HF always does a great job when he gets to preach. But H. is there crying in the pulpit? (joking) I don't cry. But I'm OK with those who do. I just hope they don't expect me to cry. H. is such a manly man. Yet he cries in the pulpit. It seem incongruous to me. Yet that is who he is before God.
I have misplaced my notes. But I remember. The part that I identified with the most was when he spoke of God bragging on us. I think it's so true. I have had God give me a glimpse of that. I don't deserve it as much as he does it. It makes me feel humble really. God loves to find the good in us often that we do not even see ourselves.
HF mentioned Job. And yeah Job was not perfect. Yet at the beginning of Job we find God bragging on him. God brags on us too. He knows we are flawed and limited. Yet he gives us credit for trying. He sees our efforts to serve him and live for him and he is appreciative.
Now this morning it hit me. We are to treat others just like that. We are to brag on our friends and our family. Oh. That is so sneaky of God. That's where I fall short every day. Lord help me to do better in this area. I so fail in this area.
As for bragging to Satan about us (as God does about Job). I wish he would not. Then Satan is going to test us. Arrgghhh. But that's life. I guess you gotta take the bad with the good.
That means though that when we do get tested God is sort of in control. So he knows we can handle it. Satan only tests us in areas that God allows. We can handle it. We can trust God is in control. When we pass he will have something more to brag about. (chuckle)
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Apostles Creed - third clause
I really loved when LH mentions a very good point about "resurrection of the body".
The final three points that we believe are: "the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."
LH suggests that the word "body" is important. The word "soul" is not used. The statement is pointedly and consciously rejecting the platonic idea that the soul is immortal but the rest of the body is not. God will resurrect the body not just the soul.
LH suggests that the true view is that the body is one entity. When the body dies all dies. God resurrects the whole body not just a part of it. We shall be resurrected as we are. We will look like we do now. We will be recognizable to our friends and family. The life everlasting will be for our body.
The idea that there is a part of us that is immortal is still commonly held today. But it is not a Biblical concept. It is a Greek concept. Some would say the two views are not incompatible. But I don't agree. And LH does not agree.
It is important because the immortal soul works into a mindset that God is not totally in control. The idea that we are "the captain of our ship, the master of our soul" makes us more in control. But no God is the one who resurrects us from the dead. God forgives us and gives us new life. We who believe will have life everlasting. God promises and God is faithful.
The final three points that we believe are: "the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."
LH suggests that the word "body" is important. The word "soul" is not used. The statement is pointedly and consciously rejecting the platonic idea that the soul is immortal but the rest of the body is not. God will resurrect the body not just the soul.
LH suggests that the true view is that the body is one entity. When the body dies all dies. God resurrects the whole body not just a part of it. We shall be resurrected as we are. We will look like we do now. We will be recognizable to our friends and family. The life everlasting will be for our body.
The idea that there is a part of us that is immortal is still commonly held today. But it is not a Biblical concept. It is a Greek concept. Some would say the two views are not incompatible. But I don't agree. And LH does not agree.
It is important because the immortal soul works into a mindset that God is not totally in control. The idea that we are "the captain of our ship, the master of our soul" makes us more in control. But no God is the one who resurrects us from the dead. God forgives us and gives us new life. We who believe will have life everlasting. God promises and God is faithful.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The fast track - Exodus 19:1-6
It took the Israelites three months to get to Sinai. They had been freed from bondage. After crossing the Red Sea there was no going back. They were free! Now what?
The Exodus wanderings make an excellent allegory for our spiritual journey in Christ. I will never forget the excellent teaching on this subject by Darrell Wafer at Redeemer Episcopal so many years ago. I think Darrell has gone on to his maker. I have heard quite a few anointed teachers since then but he was the first and therefore, in my mind, is the best. I have no way to be unbiased about this. They fact that he was reported to have had feet of clay in no way changes my opinion. That gives me hope that he can (and does) use a sinner like me.
They were on the fast track to maturity. God first brought them before him. He gave them some simple (?!) rules for living and then gave them their marching orders. In a few more months they would be ready to cross the Jordan and take the land God promised to them. God told them he was giving it to them. He told them He would be with them and with Him it would be possible. They had just seen him do some amazing things. They would have to do some work, some cleansing. Before going through the Red Sea they had no choice. They were passive actors pretty much.
Now God was asking them to partner with him. They had already fought a few battles, again mostly out of desperation. God had delivered them and taught them a bit about fighting. The victory goes to the Lord, not to the strongest.
But they were not willing to enter in. They did not have the faith. They looked at the circumstances and not at God. So now they have been willfully disobedient to God.
Now they take the slow track. God send them back into the desert. There will be some joys and some oases. But the ones who rejected God's command would die in the desert. God would let their children enter and take it.
I so greatly identify with the fast track, my sinning, and then getting moved to the slower track. I had a day when I accepted Jesus as my savior. I had my theophany in a trip to Ann Arbor (where I bought my first Bible), then back to Houston and soon a Baptism in the Spirit at the Way Inn Coffeehouse. For my more reformed friends that was like a public confession of faith. For my Anglican friends that was like a real Confirmation, where they do lay hands on you and ask you to receive the Holy Spirit.
