05:00

Matthew 2:2 and 9 report that magi saw a star and followed it in their quest to find the birthplace of the King of the Jews. Here are a couple of paragraphs that helped me get a better grasp of what they were doing:

“The old Polynesians were great navigators. They took bearings by the sun by day and the stars by night. Their knowledge of the heavenly bodies was astonishing. They knew the earth was round, and they had names for such conceptions as the Equator and the northern and Southern tropics. . . . The Polynesians knew five planets, which they called wandering stars and distinguished them from the fixed stars, for which they had nearly two hundred different names. A good navigator in old Polynesia knew well in what part of the sky the different stars would rise and where they would be at different times of the night and at different times of the year. They knew which stars culminated over the different islands, and there were cases in which an island was named after a star which culminated over it night after night and year after year.

Apart from the fact that the starry sky lay like a glittering giant compass revolving from east to west they understood that the different stars right over their heads always showed how far north or south they were. When the Polynesians had explored and brought under their sway their present domain, which is the whole of the sea nearest to America, they maintained traffic between some of the islands for many generations to come. Historical traditions relate that, when the chiefs from Tahiti visited Hawaii, which lay more than 2,000 sea miles farther north and several degrees farther west, the helmsman steered first due north by sun and stars, till the stars above their heads told them that they were en the latitude of Hawaii. Then they turned at a right angle and steered due west till they came so near that birds and clouds told them where the group of islands lay.” (Heyerdahl, Thor. Kon-Tiki: Across The Pacific By Raft. New York: Pocket Books, 1984.)

Was the Star of Bethlehem a real astronomical event? A myth created by the early church? Explore the history and science for yourself . . .

If you are a video person, spend an hour watching the presentation.

Randoms

2011-12-01T08:01:00.013-05:00

Now's your chance to stop wondering about what takes place on a Bible translation committee. Here is a rare opportunity to sit in and listen to a debate on translating the word "slave" or "bondservant" in light of author's intent and audience perception.

Why do we say “The United States is” rather than “The United States are”?

While we're on the subject, do you like our new logo?

If given a choice, would you choose a personal trainer who has struggled with their weight in the past over one who never has?

Are you an "educated man?" Here are three characteristics to consider.

I just HAD to post this:

Love Leads to Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T08:01:00.000-05:00

"Why do you loveme?"

Admit it guys.This has got to be the most difficult question of all time. Ever. Not much elseon the planet can make a guy stop whatever he is doing, make him stop breathing,cause a few second of cardiac arrhythmia and perhaps trigger an avalanche ofanxiety than hearing his darling wife ask, “honey, why do you love me?” Ok,maybe being struck by lightning would do the trick. Statistics show that menwill most often face repeated strikes by the one without ever encountering theother and be left deeply desiring the one over the other.

Despite thefact that I know deep in my heart that I love my wife dearly (words can nevertell), I still brace myself for the moment I hear her sweet voice float thequestion.

Psalm 116 isthe love song of a person deeply, passionately in love with God—and all thewords to tell. Are you in love with God? Then read this out loud, “I love theLord because . . .”

“Because Godhas heard my voice, my pleas for mercy” (v. 1);
“Because He ismerciful when I was about to die” (v. 3-5);
“Because when Iwas low, He preserved and saved me” (v. 6);
“Because He hasdealt bountifully with me, so I can rest” (v. 7);
“Because when Iam about to die, weep or fall, He delivers and give me life” (v.8-9);
“Because He canbe believed as truthful” (v. 10-11);
“Because I cangive Him absolutely nothing except what He gives to me” (v. 12-13);
“Because He setme free” (v. 16);

I pray you’vebeen blessed as you read those out loud. But that’s notall. It is not enough to say, “I love my wife” and do nothing. Oh, no. I gottado stuff, starting with taking care of her as a person. Her first, then the “ToDo List.” I can't love her because of what she does for me because that would be disasterous and my love would not be for her but for me. I love her because of her, so I show my love because of how she betters my half.

How do youdemonstrate your love for God? Go back to Psalm 116 and make yourself a list:

I call to Him (vv1-4);
I receive Hismercy (v. 5);
I am saved byHim (v. 6);
I rest in His bounty(v.7);
I live andrejoice and am made to stand (v.8);
I walk beforeLord in the sight of others (v.9);
I believe Him whenHe speaks (v.10);
I take Hissalvation so seriously, I hold it up and keep calling on Him (vv. 12-13);
I pay my vowsto Him with witnesses (v. 14, 18);
I remain in Hissight until death (v. 15);
I serve Him (v.16);
I give thanksand keep calling on Him (v. 17)

My expressionof love and gratitude does not come from me, but Him. We show our love for God outof who God makes us to be.

Now, why do you love the Lord?

“Still Here,” by Langston Hughes

2011-11-28T08:01:00.007-05:00

I been scarred and battered.

My hopes the wind done scattered.

Snow has friz me,

Sun has baked me,

Looks like between ‘em they done

Tried to make me

Stop laughin’, stop lovin’, stop livin’—

But I don’t care!

I’m still here!

Does God Require Animal Sacrifice?

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Objection: Some verses show that God requires animalsacrifice (Genesis 4:4; 8:20-21; 15:9-10; Exodus 20:24; 29:11-37; Leviticus1:5; 23:12-18; Numbers 18:17-19; Deuteronomy 12:27); however, other passagesindicate that God does not require animal sacrifice (Psalm 40:6; 50:13; 51:16;Isaiah 1:11; 66:3; Jeremiah 6:20; Micah 6:6-7). This is yet another reason whyI won’t believe the Bible!

Answer: Yes, God did command animal sacrifice; but,the sacrificial system was never intended to be permanent. The purpose of thesacrifice was to show mankind the necessity of being morally clean.
Look at it from this perspective: regardless ofwhether they were Guilt Offerings, Sin Offerings, Peace Offerings and all therest, how many offerings would be given before a man’s resources run out? Hecan’t just walk up to the flock, grab a lamb and kill it. There were specificofferings that had specific criteria for specific purposes. The point was toshow man’s limitations and God’s provision both for and in the offering. Oneneeded to get to the point that he looked to God for cleansing, period.

Even if one could consistently give sacrifices (therecord shows that Israel did NOT keep up the sacrificial system), one is onlyreceiving a ceremonial cleansing. God is not interested in the outwardappearance, but the inward cleansing of the conscience. Some offerings were givenjust in case some sins were forgotten!

The greatest and final sacrifice was provided byGod: “For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinklingthose who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansingof the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternalSpirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience fromdead works to serve the living God? . .. . For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the onewho made it.” (Hebrews 9:13-16)

"Thanksgiving" by Angela Morgan

2011-11-24T08:01:00.001-05:00

Thank Thee, O Giver of Life, O God!
For the force that flames in the winter sod;
For the breath of my nostrils, fiercely good,
The sweet of water, the taste of food,
The sun that silvers the pantry floor,
The step of a neighbor at my door;
For dusk that fondles the window pane,
For the beautiful sound of falling rain.

Thank Thee for love and light and air,
For children’s faces, keenly fair,
For the wonderful joy of perfect rest
When the sun’s wick lowers within the West;
For huddling hills in gowns of snow
Warming themselves in the afterglow;
For Thy mighty wings that are never furled,
Bearing onward the rushing world.

Thank Thee, O Giver of Life, O God!
For Thy glory leaping the lightning rod;
For Thy terrible spaces of love and fire
Where sparks from the forge of Thy desire
Storm through the void in floods of suns,
Far as the heat of Thy Presence runs
And where hurricanes of chanting spheres
Swing to the pulse of the flying years.

Thank Thee for human toil that thrills
With the plan of Thine which man fulfills;
For bridges and tunnels, for ships that soar,
For iron and steel and the furnace roar;
For this anguished vortex of blood and pain
Where sweat and struggle are never vain;
For progress, pushing the teeming earth
On and up to a higher birth.
Thank Thee for life, for life, for life,
O Giver of Life, O God!
(Kauffman, D. The Treasury of Religious Verse. New York: Pyramid, 1973.)

Assurance Leads to Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T08:01:00.016-05:00

I was going to write on Psalm 9, but I never made it past the Superscript. It’s too rich. It reads, “To the choirmaster on muth-labben, a psalm of David.” See what I mean?

You don’t? Well, let me ‘splain. We get the idea right away this is some kind of musical instruction, but we get sort of hung up on that nearly unpronounceable “m” word (just say it with confidence—it’s not that difficult).

There are many different thoughts about what “muth-labben” means: some divide the word up [לַבֵּן מוּת עַלְ (al mut labben)], which can be read “on the death of the son.” Others, based on the Greek translation of the Old Testament keep it all together as one word, עַלְמוּת (almut) which can be understood as a musical instruction, such as “sung with a young voice.” Why could it not be both: the tune is “on the death of the son,” and it is intended for the principle instrument: a young voice?

David was very specific to include this instruction and while it may be debated as to whether or not the superscript of any psalm is inspired (I believe they are), we should slow down long enough to consider what the musical direction tells us about the piece. Think about that (Selah)!
Our 2 ½ year old grand-daughter likes to play outside and she has an affinity to spreading out her blanket on the ground, laying down and going to sleep. She is not particularly tired when she does this—she just feels safe. A person is most vulnerable when they are asleep and she feels she can drop in the grass and rest, no matter what else is happening in the world.

Perhaps if we read Psalm 9 with a child’s voice, we may get an idea of the smallness, the frailty, the humility and child-like dependence of the writer on God. The writer is King David, but don’t let the office he holds influence your thinking. Here’s what I mean: we can safely guess that he wrote this Psalm (and Psalm 10—they go together) sometime between the events of 1 Samuel 17 (the defeat of Goliath and the pursuit of the Philistine army out of Israel) and the events of 2 Samuel 1-8, where we find recorded the death of certain sons.

2 Samuel 1: Saul and Jonathan are dead and David mourns with a warning (2 Sam 1:20—do not give the enemy the opportunity to question the greatness of God because of the death of Saul and his son);
2 Samuel 2-3: after David is anointed King over Judah, Joab (nephew and servant of David) kills Abner (a commander of Saul’s army) and David mourns;
2 Samuel 4: Ish-boseth (son of Saul) is killed and David mourns.
2 Samuel 8:1 credits David with finishing the work that Samson started, beginning with God using David to defeat the Philistine champion.

