Head-dibs

If the Apostle Paul had his way, operating by the plan he had for his own life, he would not have been in the line of work for which he is famous. No, if he had his way, he would have continued on with religious zeal, killing Christians. But he did not get his way. “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” [2 Cor 3:5-6 ESV] Assume that we were able to construct our own spirituality: what guarantee do we have that we've got it right? How can our own spirituality be right if our own compositions are so different? The COEXIST bumper sticker is a lie because the gods represented there disagree with one other and the followers are not listening! Tolerate all you want: the god of my personal understanding (whoever he or she is) will always be greater than yours...

Reigert, R. and Moore, T. The Lost Sutras of Jesus: Unlocking the Ancient Wisdom of the Xian Monks.  Berkeley: Seastone, 2003. I read this short book sporadically then had a conversation with colleague, whose comments in context with his personal background caused me to go back and read the book again. When describing this book to him, this wise man spoke of challenges faced by Chinese Christians to this day; that is, the assimilation of Buddhism with teachings of Christianity. This book described the source of the challenge that, in effect, is centuries old. Moore and Reigery present the history, teachings and suggested meanings of a set of ancient Chinese scrolls containing spiritual teachings, a section of which is presently referred to as “The Jesus Sutras.” While this book would make it good “coffee table” read, some key elements are lost by it’s conciseness. For example, “sutra” is never defined so a good reader would be well served to find the Buddhistic applica...

"Māgha Pūjā,  Makha Bucha, or the  Full Moon of Tabaung  . . .  is an important  Buddhist festival  celebrated in  Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos on the full moon day of the third lunar month (this usually falls in February). The third lunar month is known in the Thai language as Makha (Pali: Māgha); Bucha is also a Thai word (Pali: Pūjā), meaning 'to venerate' or 'to honor'. As such, Makha Bucha Day is for the veneration of Buddha and his teachings on the full moon day of the third lunar month." (source: Wikipedia) This is a day Buddhists strive not to sin, to do only good and purify the mind. This worldview is not understood with ease, being a kind of atheism that rejects the belief of a personal God yet is deeply concerned with maintaining purity with a non-personal Universe. Simply put (as much as one is able), the founder of Buddhism observed a world of suffering and evil under the watch-care of a personal God and he ...

Bathroom graffiti  that makes a difference . President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill granting lifetime Secret Service protection to former presidents and their wives. What is the preferred tool of protection, one wonders? Millions of Hindus try to wash their sins away . H.P. Lovecraft's advice to writers: read the KJV This is what it really looks like to travel at light speed. The response starting at 2:36 is my fave:

Solomon was right: there is nothing new under the sun. Augustine (November 13, 354 – August 28, 430), demonstrated the absurdity of the idea that truth cannot be found, an idea held by many in his day. This idea still persists, and the absurdity still stands. Truth calls man into account, and the attempt to deny truth is an attempt to reject accountability. If there is no truth, then one may do as he pleases, regardless of the implications on others. If there is no truth, then there remains nothing with which to charge a criminal. “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” (Winston Churchill) Nevertheless, man cannot tolerate ruptured relationships, so he must charge an offender with something—truth is more than probable. Those who concede that truth exists find themselves recipients of an invitation to reason with the author of truth. The options are few, so consider: the one who will not reason is intolerant an...

I had to watch this twice because I missed something the first time (the music should have been a clue): Ok, perhaps a little too specialized. Nestled two-thirds of the way through the Old Testament book of Isaiah, we find God discussing religion. Certainly this sounds strange, but in Isaiah 44 we find a tragic-comical commentary of what God thinks of those who make for themselves a god of their own understanding. First, we find a description of the Lord making a people for Himself (44:1-8): He chooses, forms, and pours out blessings as The Incomparable God. God is served by whom He forms, wiping out transgressions, redeems, receives worship and is glorified as The Maker of all things, “causing the signs of boasters to fail, making fools out of diviners,, causing wise men to draw back, and turning their knowledge into foolishness,” the One who performs His desires (44:21-28). Isaiah 44:9-20 describes the contrasting action of idolatrous man, who in futility makes a profitless and shame...

"To rest all upon the everlasting mountains of God’s love and grace in Christ, to live continually in the sight of Christ’s infinite righteousness and merits, they are sanctifying. Without them the heart is carnal, and in those sights to see the full vileness, yet littleness of sin (in comparison to Christ’s righteousness), and to see all pardoned: in those sights to pray, hear, and so forth, seeing your polluted self, and all your weak performances, accepted continually; in those sights to trample upon all your self-glories, righteousness, privileges, as abominable, and be found continually in the righteousness of Christ only, rejoicing in the ruins of your own righteousness, the spoiling of all your own excellencies, that Christ alone, as Mediator, may be exalted in His throne. Mourn over all your duties however glorious, that you have not performed in the sight and sense of Christ’s love. Without the blood of Christ on your conscience, all is dead service (Heb 9:14)." Tho...