Anyway I identify with being truly free and with having burned the bridges to my past. I was telling people about it with quite a bit of grace I think. I was sharing my good fortune like I would if I bought a new car or received a great birthday gift. I was writing psalms in my quiet time. (A co-worker who I found likes poems. So I shared one with her. She described them as being like psalms.)
But then I used my freedom for license. Things changed after that. It was like I was thrown out of my own personal Eden. Guilt had something to do with my change of feelings, sure. Some might say the effect would have eventually worn off. Perhaps.
But after I repented and recovered myself my relationship with God was different. Now I have to use boundaries to keep myself from sinning again. Here is Exodus 19 God speaks of boundaries to keep the Israelites from getting too close to the mountain and being killed. So boundaries are OK. God uses them.
But I do not think that is the freedom the mature Christian. Boundaries are like the law, the Ten Commandments. Paul says those boundaries are for the immature, the carnal. We are to aspire to freedom in Christ. We are to love doing God's work. We go from glory to glory. That is what I had after I became a Christian.
But after I sinned to come back using the slow track. Darrell Wafer, i think it was he, was the first to share the illustration of going around the mountain. If I do not learn the lesson God wants to teach me, I have to go around the mountain again and he offers me the same lesson again, until I learn it. God goes slowly with us because we are so often hard to teach. But he is determined to teach us so that we can grow in maturity, grow in Christ.
Back to the Israelites again: Those who refused to enter into the promised land died in the desert. We too will die but with a difference. We have the lively hop in the promise that Jesus has saved us and will save us. He will save us from sin. Jesus is our advocate before God. We have faith, those of us who are Christians, that Jesus has the standing to do this. He can have us found not guilty. It is not because we are worthy but because our advocate is worthy. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Praise be to God for devising a plan for our salvation!
The Exodus wanderings make an excellent allegory for our spiritual journey in Christ. I will never forget the excellent teaching on this subject by Darrell Wafer at Redeemer Episcopal so many years ago. I think Darrell has gone on to his maker. I have heard quite a few anointed teachers since then but he was the first and therefore, in my mind, is the best. I have no way to be unbiased about this. They fact that he was reported to have had feet of clay in no way changes my opinion. That gives me hope that he can (and does) use a sinner like me.
They were on the fast track to maturity. God first brought them before him. He gave them some simple (?!) rules for living and then gave them their marching orders. In a few more months they would be ready to cross the Jordan and take the land God promised to them. God told them he was giving it to them. He told them He would be with them and with Him it would be possible. They had just seen him do some amazing things. They would have to do some work, some cleansing. Before going through the Red Sea they had no choice. They were passive actors pretty much.
Now God was asking them to partner with him. They had already fought a few battles, again mostly out of desperation. God had delivered them and taught them a bit about fighting. The victory goes to the Lord, not to the strongest.
But they were not willing to enter in. They did not have the faith. They looked at the circumstances and not at God. So now they have been willfully disobedient to God.
Now they take the slow track. God send them back into the desert. There will be some joys and some oases. But the ones who rejected God's command would die in the desert. God would let their children enter and take it.
I so greatly identify with the fast track, my sinning, and then getting moved to the slower track. I had a day when I accepted Jesus as my savior. I had my theophany in a trip to Ann Arbor (where I bought my first Bible), then back to Houston and soon a Baptism in the Spirit at the Way Inn Coffeehouse. For my more reformed friends that was like a public confession of faith. For my Anglican friends that was like a real Confirmation, where they do lay hands on you and ask you to receive the Holy Spirit.
Anyway I identify with being truly free and with having burned the bridges to my past. I was telling people about it with quite a bit of grace I think. I was sharing my good fortune like I would if I bought a new car or received a great birthday gift. I was writing psalms in my quiet time. (A co-worker who I found likes poems. So I shared one with her. She described them as being like psalms.)
But then I used my freedom for license. Things changed after that. It was like I was thrown out of my own personal Eden. Guilt had something to do with my change of feelings, sure. Some might say the effect would have eventually worn off. Perhaps.
But after I repented and recovered myself my relationship with God was different. Now I have to use boundaries to keep myself from sinning again. Here is Exodus 19 God speaks of boundaries to keep the Israelites from getting too close to the mountain and being killed. So boundaries are OK. God uses them.
But I do not think that is the freedom the mature Christian. Boundaries are like the law, the Ten Commandments. Paul says those boundaries are for the immature, the carnal. We are to aspire to freedom in Christ. We are to love doing God's work. We go from glory to glory. That is what I had after I became a Christian.
But after I sinned to come back using the slow track. Darrell Wafer, i think it was he, was the first to share the illustration of going around the mountain. If I do not learn the lesson God wants to teach me, I have to go around the mountain again and he offers me the same lesson again, until I learn it. God goes slowly with us because we are so often hard to teach. But he is determined to teach us so that we can grow in maturity, grow in Christ.