The pattern isdifficult to miss, but don’t miss this: the psalm expresses triumph over thePhilistines (see Psalm 9:6, 15-16 for example) but following the death of people close to David. God’s handiwork in both Samson and David is plainly seen asthey both were empowered to kill a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:36). The eventsof Judges 14 foreshadow what God was going to accomplish in David: bringingsweetness into a dead land. God has been at work delivering His people! Thisand the first paragraph of Psalm 9 set the tone for the joy in which it isto be sung!

Another clue we may have of the child-like dependency and performance of this psalm is the fact that it is an imperfect acrostic; that is, the first letter in each word of the each line is in alphabetical order (though there are a few letters missing). Here is the point: even a child can remember that God is Deliverer and we can rest in Him with full assurance. Now that opens the door to thanksgiving (9:1ff)!

Confidence Leads to Thanksgiving.

2011-11-22T08:01:00.000-05:00

“What is this confidence that you have?” These are the words of an invader. The Assyrian army has seized all the fortified cities of Judah and is now on the doorstep of Jerusalem. The Assyrian king sent three generals to speak with Hezekiah, not face to face, but to shout public humiliations over the wall. Listen to them strip every ounce of hope in the hearing of the people, “You say (but they are only empty words), ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me? . . . Have I come up without the Lord’s approval against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’” (see 2 Kings 18-9-19:37)

I am firmly convinced that when J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Battle of Helm’s Deep in “The Two Towers” he had the Assyrian invasion in mind. Peter Jackson did a fairly good job capturing the scene for us:

Yes, I think that is fairly accurate (even of the Assyrians).

Psalm 46 was composed during this very time, when then enemy was camped on the doorstep. The sense of the Hebrew in the first verse reads, “God is our refuge and strength, abundantly available for help in tight places.” I don’t like being in tight spots. They stress me out. I don’t do stress well.
The structure of Psalm 46 is beautiful: God is our refuge. He is at the top of the list as the bottom-most foundation. While everything around is falling apart, God remains unshakable, immovable. Hezekiah takes the letters of the invaders and spreads both them and himself out before God where he prays to God, His confidence. That very night, the Assyrian generals met Hezekiah’s confidence when 185,000 Assyrians met the angel of the Lord. Sennacherib, king of Assyrian, retreated.

The psalmist (and Hezekiah) placed their confidence in God because He does not move. The earth moves. Water is patient in its work, and the mountains fall down, but the water only bubbles and retreats in laughter when it is done. Men trip over stones that were once mountains and every mountain of a man falls.

God as refuge is the dwelling place for all who need protection and strength. Think of it: a city is made up of people, so all the people who abide in God will not be moved, even as enemies rage through the night. God will help and night turns to day.

We can take our confidence in God, our refuge. Think for a moment about His mighty work on our behalf: He destroys His enemies, causing their warring to cease, rendering bow, spear and chariot useless. He tells His enemies, “STOP and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Oh, yes! Give thanks because our God is with us, we who dwell in Him who is our refuge. The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Thank You for the Cross, Lord

2011-11-21T08:01:00.000-05:00

God and Respect

2011-11-18T08:01:00.060-05:00

Question: Does God respect people, or not? The Bible says that He respected Abel (Genesis 4:4), the children of Israel (Exodus 2:25; Leviticus 26:9), those who kept His covenant (2 Kings 13:23) and the lowly (Psalm 138:6). Yet, God does not regard persons (Deuteronomy 10:17) and has no respect of persons (2 Chronicles 19:7, Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, Galatians 2:6, Ephesians 6:9 and Colossians 3:25). How do you answer this contradiction?

Answer: Reading the King James Version, the dilemmais easy to understand; however, a simple word study reveals something different. Since we do not speak the English of 1611, we must first check our definitions—does “respect” as we understand the term presently match the understanding of older usages? Consider the word, “prevent”: does it mean, “go before, precede” or does it mean, “keep something from happening?” Since the 1500’s the word “respect” (as a verb) means "treat with deferential regard or esteem." One other point: what about the original languages: Hebrew or Greek? The one word translated “respect” in English is at least four Hebrew words and three Greek words, each with a different meaning.

“And the Lord had respect unto Abel.” (Genesis 4:4). The Hebrew word is sha`ah (look, gaze);

“And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” (Exodus 2:25) The Hebrew word is yada` (perceive, know, see);

“For I will have respect unto you, and make your fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.” (Leviticus 26:9). The Hebrew word is panah (turn);

“And the Lord was gracious unto them . . . and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob . . . "(2 Kings 13:23) Again, panah (turn);

“Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect for the lowly.” (Psalm 138:6) Here the word is ra'ah (consider, see, perceive).

We may pause here and ask, “Does God see, perceive, know, turn toward, consider” persons? He sure does! But exactly how does He do it?

Let’s modernize and complete what is missing from the proof-text of Deuteronomy 10:17, “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.” (ESV);

“For there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons.” (2 Chronicles 19:7). The Hebrew word here is masso (lift up, show partiality);

“God is no respecter of persons.” (Acts 10:34) The Greek word is prosōpolēmptēs (discriminates);

“For there is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans 2:11) The Greek here is prosōpolēmpsia (show partiality);

“God accepteth no man's person.” (Galatians 2:6). This is only part of the text. Again, a modernized full version read, “And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.” He is not swayed or influenced (as if anyone could throw more weight around than He);

“Neither is there respect of persons with him.” (Ephesians 6:9) Again the Greek is prosōpolēmpsia (show partiality). The same is true of Colossians 3:25.

“And if ye call upon the Father, who without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work.” (1 Peter 1:17) aprosōpolēmptōs (impartial). Self-explanatory.

Now we should ask if the first question is a good one, which we clearly see is not. Wouldn’t the better question be, “Does God treat people differently?” the answer is, "No. He is fair, and just because He cannot be bribed by good works. "He does not lift one person up over another, showing favoritism. If He did, we could say He was unfair, so the fact that He is “no respecter of persons” ensures that you get even-handed treatment along with everyone else in a world that despises discrimination.

Since He judges each person according to every man’s work, how does He see your heart? If you’ve ever broken any one of His commands, you must repent—turn from your sin—and put your faith and trust in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. If you rely on your works, you are dead where you stand, being judged fairly. If you are lowly in heart, He will see you.

Randoms

2011-11-17T08:01:00.006-05:00

Justin Taylor answers the question, "Does an Unbelieving Child Disqualify an Elder?"

The Reformed Evangelist answers the question, "Is Inter-Racial Marriage Biblical?"
Modern ills threaten ancient Judean Hills springs.

Unity and love as Apologetics; or "Apologetics For The Rest of Us".

I don't do sports much, but here are 10 of the most unusual sports venues of all time, ever (my fav has got to be "Two Teams, One Endzone".

Researchers Finish Grueling 520-Day Mock Mission to Mars. Two of the three "astronauts" were paid about $100,000.00 each. The Chinese researcher, on the other hand . . .

Now here's a toughy. Standing on the Moon, what would hit the ground first: a feather or a hammer? Astronaut David Scott performed this experiment in 1971:

Trustworthiness Leads to Thanksgiving

2011-11-16T08:01:00.000-05:00

Psalm 27 reminds us that God is not only trustworthy, but that He shares that attribute with us; that is, we can be trustworthy too. We should give thanks. If you think about it, the fact that He shares this attribute with us is astounding because I think I’m a pretty good person--sort of like Peter, the Rock—solid, right? Sure, if you look past the hot-headed impulsiveness. The truth of the matter is I need trustworthiness (among so many other things—but trustworthiness is the topic at present) and to get it, I have to look beyond myself, God-ward.

The first two paragraphs of Psalm 27 (verses 1-11) help us learn the principle of trustworthiness and one cannot help but note the repetition of the command, “Do not fret” when we first see the contrast of evildoers against God. Evildoers cannot be trusted, so don’t get worked up over the fact that someone has done you wrong. Make absolutely certain you don’t envy them and the reason is this: they may be tall and thick, but they will wither and fade.

When we trust God, we are able to put down roots and feed on His faithfulness. All our satisfaction is wrapped up in Him. When we commit the way we do life to Him, He will give us what is on His heart. That’s right—when we line up with the direction He is going, He will get us where He wants us to be. Look at it this way: there are two kinds of people: evil and not-evil (righteous). God will bring out His righteousness as light in those who walk in the light!

Now, how to we go about this?

First, stop what you are doing and prepare to obey with expectation (v. 7). Forget about those others guys because the prosperity of the evil is not the prosperity you need or even want. Remember: there are two kinds of people . . .

Second, don’t get all worked up and lead with your emotions. What does anger have to do with the history of God’s faithfulness? Turn it off. Look, people are not stepping stones or ladder rungs. Others do not exist for the purpose of our personal gain (Zechariah 11:4-5). God will give us what we need, so trust Him. We don’t trust Him when we tell God He is not giving enough or moving fast enough. Remember: the meek shall inherit the earth!

Adrian Rogers told of a preacher serving in a church where he felt God had led him; but, nothing seemed to be working out and he wanted to go to another church. He told a friend, "I know where God put me, and I know God put me here, but I just wonder if He remembers where He put me." He has not forgotten us, but we may forget to trust Him and when that happens, we are no longer trustworthy. When we delight in God and obey with expectation, we trust Him. We have abundant prosperity in Him, so we can go out and not walk on people but serve them. Our service stems from trustworthiness.

Express thanksgiving for His trustworthiness toward you, to carry out His plan through your trustworthiness.

Integrity Leads to Thanksgiving

2011-11-15T08:01:00.001-05:00

Psalm 24 is a beautiful hymn of praise that can help prepare our hearts for meaningful national day of Thanksgiving. This psalm of David falls neatly into two parts, both “bookended” with a direction to pause, think about what is being said.

Verses 1-6 form the first section where we come spiraling in from the outer reaches of space, viewing the earth, the world, its seas and rivers. Then we zoom in on one hill among all hills, and one place out of all places. Interestingly, this place is unlike any other because it is called “His holy place.” Though we realize he is speaking of the “Holy of Holies” within The Temple, the most interesting feature is that God is not limited to this one place as it is located on the earth which just so happens to belong to the LORD. The world and all who dwell in it belong to Him as well. He created the earth it’s seas and hills, yet we ask, “who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?” We may as well ask, “What right do I have to be on this planet?”