Anyone who has read the book of Revelation has met the woman sitting on a scarlet beast, in chapter 17. She is dressed in purple and scarlet, is adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, has a cup and something written on her forehead. Right after this John says, “ And when I saw her, I wondered greatly .” (17:3-6) The woman is, for the sake of explanation, like a “cartoon” version of something else—she is explained to be “the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth” (17:18). Much like Daniel saw a “cartoon” of the empires of the world in the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, John saw this woman as a representation. John was astonished by what he saw, and when I saw through John’s eyes, please know that I was astonished, too. I’ve been studying the Bible for years and this passage is one that has been a matter of discussion for centuries. Many, many interpretations and explanations have been offered. Please understand that I am making no claim at “new understan...

Here's hoping for long delays! Massage parlors, beds, swimming pools . . . why even get on the plane ? Ever wonder about how " youthtastic " your Youth Minister (Student Pastor) is? Dr. Larson provides insight about economic sanctions against Iran . Want to see 5000 years of religion in 90 seconds ? Which is bigger: logic; or, sin ? Oh, and on this day, April 15 (the day we file our taxes): The Titanic sunk, Lincoln was assassinated, San Franciso rocked in an earthquake (1906), not to mention the Fall of Saigon (1975), Chernobyl (1985), the Los Angeles Riots (1992), Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine shootings, and the introduction of "New Coke" (1985)? I'm starting to see a pattern here . . .

"In religion, the things about which men agree are apt to be the things that are least worth holding; the really important things are the things about which men will fight." (J. Gresham Machen, 1881-1937)

"While that great body [of the Roman Empire] was invaded by open violence and undermined by slow decay, a pure and humble religion gently insinuated itself into the minds of men, grew up in silence and obscurity, derived new vigor from opposition, and finally erected the triumphant banner of the Cross on the ruins of the capitol." Edward Gibbon, "The Decline And Fall of the Roman Empire." (1776)

"Everything has that mysterious 'something' nowadays, whether washing powder or gasoline or vitamin pills or shaving cream or tooth paste-- everything has that new added element that no other brand has. This magic X has a wonderful unpronounceable name not yet in any dictionary. We smile, but thousands of gullible mortals will buy truckloads of the hokum and find it no better than something else they fell for months ago.” (Vance Havner, 1901 - 1986)

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Yesterday at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama gave the following speech wherein he made some very particular comments. USA Today also carried a concise run-down: Regarding the history of the Prayer Breakfast, the President said it "strikes me that this is one of the rare occasions that still brings much of the world together in a moment of peace and goodwill." The President said, "There is no doubt that the very nature of faith means that some of our beliefs will never be the same. We read from different texts. We follow different edicts. We subscribe to different accounts of how we came to be here and where we’re going next – and some subscribe to no faith at all." The " Friendly Athiest " remarked, "It’s strange hearing a politician mention non-religious people in a positive, inclusive way. I could get used to this." The President went on to say, "But no matter what we choose to believe, let us remember that there ...

"When I look at religion I have two questions. One, has anybody ever conquered death and two, if they have, did they make a way for me to conquer death? I checked the tomb of Buddha, and it was occupied, and I checked the tomb of Confucius and it was occupied, I checked the tomb of Mohammed and it was occupied, and I came to the tomb of Jesus and it was empty. And I said, there is one who conquered death. And I asked the second question, did He make a way for me to do it too? And I opened the Bible and discovered that He said, ‘ Because I live you shall live also .’" G.B. Hardy

"Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD'S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day. So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD you...

Thoughts on “Religious Affections” “Religion” has been explained to be an attempt to explain or understand the Creator. The noun “religion” can be actually be traced to the French root “relier” which implies the idea of “connection”; that is, “to rely.” Is your life characterized by commitment, devotion and practice, service in worship of the Creator on whom you rely? In other words do you demonstrate a mastery of divinity, or are you mastered by divinity? Human beings exist either in the state of action or the state of non-action. If we are not caused to move or act, then we will remain at “rest” until we choose to move. Jonathan Edwards, in his master-work “ Religious Affections ,” explains the nature of humanity is to be inactive unless influenced by our affections. “These affections are the ‘spring of action,’ the things that set us moving in our lives, that move us to engage in activities.” In other words, we are disinclined to act unless our own purposes are served. Edwards conti...

" . . . pure and genuine religion, namely, confidence in God coupled with serious fear—fear, which both includes in it willing reverence, and brings along with it such legitimate worship as is prescribed by the law. And it ought to be more carefully considered that all men promiscuously do homage to God, but very few truly reverence him. On all hands there is abundance of ostentatious ceremonies, but sincerity of heart is rare." Calvin, J., & Beveridge, H. (1997). Institutes of the Christian religion . Translation of: Institutio Christianae religionis.; Reprint, with new introd. Originally published: Edinburgh : Calvin Translation Society, 1845-1846. (I, ii, 2). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

In the latest census in Great Britain, 390,000 people reported their religion as"Jedi." The "Star Wars Religion" now ranks 4th overall behind Christians,Muslims, and Hindus and actually ahead of Jews and Atheists. Read more here ********* That's no space station! That's a moon! Read more about this wonder of God's creation here

It's been a busy month with Intensives going on. In my "downtime" last night, I read George Washington's Farewell Address. Remember him? The first President of the United States wrote this (bold characters are my emphasis): " Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports . In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness—these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, "where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice?" And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality ca...