Back to the Israelites again: Those who refused to enter into the promised land died in the desert. We too will die but with a difference. We have the lively hop in the promise that Jesus has saved us and will save us. He will save us from sin. Jesus is our advocate before God. We have faith, those of us who are Christians, that Jesus has the standing to do this. He can have us found not guilty. It is not because we are worthy but because our advocate is worthy. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Praise be to God for devising a plan for our salvation!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The economy will not come back if we are not pro small business
Update from the Speaker
Friends:
“Is it good or bad for small businesses?” That was the question a small business owner posed to me in Tyler this week. He asked me to think about that question every time I made a decision in the legislature that could impact the nearly 400,000 small business owners across the state. It’s an important question to consider because small business owners—Texas’ ranchers, farmers, real estate agents, restaurant owners and high tech entrepreneurs—make up the backbone of our state’s economy. Each started with an idea that grew into a business that now helps fuel our economic engine, hiring people in every pocket of our state.
Some 99 percent of all businesses in the U.S. are small businesses. In Texas, small businesses have an economic impact of $771 billion. That impact is one of the reasons I try to meet with business groups whenever I am traveling, to hear their concerns and learn how government can help—or learn when it is best to stay out of the way. This particular business owner was at a business roundtable I had gathered in east Texas to discuss these important questions.
The advice I heard in Tyler was similar to what I’ve heard from businesses all across the state. If we want to help our small businesses grow, succeed and create jobs, we have to:
• Keep taxes low,
• Keep regulation out of the way of innovation,
• Maintain an environment that encourages entrepreneurship,
• Keep government effective, but limited, and
• Train up a skilled workforce that will run the economy of tomorrow.
We have strong, conservative leadership in Texas that understands the value of small businesses, and it is one of the reasons Texas has weathered the national recession. We have cultivated a pro-business environment. In fact, Texas was ranked second for the “friendliest states for small businesses” in 2010 by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. That ranking is important, but what is more important is that we keep leadership in place that understands the value of business for our state’s economy, and for retaining and growing jobs for our people.
This fall, let’s work hard together to elect more Republicans to the Texas House to help keep Texas’ economic engine running.
Sincerely,
Speaker Joe Straus
Friends:
“Is it good or bad for small businesses?” That was the question a small business owner posed to me in Tyler this week. He asked me to think about that question every time I made a decision in the legislature that could impact the nearly 400,000 small business owners across the state. It’s an important question to consider because small business owners—Texas’ ranchers, farmers, real estate agents, restaurant owners and high tech entrepreneurs—make up the backbone of our state’s economy. Each started with an idea that grew into a business that now helps fuel our economic engine, hiring people in every pocket of our state.
Some 99 percent of all businesses in the U.S. are small businesses. In Texas, small businesses have an economic impact of $771 billion. That impact is one of the reasons I try to meet with business groups whenever I am traveling, to hear their concerns and learn how government can help—or learn when it is best to stay out of the way. This particular business owner was at a business roundtable I had gathered in east Texas to discuss these important questions.
The advice I heard in Tyler was similar to what I’ve heard from businesses all across the state. If we want to help our small businesses grow, succeed and create jobs, we have to:
• Keep taxes low,
• Keep regulation out of the way of innovation,
• Maintain an environment that encourages entrepreneurship,
• Keep government effective, but limited, and
• Train up a skilled workforce that will run the economy of tomorrow.
We have strong, conservative leadership in Texas that understands the value of small businesses, and it is one of the reasons Texas has weathered the national recession. We have cultivated a pro-business environment. In fact, Texas was ranked second for the “friendliest states for small businesses” in 2010 by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. That ranking is important, but what is more important is that we keep leadership in place that understands the value of business for our state’s economy, and for retaining and growing jobs for our people.
This fall, let’s work hard together to elect more Republicans to the Texas House to help keep Texas’ economic engine running.
Sincerely,
Speaker Joe Straus
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Jesus is the smartest man who ever lived
Right? If you are a Christian you believe that right? During the last Christian Worldview class DM asked us this open question, "Who is the smartest man who ever lived?" In innocently asking this he trapped us. DM acts so mild and innocent. But he sneaks up on you. No one responded with Jesus. I acted all know-it-all and suggested a couple of names. (slaps on forehead)
How could I have missed that one? No one else thought of it either. We were neatly set up. Very nice. I have blogged about the intelligence of Jesus before, but its been over a year. If there is any excuse I tend to place Jesus in a different category, he is God-man, not just man. But a Christian believes Jesus was fully man and fully God. What does it mean to be fully man?
I guess God being fully man is not truly settled in my heart. I feel like I should repent and ask for forgiveness or something.
DM spoke about asking questions in his last class. He is obviously a past master at the skill. It's a good one to develop.
Speaking of intelligence, Peter the old fisherman, in 1 Peter is able to create some amazing word pictures. He quotes some telling scriptures in order to encourage his readers. "All flesh is as grass ... but the word of the Lord abides forever." This reminds me of so many passages in Psalm 119.
God's word is enlightening.
Then he uses the image of a cornerstone to describe Jesus. That reminds me of a song. 1 Peter 2:6 - "Behold I lay in Zion a cornerstone ... And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed."
Then he gives the opposite for those who disbelieve, this same stone will be a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense. Those who reject the good news tend to get offended and may get angry.
Then Peter calls them (us) a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation. Peter well knows these names were originally applied by God to the Jews only, by the Jews. Peter is writing to a mixed group but perhaps mostly Gentiles. Peter now understands that all those who believe in Jesus have replaced the Jews as his chosen people. They can be Jew or Gentile. The new chosen race are those who have accepted God's chosen savior.