God wants us to be here and He makes Himself accessible to all who have integrity. Integrity is not “the glue that holds everything together” or “completeness” for that matter. Integrity is cleanliness. Integrity is what we receive from the LORD when we go to Him and admit we are not clean (vv-5-6). When He makes us clean, we answer the question “who shall ascend the hill of the God?” with “I can!” Think about that.

Have you ever been in a large chamber or a cave or perhaps stood on a cliff against a mountain face? One feature of such an arrangement is the echo. This is the picture I get when I consider the next set of verses (7-10). As if we have ascended the hill and stand in His chamber we hear an echo, “lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the king of glory?” This echo has another echo as the King of glory is identified: He is the LORD of hosts, strong and mighty in battle.

What do integrity and an echo have to do with Thanksgiving? Simply this: you and I cannot be in God’s presence unless He first extends and we receive His integrity. He extends Himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to pay the penalty for our sin and rose again three days later. When we by faith seek after Him and have His righteousness applied to us, we are blessed to receive access to the throne room of God. Think about that and give thanks!

I Can't WAIT To See This One!

2011-11-14T17:30:00.001-05:00

"i can't go on" (a poem for Monday)

2011-11-14T11:12:00.004-05:00

"i can't go on
i mean
i can't go on
i really
can't go on
i swear
i can't go on

so
i guess
i'll get up
and go on."

--Dory Previn

Without Mother or Father? Is He An Alien?

2011-11-11T08:01:00.013-05:00

Question:

Why does the Bible say that Melchizedek is "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life?" Does that mean there are people who did not descend from Adam and Eve?

Answer:

This verse taken alone seems to say exactly that, doesn't it? The best understanding comes from the context of the verse--we can't leave it in isolation. The subject of the context of the passage is the greateness of Melchizedek in terms of his office (the "priesthood") not his greatness as a person. The source of his priesthood is different than those who descended from Levi. Note: "But this man [Melchizedek] who does not have his descent from them [descendants of Levi] received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises." (Hebrews 7:6) His priesthood is different because he was not born into it, as the Levites were. The text even says that in principle the Levites paid tithes to Melchizedek, which underscores the fact that he received his priesthood from a non-Levitical source; that is, not inherited.

There is sufficient evidence to show that Melchizedek was not even an Israelite, but a Canaanite who worshiped the true and living God. He would have done this apart from meeting Abram, who actually came to meet Melchizedek from a polytheistic background!

There is no record showing that Melchizedek received his priesthood from anyone. Furthermore, there is no record indicating the particulars of his birth or his death. Being a man, he was certainly born, but his ministry did not require these vital statistics. Whatever his priesthood was, it was historical, genuine and continues without interruption.

Hear CIU Professor Dr. Mike Langston on “Focus on the Family”

2011-11-10T08:01:00.009-05:00

Columbia International University Professor of Chaplain Ministries, Dr. Mike Langston, will be a guest on the national radio program “Focus on the Family.” The two-part interview Nov. 10 and 11 (Veteran’s Day), is a special tribute to military veterans.

Langston, a retired Navy chaplain, will be joined by Retired Maj. Gen. Doug Carver to discuss their experiences as military chaplains and share inspiring stories of faith on the battlefield. To find a radio station in your area that broadcasts “Focus on the Family,” or to hear podcasts of the programs visit: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio.aspx.

It’s Metempirical!

2011-11-09T08:01:00.006-05:00

While visiting the campus of The University of Georgia a number of years ago, I fell into a conversation with a student and the subject turned to worldview. She said she was an Atheist and a Taoist. I confess that I knew nothing of Taoism (and I still know very little about Taoism, but I understand so-called “Atheism”) and had difficulty determining where to go next, so I just asked, “How would you explain how this Universe came to be?” She replied, “It was a miracle!”

How odd that a so-called atheist would choose that word, “miracle.” I wondered why she chose that word, so I asked her. Her reply? There is no other way to explain how everything “just happened.” I could not agree more. I found out later that her so-called atheism was practical; that is, she understood biblical teaching to point to a lifestyle that was not “for her,” so she embraced another world view. I shared the gospel with her and the need for reconciliation with God, not a lifestyle.

We tend to toss words around out of context and this tends to strip words of their meaning and impact. “Miracle” is the name of a white salad dressing, for example. What is so “miraculous” about it? While it’s similarity to mayonnaise is obvious, it is less expensive to produce--the “miracle” is in the way it’s Kraft-ed.

Yet in the back of the mind, there remains the impact of the word, for people expect much of an event. There are attempts to strip the power of the “miracle” by removing the concept from it’s sacred roots--the new word is “metempirical” which refers to that which is beyond or outside the field of experience. It’s still a miracle. A.W. Tozer illustrates this well when he said there are two types of Board members: “those who can see the miracle and those who can only see their calculators and their strings of calculations.”

I bring this up because the world demands a sign; yet, in their asking, I am convinced the world understands what they are demanding. Even Jesus faced this demand from the most religious people on the planet--and they never saw it, though they saw it. How do I know the world demands a sign? Because the world is constantly looking for something to occur outside the realm of experience. This is part of what drives the entertainment industry--the next level of experience.

Sharing the gospel, teaching the things of God is part of the process of the miraculous because the result is that when one repents, he is a new creation. Something that did not exist before, and the change is instantaneous, it happens right before your eyes. Brethren, you know through reading scripture that God raises the dead--we get to see this happen when through faithful witness we see one who is dead to God come alive in Christ through repentance. We get to see those blinded by the god of this world and who are walking in darkness gain sight and walk in the light! Those who are bound by sin are set free to do everything they should!

Miracles are everywhere and they happen because of your obedient participation with God to the praise of His glory in Christ Jesus!

New To Those Who Will Not Have It

2011-11-08T08:01:00.003-05:00

A couple of weekends ago I was speaking with a man who brought up an objection to the gospel that is very, very common. The conversation reaches a point that goes something like this:

“God commands that all men everywhere repent,” I say.

“But, God forgives and is merciful and gracious,” comes the reply

“Yes, He is, to those who repent,” I respond.

“Are you reading ‘The Holy Bible’? Show me your Bible! Is it ‘The Holy Bible’? You are not reading from the New Testament. You are reading from the Old Testament. The God of the New Testament is a God of grace, not like the wrathful God of the Old Testament,” one objects.

“Regardless of where I am reading, you will find the grace of God in the Old Testament as much as you find the wrath of God in the New Testament. Here, let me show you . . .” and I open the scripture.

“You are twisting the Bible around . . .” and the person usually walks off.

I am amazed (and not surprised) that those who seek to justify themselves before God rely so heavily on their own understanding of scripture without having studied it. This is nothing new. John Calvin writes back in the 1500’s in his Preface to his “Institutes” that “our adversaries, indeed, clamorously maintain that our appeal to the word of God is a mere pretext—that we are, in fact, its worst corruptors.” He writes further, “The true religion which is delivered in the Scriptures and which all ought to hold, they readily permit both themselves and others to be ignorant of, to neglect and despise . . . . the object on which all to a man are bent, is to keep their kingdom safe or their belly filled; not one gives the smallest sign of sincere zeal.”

The man to whom I was speaking made it a point to inform me that he follows his heart in making spiritual decisions—he does not need the scriptures. I asked him how he knew his heart was trustworthy and he could not answer. I asked him if God sees his heart the same way he does and he said he felt God understood his heart. I then held the Law to his heart so he could see that, by his own admission, God saw a heart of sin: lying, stealing, adultery and disobedience. He accused me of scripture twisting and stormed off. I taught him from scripture that God must punish sin and he should repent, turn from his sin and put his faith and trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He left, leaving me to talk to the hand.

Calvin writes, “They call [our doctrine] new, and of recent birth; they carp it as doubtful and uncertain; they bid tell us by what miracles it has been confirmed . . . . they may sport with its uncertainty, had they to seal their own doctrine with their blood, and at the expense of life, it would be seen what value they put upon it.”

The ancient gospel is new to them that will not have it, that Christ “died for our sins and rose again for our justification” (Rom 4:25).

To: my NaNoWriMo friends

2011-11-07T08:01:00.005-05:00

“Blessed are the legend-makers with their rhyme
Of things not found within recorded time . . .
They have seen Death and ultimate defeat,
And yet they would not in despair retreat,
But oft to victory have turned the lyre
And kindled hearts with legendary fire,
Illuminating New and dark Hath-been
With light of suns as yet by no man seen.”

--By J.R.R. Tolkien, ‘Mythopoeia,” in “Tree and Leaf” (London: Unwin Hyman, 2^nd ed. 1988)

Happy Writing this month!

He Knows

2011-11-04T08:01:00.001-04:00

Objection:

Some Bible texts say that God knows and sees everything (Job 42:2; Psalm 44:21; 139:7-8; Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 16:17; 23:24; Acts 1:24; 1 John 3:20), yet other Bible texts say that He does not (Genesis 3:8; 4:14, 15; 11:5; 18:9, 20-21; 22:12; 32:27; Numbers 22:9, Deuteronomy 8:2; 13:3; 2 Chronicles 32:31; John 1:7; 2:2; Hosea 8:4; Jonah 1:3, 10). Textual evidence indicates that God is not as all-knowing as He seems.

Answer:

First, many of the texts used to disprove God’s omniscience actually demonstrate His full absolute knowledge. The context reveals God allowing man see from His perspective, so man can see what he (as a created being) does not know. Often, proof texts are used without discretion, such as Genesis 18:17 which speaks of Abraham, not God, who does not know.

Second, language of other texts (such as those mentioning hiding or being hidden from God) does not imply that God does not know the location of that which is hidden. God wants man to understand that nothing is hidden from his site. There is no place God cannot be and there is no place He cannot know. When I played hide and seek with my children, I knew where they were the whole time and their fun increased the more I pretended I did not know where they were. The same is true with sinful man: he is convinced that he knows where God cannot see and tries to hide there. God wants man to understand that He will search not because He cannot see, but because nothing will escape His sight.

"It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good or evil!'” (Zephaniah 1:12)

Randoms

2011-11-03T08:01:00.015-04:00

Stop Exercising So Hard! Why Moderate Workouts Really Do Work.

Simcha Jacobovici wants to do something nobody has ever done: find the tomb of Jesus. Good luck with that, Simcha!

"CIU Students Read through the Bible in Four Days." I love our students!

Unruffled Patience

2011-11-02T08:01:00.026-04:00

A few years back we sought to expand our street ministry beyond simply doing the work of evangelism by holding a Bible study in a local coffee shop. Many weeks we enjoyed studying through the Gospel of John as we sat outside, drinking coffee or tea. Our study grew more exciting when those sitting nearby became engaged by what they were overhearing. Once we had as many as eleven people gathered around (these tables sat only sat four people per table)! That particular day, one fellow stayed after and poured out his heart, expressing grief over his sexual immorality and dissatisfaction of working as a bouncer at a local gay bar (located, incidentally, about a block down the street from this very coffee shop).

One day, as we were just getting our study started, a personal familiar to me came up the sidewalk—a woman who had once been in my Adult Bible study class about two years previously. I remember her distinctly because as we studied the Gospel of Mark verse by verse, she suddenly stood up and noisily declared she could not stay in the study because she had never read the passage we were studying before and she left! She was convicted by the scripture and she literally ran away! Now, here she was coming into the coffee shop and had to pass right through the middle of our Bible study. Politely, I greeted her and invited her to join us! She smiled, greeted me back, but declined the invitation. She stayed inside and never came out as long as we were there with our Bible study.

The following week, one of the coffee shop patrons (he always sat nearby just within earshot, but never officially joined us) informed me that the owner was having second thoughts about our Bible study. It seems that someone registered a complaint . . .

John Calvin explained his main purpose for writing what we now know as “The Institutes of the Christian Religion” as the preparation “of candidates for the sacred office, for the study of the sacred volume.” His desire was for the advancement of God’s kingdom and the public good of the Church. How was he received?

Calvin appends his Epistle to the Reader in the second edition of his “Institutes” with a response to the course of criticism he received from church officials and others: “[T]he devil, with all his crew, is mistaken if he imagines that, by assailing me with vile falsehoods, he can either cool my zeal, or diminish my exertions. I trust that God, in his infinite goodness, will enable me to persevere with unruffled patience in the course of his holy vocation.” (Geneva, 1^st August, 1559)

When she was a teenager, my wife would come home from church to be met with yelling and berating and cursing—talk about coming down from the mountain! Yet, she stood on the promises of God and held her ground in the face of adversity. You may be at a place in your life where you are trying to get it back together again, reading your Bible and praying. Satan and all his crew do not like this, and they will do all they can to quench your fire.

Over time, our Bible study ended, but not without first getting to know some people, including a few Wiccans. We remain unruffled.

We still go out and point people to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do this because God is still infinitely good and so we remain unruffled.

“They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands.’” – Nehemiah 6:9

“Belagcholly Days”

2011-11-01T08:01:00.002-04:00

Chilly Dovebber with his boadigg blast
Dow cubs add strips the beddow add the lawd,
Eved October’s suddy days are past–
Add Subber’s gawd!

I kdow dot what it is to which I cligg
That stirs to sogg add sorrow, yet I trust
That still I sigg, but as the liddets sigg–
Because I bust.

Add dow, farewell to roses add to birds,
To larded fields and tigkligg streablets eke;
Farewell to all articulated words
I faid would speak.

Farewell, by cherished strolliggs od the sward,
Greed glades add forest shades, farewell to you;
With sorrowing heart I, wretched add forlord,
Bid you–achew!!!

– Unknown, collected in Frederic Lawrence Knowles, A Treasury of Humorous Poetry, 1902
(ht: Futility Closet)

"The Jabberwocky of Authors"

2011-10-17T13:28:00.002-04:00

‘Twas gilbert. The kchesterton
Did locke and bennett in the reed.
All meredith was the nicholson,
And harrison outqueed.

Beware the see-enn-william, son,
The londonjack with call that’s wild.
Beware the gertroo datherton
And richardwashburnchild.

He took his brady blade in hand;
Long time the partridge foe he sought.
Then stood a time by the oppenheim
In deep mcnaughton thought.

In warwick deeping thought he stood–
He poised on edithwharton brink;
He cried, “Ohbernardshaw! I could
If basilking would kink.”

Rexbeach! rexbeach!–and each on each
O. Henry’s mantles ferber fell.
It was the same’s if henryjames
Had wally eaton well.

“And hast thou writ the greatest book!
Come to thy birmingham, my boy!
Oh, beresford way! Oh, holman day!”
He kiplinged in his joy.

‘Twas gilbert. The kchesterton
Did locke and bennett in the reed.
All meredith was the nicholson,
And harrison outqueed.

– Harry Persons Taber, in Carolyn Wells, The Book of Humorous Verse, 1920
(ht: Futility Closet)

"The New Version" (or "Fair Smnlxzrskgqrxzski on the Irkztrvzkimnov") by W.J. Lampton

2011-10-10T08:01:00.008-04:00

"A soldier of the Russians
Lay japanned at Tschrtzvkjskivitch,
There was lack of woman’s nursing
And other comforts which
Might add to his last moments
And smooth the final way;–
But a comrade stood beside him
To hear what he might say.
The japanned Russian faltered
As he took that comrade’s hand,
And he said: 'I never more shall see
My own, my native land;
Take a message and a token
To some distant friends of mine
For I was born at Smnlxzrskgqrxzski,
Fair Smnlxzrskgqrxzski on the Irkztrvzkimnov.'”
– W.J. Lampton

Randoms

2011-10-06T08:01:00.007-04:00

Columbia International University's Chancellor, Dr. George Murray, encourages with this timely and insightful message from Joshua 6-8: "Don't Presume! Don't Despair!"

Like to hike? Planning a trip to The Holy Land? You can help archeologists find more Sabbath markers!

A concise explaination of the Theology of Satan, Angels and Demons.

Get out of your afternoon slump with three "Easy Afternoon Energizers."

"Work Without Hope," by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

2011-10-03T08:01:00.001-04:00

All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair—
The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing—
And Winter, slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!
And I, the while, the sole unbusy thing,
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.

Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow,
Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow.
Bloom, O ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may,
For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away!
With lips unbrighten'd, wreathless brow, I stroll:
And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul?
Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve,
And Hope without an object cannot live.

Now THAT'S Determination For Ya!

2011-09-30T08:01:00.002-04:00

"Whenever I passed, some few years ago, a certain shop-window in the West-end of London, I usually had an additional peep at a large card to which was attached a mummified cat grasping a mummified rat firmly in its jaws. If I remember rightly, these animals were discovered, in a preserved, albeit shrunken and dusty, condition, imprisoned between some rafters in the house during repairs. Evidently the unfortunate cat got jammed in its peculiar position accidentally, and being averse to releasing its own prisoner, and thereby being better able to release itself, held it securely until suffocation to both ensued. It was a striking illustration of the powerfulness of determination exercised by even the smaller class of animals."

– James Scott, “Shopkeepers’ Advertising Novelties,” Strand, November 1895

(ht: The Futility Closet)

Randoms

2011-09-29T08:01:00.008-04:00

Many of the characters in Lewis Carroll’s stories were suggested by the illustrated tiles that decorated the fireplace in his study at Christ Church, Oxford.

Springs in the Dead Sea! "German group pinpoints new types of microorganisms growing in fissures on the saline seafloor near the springs, university announces."

Thabiti Anyabwile comments on Multi-site churches. My two cents: nice idea, but then so was New Coke.

Galatians, Gospel Indicatives and Gospel Imperatives. A sermon of 42 points.

The Gospel according to Jonah. Clear hints of the gospel in unexpected places.

How to Keep a Long Commute from Wrecking Your Healthy Habits.

Another Beautiful Piece of Literature

2011-09-28T08:01:00.005-04:00

A good writer shows the reader, rather than tells. This is a golden nugget of writing:

"We kept on sitting there and admiring the sea which, it seemed, was loath to give up demonstrating that here it came rolling in from eastward, eastward, eastward. It was the eternal east wind, the trade wind, which had disturbed the sea’s surface, dug it up, and rolled it forward, up over the eastern horizon and over here to the islands. Here the unbroken advance of the sea was finally shattered against cliffs and reefs, while the east wind simply rose above coast and woods and mountains and continued westward unhindered, from island to island, toward the sunset." (Heyerdahl, Thor. Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft. New York: Pocket Books, 1984. p. 12)

180

2011-09-27T08:01:00.002-04:00

Impressionist Jim Meskimen Does Shakespeare in Celebrity Voices

2011-09-26T08:01:00.008-04:00

Jim Meskimen performs Clarence's speech from William Shakespeare's Richard III as a number of different celebrities, from George Clooney to Droopy Dog. I hope you have tears in your eyes as I did after watching this! (ht: Tim Challies)

Revolutionize Your Worldview

2011-09-20T08:01:00.015-04:00

"Twenty years before Columbus first returned from the New World, Nicolaus Copernicus was born on a flat, unmoving planet at the center of the universe, around which the sun endlessly circled. A century after his death, the same planet was a rotating sphere orbiting around its sun, somewhere in a universe too vast to have a center. The planet hadn't changed, of course, but the paradigm for understanding it had turned inside out." (Michael Gelb, Discover your Genuis)

While the science of the day said the earth was flat or sat on the back of some animal, the Bible spoke of the earth free floating in space: "He...hangs the earth upon nothing" (Job 26:7).

The prophet Isaiah also tells us that the earth is round: "It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth" (Isaiah 40:22).

"The speculations of a philosopher are far removed from the judgment of the multitude, for his aim is to seek truth in all things." (Copernicus)

"Molly Ban," performed by Allison Krauss and The Chieftans

2011-09-19T08:01:00.016-04:00

There is no finer expression of verse than this. Enjoy!

The Best of Men

2011-09-16T08:11:00.000-04:00

"And I said--this is my infirmity!" Psalm 77:10
The best of men--are but men at best! We all have many remaining corruptions; we are all encompassed, like the high priests of old, with many infirmities. And what effect should the consideration of this humiliating but undoubted truth, produce? Ought it not, among other results, to excite in us a spirit of constant watchfulness?

We are frail creatures--ever liable to fall! And being exposed, in addition, to the wiles of our spiritual adversaries--our danger is considerably greater. It is on our indwelling corruptions, that Satan works--and often, alas, with sad success!

In addition to our general infirmities, it is probable that there is some one, or more besetting sins--to which we are particularly liable; in which case it befits us to be doubly on our guard!