How could I have missed that one? No one else thought of it either. We were neatly set up. Very nice. I have blogged about the intelligence of Jesus before, but its been over a year. If there is any excuse I tend to place Jesus in a different category, he is God-man, not just man. But a Christian believes Jesus was fully man and fully God. What does it mean to be fully man?
I guess God being fully man is not truly settled in my heart. I feel like I should repent and ask for forgiveness or something.
DM spoke about asking questions in his last class. He is obviously a past master at the skill. It's a good one to develop.
Speaking of intelligence, Peter the old fisherman, in 1 Peter is able to create some amazing word pictures. He quotes some telling scriptures in order to encourage his readers. "All flesh is as grass ... but the word of the Lord abides forever." This reminds me of so many passages in Psalm 119.
God's word is enlightening.
Then he uses the image of a cornerstone to describe Jesus. That reminds me of a song. 1 Peter 2:6 - "Behold I lay in Zion a cornerstone ... And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed."
Then he gives the opposite for those who disbelieve, this same stone will be a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense. Those who reject the good news tend to get offended and may get angry.
Then Peter calls them (us) a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation. Peter well knows these names were originally applied by God to the Jews only, by the Jews. Peter is writing to a mixed group but perhaps mostly Gentiles. Peter now understands that all those who believe in Jesus have replaced the Jews as his chosen people. They can be Jew or Gentile. The new chosen race are those who have accepted God's chosen savior.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
2 Peter 3
Peter speaks to something similar to what Zephaniah spoke to with the Israelites.
Peter saw that people think that God's forbearance shows weakness or inattention. So we are tempted to let ourselves sin. We figure God's not looking or we can repent later. We figure, "what's the harm?"
I think this is how Satan often tempts us. He certainly tempts me in this way. He tells us God doesn't care. He's coming back later, not right now. We can relax.
Peter answers then in a couple of ways. First, he says, look at the marvelous creation around you. God did it. He is still very much involved with the world he made, including you.
Then Peter mentions the judgment that came through Noah. In Noah's time the people thought God was far away. They could not see the judgment that was coming even while the ark was being built. Everyone was too busy. They never looked up. They were oblivious to what was about to happen.
Peter encourages then that God has his own speed. It may look slow to us but he knows what he is doing. God is holding off hoping we will finally repent. But there will be a judgment this time by fire.
We think of 2,000 years as a long time. Jesus still has not come back yet for his saints. But by God's measure it's not.
We must determine to be holy in our behavior, honest in our dealings. Peter says to be at peace, spotless, and blameless. Hold fast to the end. God is here.
Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The glory of God will be upon you.
Peter mentions that we must not distort scripture to make it mean what we want it to. I chuckle to think they were already having that problem in Peter's time. He suggests Paul uses complicated arguments. And those who distort them do so for their own selfish, sinful purposes. We let Satan tempt us. He is certainly willing to distort scripture if we are willing to listen. He is the father of lies.
Zephaniah speaks of God's judgment, it is coming though it seems to be far off. Peter speaks of the same thing. Do not think because you see sin and evil all around you and God doing nothing that he will do nothing forever. And when he is working his judgment we are not likely to even see it until it is fulfilled.
So our job is to stay faithful, do righteously and help others as we are able.
Peter saw that people think that God's forbearance shows weakness or inattention. So we are tempted to let ourselves sin. We figure God's not looking or we can repent later. We figure, "what's the harm?"
I think this is how Satan often tempts us. He certainly tempts me in this way. He tells us God doesn't care. He's coming back later, not right now. We can relax.
Peter answers then in a couple of ways. First, he says, look at the marvelous creation around you. God did it. He is still very much involved with the world he made, including you.
Then Peter mentions the judgment that came through Noah. In Noah's time the people thought God was far away. They could not see the judgment that was coming even while the ark was being built. Everyone was too busy. They never looked up. They were oblivious to what was about to happen.
Peter encourages then that God has his own speed. It may look slow to us but he knows what he is doing. God is holding off hoping we will finally repent. But there will be a judgment this time by fire.
We think of 2,000 years as a long time. Jesus still has not come back yet for his saints. But by God's measure it's not.
We must determine to be holy in our behavior, honest in our dealings. Peter says to be at peace, spotless, and blameless. Hold fast to the end. God is here.
Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The glory of God will be upon you.
Peter mentions that we must not distort scripture to make it mean what we want it to. I chuckle to think they were already having that problem in Peter's time. He suggests Paul uses complicated arguments. And those who distort them do so for their own selfish, sinful purposes. We let Satan tempt us. He is certainly willing to distort scripture if we are willing to listen. He is the father of lies.
Zephaniah speaks of God's judgment, it is coming though it seems to be far off. Peter speaks of the same thing. Do not think because you see sin and evil all around you and God doing nothing that he will do nothing forever. And when he is working his judgment we are not likely to even see it until it is fulfilled.
So our job is to stay faithful, do righteously and help others as we are able.
Zephaniah
Sorry there have not been any blogs in a while. Why you ask? Part of it has been internet problems. We have had AT&T and our internet provider out. Lots of phones changed out to eliminate electrical shorts. We did get a new modem from our provider which helped but it has not totally solved the problem. The internet still goes out a bit. AT&T is coming back out on Wednesday. This time they are going to specifically clean up our noisy line. They have finally admitted that problem. But the line is only bad intermittently. So we are still scurrying to solve the problem.