"If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts--then rid yourselves of the foreign gods--and the Ashtoreths; and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve Him only--and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 1 Samuel 7:3

("Brief Thoughts for the Followers of Jesus," McDuff, 1855)

Inspiration

2011-09-14T07:59:00.000-04:00

I got so inspired I nearly passed out!

See more funny videos and TBT at Todays Big Thing.

"For Once, Then, Something," by Robert Frost

2011-09-12T08:01:00.002-04:00

Others taunt me with having knelt at well-curbs
Always wrong to the light, so never seeing
Deeper down in the well than where the water
Gives me back in a shining surface picture
Me myself in the summer heaven godlike
Looking out of a wreath of fern and cloud puffs.
Once, when trying with chin against a well-curb,
I discerned, as I thought, beyond the picture,
Through the picture, a something white, uncertain,
Something more of the depths—and then I lost it.
Water came to rebuke the too clear water.
One drop fell from a fern, and lo, a ripple
Shook whatever it was lay there at bottom,
Blurred it, blotted it out. What was that whiteness?
Truth? A pebble of quartz? For once, then, something.

A Call to Prayer: Moving from Fear to Faith

2011-09-09T08:01:00.004-04:00

"The Pressure of the Moment," by Dara Wier

2011-09-05T08:01:00.011-04:00

The pressure of the moment can cause someone to kill
someone or something

The leniency of consideration might treat with more
kindness

Which is to be desired. Or at least often to be desired.

But if my house is on fire and you notice, I wish you would
kill

That fire. But if my hair is on fire, while I'm sure
you'll be enjoying

The spectacle of it, act quickly or don't act at all. But
if a sudden

Jarring of us all out of existence is eminent, do
something.

9/11 Prayer Initiative

2011-09-02T08:01:00.005-04:00

Ten years ago our nation was rocked by the sights of unparalleled terror on American soil. On 9/11/01 we became painfully aware that we live in a world in desperate need of the hope of Christ.

On Sunday, 9/11/11, join with the CIU family to pray for God’s Spirit to comfort the grieving and draw many Muslims to faith in Christ. We will be led into prayer through a short 5-minute video featuring Christian leaders John Piper, David Platt, Crawford Loritts, Steve Richardson, Mafdy Yany and Robertson McQuilkin. It will be hosted by Dr. Jerry Rankin, Director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at CIU.

This video and a downloable prayer guide, will soon be available at www.prayon911.com.
Please share this video with your church or small group on 9/11 as we all move From Fear to Faith.

Randoms

2011-09-01T08:01:00.012-04:00

I like the Chessboard (scroll down).

Read the Bible in two weeks! Or get the general idea, at least.

Here's a list of 25 books every Christian should read.

Brian asks, "What's the Most Over-rated book?" I thought I was all alone on my pick! So, what do you say?

Here's a few examples of how NOT to clean a window.

"The Drunkard's Will" (by Gorham D. Abbott, 1833)

2011-08-30T08:01:00.021-04:00

"I, ________, beginning to be enfeebled in body, and fearing that I may soon be palsied in mind, and having entered upon that course of drinking from which I have not resolution to flee; do make and publish this, my last will and testament--

Having been made in the image of my Creator, capable of rational enjoyment, of imparting happiness to others, and of promoting the glory of God--I know my accountability. Yet such is my fondness for sensual gratification, and my utter indisposition to resist temptation, that I give myself entirely to alcohol and its associate vices, and make the following bequests--

My property I give to be wasted--knowing it will soon fall into the hands of those who furnish me with liquor.

My reputation, already tottering on a sandy foundation--I give to destruction.

To my beloved wife, who has cheered me thus far through life--I give shame, poverty, sorrow, and a broken heart.

To each of my children--I bequeath my example, and the inheritance of the shame of their father's character.

I give my body--to disease, misery, and early death.

Finally, I give my soul, which can never die--to the disposal of that God whose commands I have broken, and who has warned me by His Word--that no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."

************

"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper!" Proverbs 23:29-32

(From Grace Gems daily devotional)

"Orkney Interior," by Ian Hamilton Finlay

2011-08-29T08:01:00.007-04:00

[Well, that's enough weekend. Back to the real world . . . ]

Doing what the moon says, he shifts his chair
Closer to the stove and stokes it up
With the very best fuel, a mixture of dried fish
And tobacco he keeps in a bucket with crabs

Too small to eat. One raises its pincer
As if to seize hold of the crescent moon
On the calendar which is almost like a zodiac
With inexplicable and pallid blanks. Meanwhile

A lobster is crawling towards the clever
Bait that is set inside the clock
On the shelf by the wireless—an inherited dried fish
Soaked in whisky and carefully trimmed

With potato flowers from the Golden Wonders
The old man grows inside his ears.
Click! goes the clock-lid, and the unfortunate lobster
Finds itself a prisoner inside the clock,

An adapted cuckoo-clock. It shows no hours, only
Tides and moons and is fitted out
With two little saucers, one of salt and one of water
For the lobster to live on while, each quarter-tide,

It must stick its head through the tiny trapdoor
Meant for the cuckoo. It will be trained to read
The broken barometer and wave its whiskers
To Scottish Dance Music, till it grows too old.

Then the old man will have to catch himself another lobster.
Meanwhile he is happy and takes the clock
Down to the sea. He stands and oils it
In a little rock pool that reflects the moon.

Stupid Bike

2011-08-26T08:31:00.000-04:00

It is those moments of sheer stupidity (perhaps the better word would simply be “thoughtlessness”) that reminds us that we are not gods.

I have been trying to get the upper hand on my “corporalita” (specifically, physical health and fitness) by finding a routine at the gym (it’s been more than 25 years since I’ve made regular appearances, so I’m starting all over again). The other day, I made my appearance with every intention of walking on the treadmill. As they were all taken, I sat on a recumbent bike, to wait until a treadmill was open. Like the treadmill, the bike as much potential for a workout, so I thought I would try something different, so I confronted the bike.

As many already know, the treadmill is programmed to provide the user a number of pre-set options to take one through one workout or another; or, the user may manually program his or her own. I use the “Forest Walk” preset (at present, a 40 minute walk, speed 3.0 at 1.0 unit of incline). The computer panel blinks at me with its video game screen even before I step up. “Walk on me and win a prize!”

The panel on the bike was dead. Blank. No lights and no other signs of life. I checked the rear of the bike—perhaps it was unplugged or something. No cords to be seen.

Perhaps it is battery-powered . . .

I checked the next bike: dead.

The next bike: dead.

No bikes today. Oh well.

I waited for the treadmill.

One soon became available and as I stepped up I expressed within my gratitude for my turn that I would have used the bikes, but there did not seem to be working.

“Sure, they work,” the sweaty guy huffed back. “The user generates the power.”

I decided then and there that the little guy on the bike inside my head must have been taking a water break.

Yeah, I'm going back today.

Randoms

2011-08-25T08:01:00.011-04:00

I'm glad I'm not an elevator repair man because if I ever made a mistake, I'd be wrong on every level.

Amazing what one learns from the creases and folds of a cowboy hat. (Dexter, I'm thinking of you, brother).

Have you ever wondered how boards are cut from trees? Here's a sculpture to inform you.

The case that helped forensics consider the science of fingerprinting.

"Patience and Tranquility of mind contribute more to cure our distempers [than] the whole of medicine." (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, written in English, to Johann Georg Kronauer, a language teacher, 30 March 1787)

New Director of the Zwemer Center

2011-08-24T08:01:00.017-04:00

Dr. Jerry Rankin has been named the Director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at Columbia International University. Rankin is the former president of the International Mission Board (IMB). He and his wife Bobbye served served for 23 years in Asia, initially as missionaries in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world.

Dr. Warren Larson, who has served as director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at CIU, will be retiring in June 2012. His scholarly approach to Islamic Studies, combined with a passion to reach Muslims for Christ, has been an inspiration to many of our students. Drawing on 23 years of missionary service in Pakistan, he has shared a wealth of practical knowledge on campus and around the world. Over the years he has been interviewed by numerous news outlets seeking his comments on events in Muslim settings and on Christian-Muslim relations. He was recently named Alumnus of the Year by his alma mater, the Peace River Bible Institute (PRBI) in Northern Canada. After retirement Warren will continue serving the Zwemer Center and CIU through teaching, writing, and blogging.

Finding What I’ve Missed

2011-08-23T08:01:00.013-04:00

Recently I’ve been reading about Leonardo DaVinci and have been intrigued by his style of observation: he did not merely “observe,” but he “examined” everything--even things considered mundane--from at least three perspectives. He was fascinated by what he saw. I thought to test his style and went for a short walk on break the other day. I was astounded at my discovery.

Outside, I accepted the challenged to learn from a cloud of gnats. Yes, gnats. They could not be examined against a light background, so I positioned myself to cast them against a dark background. The gnats did what they do best—the tumbled and jumbled silently in the air, their aerial acrobatics about 6 feet from the ground, rising and falling in an 18 to 24 inch range. I could only imagine how they must have sounded to each other, or what they were doing (but one can guess).

I watched the cloud. These little bugs so small they were barely discernable as bugs, only dots, rising and falling in the air, doing what comes gnaturally. Since the swarm was rather small, I tried to focus on one member. After a few moments of observation, I saw the pattern and was stunned. When each member rose in the air, it spiraled upward in a clock-wise fashion in a loop no more than 8 inches in diameter. When each descended, it reversed direction and spiraled downward counter-clockwise in the same 8 inch loop. Each member ascended and descended clockwise and counter-clockwise in turn. No observable descent was clockwise and contrariwise the reverse—each in its own order.

There is not much I can do with these observations, but I am filled with awe at the intent of the Creator behind it all. His handiwork is clearly seen through the top field of my bi-focals. It took less than 10 minutes for me to find another reason to worship God and thank Him for the care that He shows even the smallest creatures.

As I reflect, I recall how I’ve experienced these little guys with all my senses and never paid attention. Like you, I’ve walked unwittingly into swarms, had them in my ears, and have perhaps have swallowed a few too many without further regard and have never stopped to examine.

I wonder what else I’ve missed? I 'll let you know when I find it.

"It's All I Have To Bring Today," by Emily Dickenson

2011-08-22T08:01:00.008-04:00

I love you, my darling wife! Happy 24th Anniversary!

24 Honeymoons!

2011-08-21T08:01:00.002-04:00

Happy Anniversary, my darling wife!

"Has anyone ascended into heaven?"

2011-08-19T08:01:00.015-04:00

Question:

Jesus says, “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man” (John 3:13); but, the Bible says, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; For God took him” (Genesis 5:24); that “And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11) and “Enoch was translated that he should not see death” (Hebrews 11:5). So which is it: has anyone ascended into heaven, or not?

Answer:

Interesting to note what Jesus says in the previous verse: "If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12).

Jesus’ statement about ascending into heaven is in the context of a conversation and is not some independent mystical inculcation. Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, a teacher who has not understood the very lessons he should be teaching. Jesus says, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Nicodemus shows his confusion, “How can these things be?” (John 3:9). Jesus replies, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and no not understand these things?” (John 3:10). Apparently there is something cultural and historical that this teacher knows but has not understood. The open minded will examine and search out these things alluded to in the text.

Jesus points out that Nicodemus does not merely lack understanding, but that he is clinging to ignorance. “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:11-12) Understanding comes through faith because this is a spiritual truth.

How does one get to heaven? How is one reconciled to God? Can one merely just “go up?” We cannot ascend through reason or understanding, knowledge or good works. We cannot find a way there ourselves. Those mentioned in the Old Testament proofs reveal relationships with God that are worth investigating. Enoch, Elijah and Enoch did not find their way to God on their own accord; rather, God approached them first. He, as it were, descended and as a result of God “stepping down,” they ascended.

Here is the message: “You must be born again” (John 3:7) in order to enter heaven and God made the way possible by descending into time and space to pay the penalty for your sin in order that you may be able to enjoy forever The One who makes Heaven what it is!

Randoms

2011-08-18T08:01:00.022-04:00

Why is it said that we only dream in black and white when my personal experience shows otherwise? Do you dream in color?

As the kids return to school, remember: "The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple." (Gudder)

(ht: Jannai)

35 Breathtaking Aerial Photographs

Astronomers Discover Darkest Known Planet

"We are sometimes a little at a loss, to know if we are doing just the right thing, and if we are doing it at the right time. Perhaps it would not be possible to find any one test which would apply to all subjects and all times. But I have met with one, in the form of a question, which may prove of use in reference to many things — and very often! I am sure that if I had properly used it — it would have prevented my doing many things, which I have had to regret after they have been done. It is this — in whatever engaged, ask the question, "How will this impact on eternity?"

Remember: the highest end of exploration is to bring the unfamiliar into your life.

"The Storm," by Theodore Roethke

2011-08-15T08:01:00.003-04:00

1

Against the stone breakwater,
Only an ominous lapping,
While the wind whines overhead,
Coming down from the mountain,
Whistling between the arbors, the winding terraces;
A thin whine of wires, a rattling and flapping of leaves,
And the small street-lamp swinging and slamming against
the lamp pole.

Where have the people gone?
There is one light on the mountain.

2

Along the sea-wall, a steady sloshing of the swell,
The waves not yet high, but even,
Coming closer and closer upon each other;
A fine fume of rain driving in from the sea,
Riddling the sand, like a wide spray of buckshot,
The wind from the sea and the wind from the mountain contending,
Flicking the foam from the whitecaps straight upward into the darkness.

A time to go home!--
And a child's dirty shift billows upward out of an alley,
A cat runs from the wind as we do,
Between the whitening trees, up Santa Lucia,
Where the heavy door unlocks,
And our breath comes more easy,--
Then a crack of thunder, and the black rain runs over us, over
The flat-roofed houses, coming down in gusts, beating
The walls, the slatted windows, driving
The last watcher indoors, moving the cardplayers closer
To their cards, their anisette.

3

We creep to our bed, and its straw mattress.
We wait; we listen.
The storm lulls off, then redoubles,
Bending the trees half-way down to the ground,
Shaking loose the last wizened oranges in the orchard,
Flattening the limber carnations.

A spider eases himself down from a swaying light-bulb,
Running over the coverlet, down under the iron bedstead.
The bulb goes on and off, weakly.
Water roars into the cistern.

We lie closer on the gritty pillow,
Breathing heavily, hoping--
For the great last leap of the wave over the breakwater,
The flat boom on the beach of the towering sea-swell,
The sudden shudder as the jutting sea-cliff collapses,
And the hurricane drives the dead straw into the living pine-tree.

Randoms

2011-08-11T08:01:00.007-04:00

The last thing I watched on TV was The Weather Channel. Yeah.

Don't believe Facebook. You only have 150 friends.

Archaeologists hope to use a hacked Kinect Game System in Jordan Excavation. "Researchers hope students traveling to an archaeological dig in Jordan will use a hacked Microsoft Kinect as a mobile scanning system, making 3-D models of ancient sites that can then be visited in a virtual-reality environment."

The Roman Legion that lay siege on Masada some 2,000 years ago was forced to use timber from other areas in the land of Israel for its weapons and encampments, and was not able to use local wood as earlier studies have proposed.

Literary passage of the week: "What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. This doesn't happen much, though." (J.D. Salinger, "The Catcher in the Rye.")

And remember: those who say that nothing is impossible never tried slamming a revolving door.

"The Philosopher in Florida," by C. Dale Young

2011-08-08T08:01:00.008-04:00

Midsummer lies on this town
like a plague: locusts now replaced
by humidity, the bloodied Nile

now an algae-covered rivulet
struggling to find its terminus.
Our choice is a simple one:

to leave or to remain, to render
the Spanish moss a memory
or to pull it from trees, repeatedly.

And this must be what the young
philosopher felt, the pull of a dialectic so basic
the mind refuses, normally,

to take much notice of it.
Outside, beyond a palm-tree fence,
a flock of ibis mounts the air,

our concerns ignored
by their quick white wings.
Feathered flashes reflected in water,

the bending necks of the cattails:
the landscape feels nothing---
it repeats itself with or without us.

Randoms

2011-08-04T08:01:00.024-04:00

Apple now has more cash than the US Government.

The last time I laughed (I mean really laughed) was a couple of weeks ago. I laughed so hard, I nearly passed out--twice. We were watching "Enterprise," and the Klingons were experiencing the holodeck for the very first time. The Klingon captain (Volok) gave the officer a geographic survey of the home planet for the experiment. The next scene is looking over the shoulder of this knife-wielding, growling, be-fanged alien as he surveys his home planet. He points and says, "I can see my house from here!" I nearly died--I just wanted to share that with you. It was funny.

7 ways our earth changes in the blink of an eye.

Lessons in Leadership: The PBS documentary, "The Greely Expedition" relates following account: "In 1881, 25 men led by Adolphus Greely set sail from Newfoundland to Lady Franklin Bay in the high Arctic, where they planned to collect a wealth of scientific data from a vast area of the world’s surface that had been described as a 'sheer blank.' Three years later, only six survivors returned, with a daunting story of shipwreck, starvation, mutiny and cannibalism. The film reveals how poor planning, personality clashes, questionable decisions and pure bad luck conspired to turn a noble scientific mission into a human tragedy." Also read "Ice Master: The Doomed 1913 Voyage of the Karluk."

Literary passage of the week: "We went to his study for coffee, a jolly room full of books and trophies and untidiness and comfort." (John Buchan, "The 39 Steps.")

And remember: anything unrelated to the subject of elephants is irrelephant.

Novel Update

2011-08-02T08:01:00.002-04:00

Last November I finished writing the first (and very rough) draft of my first novel. Since then, I have been stuck in “revision-land.” I am somewhat happy with the result, but there is still so much more to do. I actually let the work sit untouched for a few months before I even picked up my little red pen for editing autoposy. There is blood everywhere.

Right now, I am tweaking plot and characters before finalizing all the bad grammar and other errors. Got some great stuff going in—very excited about it, but still a ways to go. I hope to have a “presentable” second draft by Christmas.

Until then, enjoy Anne Bradstreet's (1612-1672) poem, "The Author To Her Book":

"Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain,
Who after birth did'st by my side remain,
Till snatcht from thence by friends, less wise than true,
Who thee abroad exposed to public view,
Made thee in rags, halting to th' press to trudge,
Where errors were not lessened (all may judge).
At thy return my blushing was not small,
My rambling brat (in print) should mother call.
I cast thee by as one unfit for light,
The visage was so irksome in my sight,
Yet being mine own, at length affection would
Thy blemishes amend, if so I could.
I washed thy face, but more defects I saw,
And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw.
I stretcht thy joints to make thee even feet,
Yet still thou run'st more hobbling than is meet.
In better dress to trim thee was my mind,
But nought save home-spun cloth, i' th' house I find.
In this array, 'mongst vulgars may'st thou roam.
In critic's hands, beware thou dost not come,
And take thy way where yet thou art not known.
If for thy father askt, say, thou hadst none;
And for thy mother, she alas is poor,
Which caused her thus to send thee out of door."

"Swimming Song," by Loudon Wainwright

2011-08-01T08:01:00.005-04:00

This summer I went swimming,
This summer I might have drowned
But I held my breath and I kicked my feet
And I moved my arms around, I moved my arms around.

This summer I swam in the ocean,
And I swam in a swimming pool,
Salt my wounds, chlorine my eyes,
I'm a self-destructive fool, a self-destructive fool.

This summer I swam in a public place
And a reservoir, to boot,
At the latter I was informal,
At the former I wore my suit, I wore my swimming suit.

This summer I did the backstroke
And you know that's not all
I did the breast stroke and the butterfly
And the old Australian crawl, the old Australian crawl.

This summer I did swan dives
And jackknifes for you all
And once when you weren't looking
I did a cannonball, I did a cannonball.

Does God have a body?

2011-07-29T08:01:00.006-04:00

Question: The Bible says that God walks (Genesis 3:8; Deuteronomy 23:12-13), stands (Exodus 34:5), has a face (Exodus 33:11, 20), hands (Exodus 33:22-23), has loins and “backparts” (Exodus 33:23; Ezekiel 1:27, 8:2) and there are other passages refer to his eyes, breath, feet, even wings; yet Jesus says that God is spirit (John 4:24) and does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). Does God have a body, or not?