I've been reading Zephaniah lately. He speaks of judgment for Judah. Judah is pronounced as bad as Sodom. I first thought of myself. Am I corrupt and sinful? Do I deserve God's wrath? It is hard to see myself as bad as these people. But I know I am sinful. I search myself to see what I can do about it to be more holy.
Zephaniah ends with some encouragement about the end times. People will come from other places they have been banished to and worship God in his temple.
Another time reading Zephaniah my mind goes to the depravity of this country. I wonder about those of us who are chosen, will we be punished along with those who are corrupt? That's silly, I probably am no better than most. I imagine myself as a refugee with all the stuff that I have accumulated all destroyed. Can I recover if I have to start over losing all my keepsakes. I realize that I cannot take them with me when I die. I am like a refugee on this earth. My true home is in heaven. I will only take my memories with me to heaven.
But I am God's chosen and Jesus saved me on the cross. He took on my sins. I think back to prophets like Zephaniah. We do not know what happened to them when God finally did come and allow other nations to conquer Judah and take away the survivors. The prophets suffered as refugees along with everyone else.
Those people in Zephaniah's time looked forward to judgment thinking it would fall on their enemies. They were blind to their own sin. Zephaniah told them that judgment would fall on them too.
I think this country to liable for judgment too. It may be judgment in the form of an economic collapse. It may not involve being conquered by an army. We may be conquered by the capitalism that we so depend upon. It may prove treacherous. For example if money become worthless there will be chaos. We will no longer be able to depend upon the illusion of control over our finances. That may be talking to me as much as anyone else.
I've been reading Zephaniah lately. He speaks of judgment for Judah. Judah is pronounced as bad as Sodom. I first thought of myself. Am I corrupt and sinful? Do I deserve God's wrath? It is hard to see myself as bad as these people. But I know I am sinful. I search myself to see what I can do about it to be more holy.
Zephaniah ends with some encouragement about the end times. People will come from other places they have been banished to and worship God in his temple.
Another time reading Zephaniah my mind goes to the depravity of this country. I wonder about those of us who are chosen, will we be punished along with those who are corrupt? That's silly, I probably am no better than most. I imagine myself as a refugee with all the stuff that I have accumulated all destroyed. Can I recover if I have to start over losing all my keepsakes. I realize that I cannot take them with me when I die. I am like a refugee on this earth. My true home is in heaven. I will only take my memories with me to heaven.
But I am God's chosen and Jesus saved me on the cross. He took on my sins. I think back to prophets like Zephaniah. We do not know what happened to them when God finally did come and allow other nations to conquer Judah and take away the survivors. The prophets suffered as refugees along with everyone else.
Those people in Zephaniah's time looked forward to judgment thinking it would fall on their enemies. They were blind to their own sin. Zephaniah told them that judgment would fall on them too.
I think this country to liable for judgment too. It may be judgment in the form of an economic collapse. It may not involve being conquered by an army. We may be conquered by the capitalism that we so depend upon. It may prove treacherous. For example if money become worthless there will be chaos. We will no longer be able to depend upon the illusion of control over our finances. That may be talking to me as much as anyone else.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Pauline Epistles
It may be more difficult to understand what one agrees with than with what one disagrees with.
I can think of two book examples of this. My systematic theology class used as the major textbook a book on dispensational theology by a guy who did not believe it at all. The first two thirds of the book he spent describing his "prey" very accurately. Then in the last part he described his opposition. We were not assigned the last part. But our professor felt his description was very acute.
The best book I have ever read on the subject of the textual accuracy of the Bible (about how accurately the Bible was copied by hand over the centuries before the printing press) was written by a man who has serious doubts about how accurate the Bible is at major points. That is a minority view.
I am greatly enjoying a book called Pauline Epistles by Kech and Farnish (1984) though I do not agree with their supposition that half of the epistles were not written by Paul. But their description of the problems caused if one assumes that is very accurate and interests me greatly.
So even though their conclusions may not be ones I like or agree with their honesty and clarity are making this an interesting book. I am being challenged. Their descriptions of problems have been thought provoking, so far.
I can think of two book examples of this. My systematic theology class used as the major textbook a book on dispensational theology by a guy who did not believe it at all. The first two thirds of the book he spent describing his "prey" very accurately. Then in the last part he described his opposition. We were not assigned the last part. But our professor felt his description was very acute.
The best book I have ever read on the subject of the textual accuracy of the Bible (about how accurately the Bible was copied by hand over the centuries before the printing press) was written by a man who has serious doubts about how accurate the Bible is at major points. That is a minority view.
I am greatly enjoying a book called Pauline Epistles by Kech and Farnish (1984) though I do not agree with their supposition that half of the epistles were not written by Paul. But their description of the problems caused if one assumes that is very accurate and interests me greatly.
So even though their conclusions may not be ones I like or agree with their honesty and clarity are making this an interesting book. I am being challenged. Their descriptions of problems have been thought provoking, so far.
Biblical Worldview
It may be more difficult to understand what one agrees with than with what one disagrees with. I think of that in reference to the class on Biblical Worldview taught by BM for four weeks ending this previous Tuesday. Not that I disagreed with him. It turns out what he calls "worldview" I would call how we relate to the world as Christians. Yes how I relate to the world is based on my worldview. Perhaps more accurately it is based on how I see God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit relating to the world. As much as I am able I try to go and do likewise.
On his conclusions I agree and love some of his applications, specifically the art of asking questions of people that we relate to who do not share our faith in Christ. That and his last point about using similes, as Jesus did with many of his parables, to explain what he meant. He says there is less room for misinformation.
I certainly agree that similes often work better than outright descriptions. But it is so fun and so challenging to try.
On his conclusions I agree and love some of his applications, specifically the art of asking questions of people that we relate to who do not share our faith in Christ. That and his last point about using similes, as Jesus did with many of his parables, to explain what he meant. He says there is less room for misinformation.
I certainly agree that similes often work better than outright descriptions. But it is so fun and so challenging to try.
Monday, August 16, 2010
praying for children
We have declared this "Pray for Children at Risk" week. I never did get if this is city wide. I guess it must be.
I will be glad to pray specially for children.
But the man they brought in to talk to us as a special guest, well I objected to his slant on the subject.
It was all about advocating more government spending. He seemed to miss the irony that he was complaining about the failure of previous government policies. Government is ill equipped to solve social problems like children's welfare and education. We need to pray all the more with an understanding that only God's gracious intervention will work!
Really the only solution seems to be to get parents to do their time honored jobs. He certainly identified reasons why parents do not succeed. But by his total disregard for parents' abilities it seems he has given up on them. But his solutions are often worse than the problems. Government policies are by definition much too impersonal.
Some of his statistics were misleading. I'll leave it there. You know what they say about statistics.
Perhaps the thing that sticks in my craw the most was his total disregard for the worst child abuse of all. That would be abortion. He never mentioned it. Why?
Anyway, yes I will pray for children. We must pray for some repenting and resolution to do good.
I will be glad to pray specially for children.
But the man they brought in to talk to us as a special guest, well I objected to his slant on the subject.
It was all about advocating more government spending. He seemed to miss the irony that he was complaining about the failure of previous government policies. Government is ill equipped to solve social problems like children's welfare and education. We need to pray all the more with an understanding that only God's gracious intervention will work!
Really the only solution seems to be to get parents to do their time honored jobs. He certainly identified reasons why parents do not succeed. But by his total disregard for parents' abilities it seems he has given up on them. But his solutions are often worse than the problems. Government policies are by definition much too impersonal.
Some of his statistics were misleading. I'll leave it there. You know what they say about statistics.
Perhaps the thing that sticks in my craw the most was his total disregard for the worst child abuse of all. That would be abortion. He never mentioned it. Why?
Anyway, yes I will pray for children. We must pray for some repenting and resolution to do good.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Struggling revisited - Genesis 32:22-32
Do you avoid praying and begging God for things that you need? Do you simply pray once and then forget about it? "God knows what I need so I simply trust God for it." Is that a bit of a cop out? God does desire our attention.
Jacob struggled with God. And then God blessed him (29). This is an important part of this story. That blessing changed Jacob's life. Would he have gotten it if he had not struggled with God?
When do I struggle with God? I know I struggle (and get angry) when things do not go my way, when the tire blows out, or the washing machine breaks. Those are times when I call God names.
Why did Jacob struggle with God? We are not told. The action seems initiated by God and not Jacob. But Jacob is about to have a scary confrontation. Jacob has always hated and avoided confrontation. But for the first time Jacob is intentionally walking into confrontation. Do I struggle when I am about to have confrontation? Work meetings are for me a sort of confrontation. I guess any meeting seems like a bit of a confrontation. Thank God I am better than I used to be. I can trust God more in these situations. But I still can get distant, less involved than I should be.
I think Jacob struggled because of his impending confrontation. God initiated the struggle because he loved Jacob and wished better for him. Jacob was blessed and changed by the encounter, not just outwardly.
God loves us too and wants us to do better than we do now. Struggling with God can help bring on these changes. God can and will bless us. That brings the healing that causes change.
I think of the death of our firstborn, Kenneth after three days of life. Did I struggle enough with God for his life? David struggled with God for his doomed child after his sin. He struggled and God said no. Was Kenneth like that? But I was too proud and perhaps too naive to struggle emotionally. There is no answer to this question on this side of the grave. Kenneth is with God and we shall see him some day. That I believe.
Jacob struggled with God. And then God blessed him (29). This is an important part of this story. That blessing changed Jacob's life. Would he have gotten it if he had not struggled with God?
When do I struggle with God? I know I struggle (and get angry) when things do not go my way, when the tire blows out, or the washing machine breaks. Those are times when I call God names.
Why did Jacob struggle with God? We are not told. The action seems initiated by God and not Jacob. But Jacob is about to have a scary confrontation. Jacob has always hated and avoided confrontation. But for the first time Jacob is intentionally walking into confrontation. Do I struggle when I am about to have confrontation? Work meetings are for me a sort of confrontation. I guess any meeting seems like a bit of a confrontation. Thank God I am better than I used to be. I can trust God more in these situations. But I still can get distant, less involved than I should be.
I think Jacob struggled because of his impending confrontation. God initiated the struggle because he loved Jacob and wished better for him. Jacob was blessed and changed by the encounter, not just outwardly.