Answer: Let’s approach from this direction: God is a living person with intellect, sensibility, emotions, volition (power of will) and attributes. He is also immaterial. These and other texts use anthropomorphic language to describe God, apart from those instances when God appeared in human form as the Angel of the Lord. Jesus is God in observable form. Since He is unlimited and independent of time, space, matter and motion, God is unrestricted in how He chooses to manifest Himself. These anthropomorphisms help us makes sense of his interests, powers and activities.

Here is a bigger question: why should it matter if God has a body or not? The answer is seen first in the fact that we are His handiwork, made in His image; second, in that everything is essentially spiritual (the physical world is only a subset of the spiritual world, if you will); third, God makes sense of our existence; finally, He is our life. Someone once said that the fact of God is necessary to the fact of man; man apart from God would cease to exist. We understand Him through the ways He reveals Himself, and He is not so far removed from us that He cannot be known.

Randoms

2011-07-28T08:01:00.018-04:00

If I stretch my left arm out as far as I can from where I am sitting, I can touch my coffee pot. Ahhhhhh . . . coffffeeeeeeee . . .

'Antiques Roadshow' Record: Collection of old cups makes man a millionaire

This is without doubt the coolest backyard science project of all time, ever:

Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

Dream with me for a better tomorrow, when chickens can cross roads and not have their motives questioned.

Literary passage of the week: "'Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.'" (F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1).

Socrates Meets a Hero

2011-07-27T08:01:00.000-04:00

Do you have any heroes?

Yes, I suppose I have two or three.

If you could choose one, who would it be?

Now, that’s a very good question, but I have one of my own: how does one choose one hero above another?

Do you think it might be helpful to first know what a hero is? What is hero? Is a hero someone admired, looked up to? If so, what makes him so attractive? Is he superhuman, or simply extraordinary?

What would you say makes a hero?

First, wouldn’t we be best served to remember where we get our word, “hero?” I remember Hero of Alexandria . . .

The one who lived about 70 AD?

Yes, he’s the one. And there is Hero “the Younger,” who was a land surveyor who lived some 400 years before him . . .

And these are the progenitors of our name?

No. We should remember in this case Hero, the son of Priam, King of Troy or perhaps Hero, the priestess of Aphrodite. The former would probably be our patriarch as it pertains to a person.

But what does the word mean?

So good of you to ask: the word means “protector,” or “defender.” Now that we have this understanding, we can appreciate the person as a mythological or legendary figure.

Does this mean they do not exist, but are imaginative?

How did you come to that conclusion? Certainly we may think of Heracles or Perseus, who exist only in story; but, what would one do with Samson or David—real people noted for strength, to be sure, but also for other abilities. A hero, then, could be a person of high quality, morality or spirituality. He or she may be remembered for what they have accomplished such a doctor, or one who is courageous. But do you imagine that is the end of it?

What do you mean?

Could there still be another aspect of “hero” that we have not considered, such as the principle figure of a story? The protagonist?

I see what you mean. The hero is not one that we so much look up to, admire as a model figure, but one who is the central character of a story.

And do you imagine this means he must accomplish something great, or that everything must turn out all right in the end?

Perhaps not.

And why not?

Because he is understood to be the individual that makes the story what it is.

And is that the end of it? Could there still be yet another hero?

What do you mean?

You said that the character is understood. Who is it that is doing the understanding, the interpreting of a story?

The reader.

And could this imply then that the reader is the hero of the story?

Of course! I'm beginning to see . . .

What do you make, then, of someone like Thomas Carlyle, who both lectured and wrote on “Heroes and Hero Worship?”

The Victorian? He tried to identify the ideal leader by considering different qualities and types found in other persons.

Such as? Whom did he consider as heros for his hero?

Carlyle considered Odin, Oliver Cromwell, Napoleon, The Bard, Dante, Samuel Johnson, Rousseu, Robert Burns, John Knox, Martin Luther and Mohammed.

And what heroic qualities did he entertain?

The heroic qualities of Divinity, Prophet, Poet, Priest, Man of Letters and Monarchy.

Do you agree with his assessment, that one hero could be found my amassing many into one?

I have not considered it that deeply.

Can you imagine the results, if he were successful?

Perhaps he could build an ideal heroic leader, but that leader would be highly improbable.

And why is that?

Because he would be more a monster and less a real person, considering that his starting point for divinity is myth (and by that I mean, locally imaginative).

So do you have a list of heroes?

Yes . . .”

And out of that list, who is one that rises to the top for you at this moment? . . .

The Puzzle

2011-07-26T08:01:00.006-04:00

I would rather work a puzzle than play a game and here’s why: puzzles lead to solutions and games end with a judgment; puzzles cultivate will and games exploit weakness; puzzles foster cooperation and games nurture rivalry; puzzles elevate, encourage, bring completion and satisfaction to participants while in games thrive castigation, discouragement, irresolution and dissatisfaction.

The difference may also be seen by considering what it means to “win.” G. K. Chesterton wrote in his essay, “There is no such thing as backing a winner. There is no such thing as fighting on the winning side. One fights to find out which is the winning side.” (“Part One: The Homelessness of Man” in What’s Wrong with the World.) Trying to understand what this means, I think of a cartoon clipping is posted on the door of one of my colleagues. The panel depicts two soldiers pouring hot oil on the enemy below the castle. One says to the other, “Win or lose, I love doing this.” Many don’t know when to stop, and they simply enjoy the thrill of “doing this” to others.

Interesting to wonder along with Socrates who the brave man is: the one who with assistance fights against fewer and weaker men from a stronger position . . . ?

What got me thinking about this was my exploration into why there exists such disunity among people. Why are we divided? Why does segregation happen? These things happen because of selfishness, simply, and this affects the outcome. In other words, how can two sides work toward a solution if they compete? Solutions are unattainable. Think of what this means when people strive for unity: they divide. Every attempt to come together leads to division and the gap of segregation remains unbridged. “Sure, we can come together, but you must do it my way.” This kind of thinking changes the way people relate to others and the outcome is almost always disastrous.

There is a positive side to division: you can’t eat (much less pick up) a pizza unless it is divided. The divisions are not any less “pizza,” and are still part of the whole. You can’t very well put a dollar bill into the parking meter, but need a small division of money. Contrast this with segregation (and here I am thinking “racial segregation”). How many races are there, and if there is more than one, wouldn’t be consistent drop “human race” from our vocabulary? This kind of division works no more than slicing off a part of my pizza and calling it “bread sticks.”

Segregation is good when necessary. For example, employees of a corporation are just that: employees; but there are some meetings that only administrators or executives need attend and not clerks or janitors. I am happy NOT to sit on the President’s Cabinet, or the Dean’s Cabinet, for that matter; but when it comes to strategic thinking on a matter that crosses my desk, you bet I’ll be there!

Here’s the point: humans are hostile because we are fallen. This excuses nothing and affects everything. My next door neighbors will not talk to me because they have broken into my house—they have damaged the relationship, or support others in doing so. We do the same thing when we lie, for example. We don’t live with the best interest of someone else in mind. Instead, we make it a game so we come out looking good in the end. The best interest of someone else should be our own, a puzzle for us to solve together.

"Fishing on the Susquehanna in July," by Billy Collins

2011-07-25T08:01:00.004-04:00

I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna
or on any river for that matter
to be perfectly honest.

Not in July or any month
have I had the pleasure--if it is a pleasure--
of fishing on the Susquehanna.

I am more likely to be found
in a quiet room like this one--
a painting of a woman on the wall,

a bowl of tangerines on the table--
trying to manufacture the sensation
of fishing on the Susquehanna.

There is little doubt
that others have been fishing
on the Susquehanna,

rowing upstream in a wooden boat,
sliding the oars under the water
then raising them to drip in the light.

But the nearest I have ever come to
fishing on the Susquehanna
was one afternoon in a museum in Philadelphia

when I balanced a little egg of time
in front of a painting
in which that river curled around a bend

under a blue cloud-ruffled sky,
dense trees along the banks,
and a fellow with a red bandanna

sitting in a small, green
flat-bottom boat
holding the thin whip of a pole.

That is something I am unlikely
ever to do, I remember
saying to myself and the person next to me.

Then I blinked and moved on
to other American scenes
of haystacks, water whitening over rocks,

even one of a brown hare
who seemed so wired with alertness
I imagined him springing right out of the frame.

Wisdom

2011-07-22T08:01:00.006-04:00

Question: The Bible says those who gain wisdom will have knowledge, understanding, even glory (Proverbs 3:35; 4:7; 10:14; 23:23), receiving something better than gold and strength (Proverbs 16:16; Ecclesiastes 9:16-18). Anyone who lacks wisdom is to ask of God (James 1:15); yet, God does not regard the wise (Job 37:24) and will destroy the wisdom of the wise (1 Corinthians 1:19). Please explain this apparent contradiction.

Answer: Let’s approach this from a different angle by thinking about the qualities necessary for one to be a public leader, a governor, specifically. The ancient Romans valued honesty, simplicity and strength, unlike their Greek predecessors. The Roman family was unified under the rule of the patriarch (who could preside as judge in family trials) and one family was one building block in the structure that was the whole of national government. One might say the Romans were organized, but within themselves. An official, then, must be either elected or appointed to office with all these considerations in mind. Yes, the Roman Empire fell, but it was because Roman morals formed the basis of government—this was their downfall. They lacked wisdom.

One governor betrayed his lack of wisdom with one question, “What is truth?” This may not sound important at first, but consider what this meant in a culture where executive power was held by men who were required to agree on a matter before any action could be taken. J.I. Packer wrote, “Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.”

There are two kinds of wisdom, and this particular governor stood face-to-face with this realization and could have easily acquired that one thing he was lacking. Sadly, at least to our knowledge, he did not. If he embraced what stood before him in answer to his question, then his wisdom would have been destroyed and he would have become a much different person altogether.

Let us now consider another area: science. One school of thought taught students dealing with disease that hands should be washed in still water; but, guess who said that hands should be washed under running water (see Leviticus 15:13)? Science one day said the earth was flat while God said it was a sphere (Isaiah 40:22). Science one day said that the earth rode on the back of a giant animal (or stacks of animals) while God said it free-floated in space (Job 26:7). Wisdom of the wise fails until it confirms what God has already said.

Any wisdom that stands apart from the wisdom of God will prove to be not-wisdom at all. Acquiring the right wisdom is acquiring treasure.