God loves us too and wants us to do better than we do now. Struggling with God can help bring on these changes. God can and will bless us. That brings the healing that causes change.
I think of the death of our firstborn, Kenneth after three days of life. Did I struggle enough with God for his life? David struggled with God for his doomed child after his sin. He struggled and God said no. Was Kenneth like that? But I was too proud and perhaps too naive to struggle emotionally. There is no answer to this question on this side of the grave. Kenneth is with God and we shall see him some day. That I believe.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Genesis 35
I am positively blessed to see that Jacob considered Bethel to be his spiritual birthplace. This is where he struggled with God and prevailed. Whatever happened there it seems that his heart was changed. He came to see God as his God. He realized that God loved him and was taking care of him. This care was a real sign of God concern for him. Jacob saw God as very personal to him.
Here at Bethel God ceased to be the God of his fathers but his own God as well. Of course this is important for all of us. We cannot live vicariously through someone else's faith. We must find our own.
God found Jacob and fought for him. God does the same for all of us, each in a unique way.
Here in this passage God tells Jacob to move back to Bethel and renew his relationship with him. Jacob responds by doing some cleansing. He requires that everyone in his band give up all their other idols. Also they are to purify themselves and put on new clean clothes. This seems to be the first time any of the patriarchs did anything like this aside of the mark of circumcision.
God responds to this act of obedience and reverence by appearing to Jacob again and giving him a new name, Israel. Abraham was given a new name and he was never referred to by his old name again. However in Jacob's case Israel seems more of a second name, a nickname. It refers to his role as patriarch. After this Jacob is still referred to as Jacob most of the time. He is sometimes referred to as Israel perhaps to underscore his role. But this new name is not like the new name Abram got. Henceforth he was called Abraham. Jacob is still mostly called Jacob.
It is precious that the included here is the death of the nurse of Rachel. She is otherwise never mentioned. What is the reason for this? Is it her missing expertise that explains Rachel's death in childbirth soon after?
We then get the notice that Isaac has died. It seems Jacob, Esau, and Isaac all live separately with their own flocks and servants. Since we started the story of Jacob and Esau as adults Isaac has not been mentioned until now. It appears that from now on Esau and Jacob get along. There is no fear between them, only filial love. Because of the size of their flocks Esau decides to move away to Seir. He understands this land is not his because Jacob has the blessing and the birthright. His behavior is commendable. He refuses to be bitter or hold a grudge, it seems.
Here at Bethel God ceased to be the God of his fathers but his own God as well. Of course this is important for all of us. We cannot live vicariously through someone else's faith. We must find our own.
God found Jacob and fought for him. God does the same for all of us, each in a unique way.
Here in this passage God tells Jacob to move back to Bethel and renew his relationship with him. Jacob responds by doing some cleansing. He requires that everyone in his band give up all their other idols. Also they are to purify themselves and put on new clean clothes. This seems to be the first time any of the patriarchs did anything like this aside of the mark of circumcision.
God responds to this act of obedience and reverence by appearing to Jacob again and giving him a new name, Israel. Abraham was given a new name and he was never referred to by his old name again. However in Jacob's case Israel seems more of a second name, a nickname. It refers to his role as patriarch. After this Jacob is still referred to as Jacob most of the time. He is sometimes referred to as Israel perhaps to underscore his role. But this new name is not like the new name Abram got. Henceforth he was called Abraham. Jacob is still mostly called Jacob.
It is precious that the included here is the death of the nurse of Rachel. She is otherwise never mentioned. What is the reason for this? Is it her missing expertise that explains Rachel's death in childbirth soon after?
We then get the notice that Isaac has died. It seems Jacob, Esau, and Isaac all live separately with their own flocks and servants. Since we started the story of Jacob and Esau as adults Isaac has not been mentioned until now. It appears that from now on Esau and Jacob get along. There is no fear between them, only filial love. Because of the size of their flocks Esau decides to move away to Seir. He understands this land is not his because Jacob has the blessing and the birthright. His behavior is commendable. He refuses to be bitter or hold a grudge, it seems.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
personal
Yesterday I walked to jail for the first Alpha class of the fall session. It was hot but frankly it does not seem to be debilitating. I do not know why that is. Perhaps because our house is only partially air conditioning and the part that is is not cold cold. But I have always hated a really cold building.
Anyway people keep telling me I shouldn't go out but when I do go outside I do not feel awful. I have in the past. Is this something about getting older? I do sweat and have to watch fluids but I sweat in cooler temperature. I feel fine after 3.5 miles. I could use a little more water but otherwise I feel fine. The walk back at 9 PM is cooler. It is no problem. On the way back I stopped for a coke and some chips. One of the prisoners suggested I find a taco stand and get something. They want to know that I ate better than they did after I left. They were going to have Ramen noodles. Did I eat better than them?
While I was walking I found a nearby neighbor is working on an outdoor jacuzzi. The fence is partially down, maybe because they obviously brought in a digger to make a hold close to six feet deep. The walls are too straight. The hole is about 10 feet by 5 feet. Why I think it is a jacuzzi because there are a bunch of PVC pipes run around the edges and especially on one side. I can imagine this as the inside of the wall. When made the jacuzzi will be pretty small.