Randoms

2011-07-21T08:01:00.015-04:00

The fourth line of the 18th page in the book nearest me reads, "Thus gently him didst treate." (Edward Taylor, "Upon a Spider Catching a Fly," from The Oxford Book of American Verse. New York: Oxford, 1950).

Excited because they found a new moon, or because they called Pluto a "planet?"
Need Gospel Tracts on a shoestring budget? Visit these sites:

The Library Books are coming home! "The first semi truck load of books returned home on July 19 to the G. Allen Fleece Library at Columbia International University, from their temporary housing in Atlanta. The books were cleaned and restored in Georgia following a May 2009 fire at the library."

Can you name 50 of the most important landmarks of the world?

I leave you with a thought: "Truth fears no questions."

CIU Adds Master’s Degrees in Chaplaincy

2011-07-20T08:01:00.010-04:00

To meet the growing need for chaplains in the United States, Columbia International University is now offering master’s degrees in chaplaincy. Beginning in the fall semester, students can begin working toward a Master of Divinity (Chaplaincy) or a Master of Arts in Chaplaincy in CIU Seminary & School of Ministry.

These degrees will equip students to minister in a variety of settings including military chaplaincy, institutional chaplaincy such as police chaplain or hospital chaplain, and organizational chaplaincy that focuses on the corporate world, sports and those involved in crisis management.

Dr. John Harvey, the associate dean of CIU Seminary & School of Ministry says the chaplain is playing an increasingly important role in today’s world. “In an increasingly un-churched society, the chaplain is the person people turn to in a time of crisis,” Harvey said. Harvey also notes that CIU is strategically located for a variety of chaplaincy work.

“The chaplain school for all branches of the U.S. armed forces is now at Fort Jackson in Columbia,” Harvey said. “Plus, Columbia has four major hospitals, several penal institutions, and is an educational, cultural and business center. There is a wide open door for corporate and sports chaplaincy work.”

Columbia International University Seminary & School of Ministry is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).

No Such Thing as Terminal Christians

2011-07-19T08:01:00.011-04:00

Themes of Ephesians 2 surface again in Romans 5, which should come as no surprise, considering the source. We who needs be reminded often are able to learn once again a deeper truth concerning the principle set forth here, namely, that when we are at our worst, God did his best.

We often use the phrase, “I did my best,” when we return to the dug-out after striking out;
Or when scooping up the casserole off the floor between the kitchen and dinner table;
Or realizing that all the time you spent caulking the bathroom, you used the wrong caulk.

Not so with God. When He gave His best, that’s all He had and He accomplished all He set out to do in giving His best. There was no defeat on His part. Look at what Paul wrote:

We were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2), without strength (Ro 5);
He made us alive in Christ Jesus (Eph 2), who died for the ungodly while we were still sinners (Ro 5);
He in his rich mercy loved us (Eph 2), demonstrating that love in Christ’s death (Ro 5);
We were children of wrath (Eph 2) and are saved from His wrath by His blood (Ro 5);
We are made alive in Christ (Eph 2), reconciled to God (Ro 5);
We are saved through faith (Eph 2) by His life (Ro 5).

God makes sons out of enemies those who by faith in the shed blood of Jesus die to sin and enter in to new life. He brings alive those who are dead in sin—He does not wait until we deal with sin. Ever heard the expression, “turning over a new leaf?” Well, God doesn’t do that—He makes a new leaf.

The story goes that Socrates was once asked concerning his country of origin, to which he replied, “I am a citizen of the world.” The Christian can only say he or she is the citizen of heaven because he is moved from earth to heaven through faith in the captain of his salvation! We are not caught in between, stranded without citizenship like someone stranded in an airport terminal.

“Landscape with the Fall of Icaraus” by William Carols Williams

2011-07-18T08:01:00.004-04:00

According to Brueghel

when Icarus fell

it was spring

a farmer was ploughing

his field

the whole pageantry

of the year was

awake tingling

near

the edge of the sea

concerned

with itself

sweating in the sun

that melted

the wings' wax

unsignificantly

off the coast

there was

a splash quite unnoticed

this was

Icarus drowning

Is Wisdom Good or Not?

2011-07-15T08:01:00.015-04:00

Question: The Bible says that those who gain wisdom will have knowledge, understanding, even glory (Proverbs 3:35; 4:7; 10:14; 23:23), receiving something better than gold and strength (Proverbs 16:16; Ecclesiastes 9:16-18). Anyone who lacks wisdom is to ask of God (James 1:15); but why does it say that God does not regard the wise (Job 37:24) and will destroy the wisdom of the wise (1 Corinthians 1:19)? Please explain this apparent contradiction.

Answer: "Apparent" is the key word here.

To begin with, let’s think over simplistically for a moment about the qualities necessary for one to be a public leader, a governor, specifically. The ancient Romans valued honesty, simplicity and strength, unlike their Greek predecessors. The Roman family was unified under the rule of the patriarch (who could preside as judge in family trials) and one family was one building block in the structure that was the whole of national government. One might say the Romans were organized, but within themselves. An official, then, must be either elected or appointed to office with all these considerations in mind. Yes, the Roman Empire fell, but fell due to the morals that formed the basis of government. They lacked wisdom.

One governor betrayed his lack of wisdom with one question, “What is truth?” This may not sound important at first, but consider what this meant in a culture where executive power was held by men who were required to agree on a matter before any action could be taken. J.I. Packer wrote, “Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.” There are obviously two kinds of wisdom, and this particular governor stood face-to-face with this realization and could have easily acquired that one thing he was lacking. If he had embraced what stood before him in answer to his question, then his wisdom would have been destroyed and he would have become a much different governor.

Consider for a moment the wisdom of science: students were taught that in dealing with disease, hands should be washed in still water. God built into the ceremonial laws of the nation of Israel this instruction: when dealing with disease, hands should be washed under running water (Leviticus 15:13). Again, science said the earth was flat while God said it was a sphere (Isaiah 40:22). Wisdom of the wise failed.

Any wisdom that stands apart from the wisdom of God will prove to be not-wisdom at all.

Randoms

2011-07-14T08:01:00.014-04:00

TSA Fail: Man successfully flies from NY to CA without ticket or ID.

Japan's New Goateed Geminoid Robot is Uncomfortably Realistic.

And if that is not enough: if you want to see what Earth looks like from space, become an astronaut (or, barring that, a space tourist). For the next best view, pay a visit to Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation where a massive, nearly 20-foot spherical OLED orb--the world’s first large scale spherical OLED--offers a satellite’s-eye view of the planet in super high resolution.

Amazing water sculpture fountain:

Books I Am Giving Away

2011-07-13T08:01:00.016-04:00

BookMooch.com is a book trade site

If you see a book you like and do not have a Book Mooch account, I am willing to trade for a book on my wishlist (US only, no international shipping). Just drop me an e-mail or a comment:

Swap your books at BookMooch.com

“And you were . . . but God . . .”: Ephesians 2

2011-07-12T08:01:00.012-04:00

I wish I had the time to go down on the street and interview people for some “live” answers to the question: “How does a person get to heaven?” or “How does a person know he or she is right with God?” I can only begin to imagine the answers:

“You don’t. You just have to take your chances.”
“I am in control of my own destiny. I don’t need God.”
“Heaven is a state of mind” or “Heaven is here on earth” (like, “Hell is here on earth,” right?)
“You have to learn what you need to know to get there. Can we visit your home to tell you more about it?”
“Go to church, be good. Get job, go to school.”
“God will save everybody because He is love and forgives.”
“Admit we have broken God’s law and are helpless in sin. We need to receive His grace and mercy and forgiveness by faith because Jesus died on the cross and rose again to pay our penalty for us.”

I am firmly convinced that every person is mentioned in the Bible and the New Testament book of Ephesians is just one place we can find one description of every person that has lived, is living and will yet live. He wrote, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1).

I was working outside one day when a older neighbor of mine walked by (he does not have a car, so he walks everywhere). We greeted each other and I asked how he was doing (he was not smiling as his usual self). He told me he was upset because he was supposed to go to court. I asked what happened. He told me that he was arrested for trespassing. This was very upsetting to him because (as I’ve already said) he walks everywhere (and everyone knows that)—only this time a short-cut got him in trouble. He was being held responsible and was fearful of the consequences.

We crossed the line, trespassed God’s commands and that brings consequences: spiritual death. We are un-alive. Not living. If my neighbor breaks into my house, our relationship is ruined and when I turn them over to the law, our relationship is still ruined. That’s what we’ve done with God: we violated his perfect standard and pay the consequences. We live according to the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the mind and deserve God’s wrath (Ephesians 1:3). Paul would later write to the Romans that “the body is dead because of sin” (8:10).

God is the judge and that means He must pass down justice, so here is what He did: while we were sin-dead, He paid our sin-fine. He took our punishment on Himself in Christ Jesus. He does not us to experience His wrath, so mercifully extended to us His loving grace in Christ that brings us life, the life that seats us together with Him in the heavenlies! (Ephesians 2:1-10) Note: Paul is not saying that every person receives this benefit, like it or not. This is what Universalists would have us believe. Reading carefully, one will see that Paul is writing to people who have already experienced this grace, not to those who have yet to receive it. Simply put, He took us from sin and death and darkness in order to send us back into it to rescue others who still there remain.

God’s gift of grace found in Christ Jesus is what saves us from death and wrath to come; but, that’s not all. God’s gift also includes the faith we need to acquire this reality. “But,” someone may say,”I don’t know that I have enough faith to believe.” Then you are in the perfect position to receive His gift of faith because this faith is not of ourselves in the same way that God’s gracious gift of salvation is not in ourselves. Grace is a gift of God. Faith is a gift of God. This way we can say “He has done this, ‘in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.’” (Ephesians 2:7)

This has nothing to do with being good or going to school or learning some secret knowledge. A corpse never gets into trouble because it is dead--and it can’t learn anything. We can't control our own destiny any more than we can control our body functions. We are dead in our sins until God makes us alive in Christ Jesus.

Sunrise

2011-07-11T08:01:00.013-04:00

“Now Morn her rosy steps in th’Eastern Clime

Advancing, sow’d the Earth with Orient Pearl,

When Adam wak’t, so custom’d, for his sleep

Was Airy light, from pure digestion bred,

And temperate vapours bland, which th’only sound

Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora’s fan,

Lightly dispers’d, and the shrill Matin Song

Of Birds on every bough . . .”

(From John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” Book V. 1671 ed.)