I also saw a bus car accident up by McKinney and St. Emmanuel. The bus tried to turn and did not see a nice expensive car, maybe a Mercedes. There was a crunch and the bus stopped. The car backed up and the bus continued. They stopped to discuss it. I kept on going.
Just before that there was a suspicious man on a bicycle. He was balancing a big long heavy piece of equipment likely taken from a distribution company. I'm thinking theft. But I have no way to stop him or really to even accuse him. And I cannot bring my cell phone since I am going into jail.
I was less sweaty this week than last week. This week I got an idea from somewhere and brought a fresh shirt to wear into jail.
I should have brought my leader's book. Without that I could not think of any good questions and small group bogged down. Sigh.
Anyway people keep telling me I shouldn't go out but when I do go outside I do not feel awful. I have in the past. Is this something about getting older? I do sweat and have to watch fluids but I sweat in cooler temperature. I feel fine after 3.5 miles. I could use a little more water but otherwise I feel fine. The walk back at 9 PM is cooler. It is no problem. On the way back I stopped for a coke and some chips. One of the prisoners suggested I find a taco stand and get something. They want to know that I ate better than they did after I left. They were going to have Ramen noodles. Did I eat better than them?
While I was walking I found a nearby neighbor is working on an outdoor jacuzzi. The fence is partially down, maybe because they obviously brought in a digger to make a hold close to six feet deep. The walls are too straight. The hole is about 10 feet by 5 feet. Why I think it is a jacuzzi because there are a bunch of PVC pipes run around the edges and especially on one side. I can imagine this as the inside of the wall. When made the jacuzzi will be pretty small.
I also saw a bus car accident up by McKinney and St. Emmanuel. The bus tried to turn and did not see a nice expensive car, maybe a Mercedes. There was a crunch and the bus stopped. The car backed up and the bus continued. They stopped to discuss it. I kept on going.
Just before that there was a suspicious man on a bicycle. He was balancing a big long heavy piece of equipment likely taken from a distribution company. I'm thinking theft. But I have no way to stop him or really to even accuse him. And I cannot bring my cell phone since I am going into jail.
I was less sweaty this week than last week. This week I got an idea from somewhere and brought a fresh shirt to wear into jail.
I should have brought my leader's book. Without that I could not think of any good questions and small group bogged down. Sigh.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Genesis 32:24-32 - Jacob wrestled with God
Jacob wrestled with God, Genesis 32:24-32
Did you ever get the impression that Jacob was supposed to let God win? In our lives, when it is a tug of war between our will and God's will, shouldn't we let God win?
God left Jacob with a permanent defect as a result of their struggle. I think resisting God will leave us with permanent scars. They are mostly emotional scars. I think it is why people need so much healing and the cause of most addictions, even some sickness. When we resist God it is to our detriment. Do we actually do it ignorantly sometimes?
But it is like breaking a physical rule. If we abuse gravity we can get hurt. There are spiritual rules too, the basis of which is the ten commandments. When we break those we get hurt too.
Even so Jacob seems to have gotten some healing or maturity from his struggle with God. When in the next verses of chapter 33, Jacob meets Esau he goes ahead of his family and comes humbly to Esau. Before he likely would have hung back with Rachel. I think some serious life changing happened when he wrestled with God. This is now confronting his fears like a man rather than hiding or sneaking.
God embraced Jacob. Next we see Esau embracing Jacob. In both cases there is reconciliation.
Jacob came asking Esau for forgiveness, perhaps out of fear but he does it and is forgiven. Is there anyone you need to go and ask forgiveness of today. Don't put it off. Your fears will be lightened.
Did you ever get the impression that Jacob was supposed to let God win? In our lives, when it is a tug of war between our will and God's will, shouldn't we let God win?
God left Jacob with a permanent defect as a result of their struggle. I think resisting God will leave us with permanent scars. They are mostly emotional scars. I think it is why people need so much healing and the cause of most addictions, even some sickness. When we resist God it is to our detriment. Do we actually do it ignorantly sometimes?
But it is like breaking a physical rule. If we abuse gravity we can get hurt. There are spiritual rules too, the basis of which is the ten commandments. When we break those we get hurt too.
Even so Jacob seems to have gotten some healing or maturity from his struggle with God. When in the next verses of chapter 33, Jacob meets Esau he goes ahead of his family and comes humbly to Esau. Before he likely would have hung back with Rachel. I think some serious life changing happened when he wrestled with God. This is now confronting his fears like a man rather than hiding or sneaking.
God embraced Jacob. Next we see Esau embracing Jacob. In both cases there is reconciliation.
Jacob came asking Esau for forgiveness, perhaps out of fear but he does it and is forgiven. Is there anyone you need to go and ask forgiveness of today. Don't put it off. Your fears will be lightened.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Matthew 6:25-34
Mat 6:25 So I say to you, Take no thought for your life, about food or drink, or about clothing for your body. Is not life more than food, and the body more than its clothing?
Mat 6:26 See the birds of heaven; they do not put seeds in the earth, they do not get in grain, or put it in store-houses; and your Father in heaven gives them food. Are you not of much more value than they?
Mat 6:27 And which of you by taking thought is able to make himself a cubit taller?
Mat 6:28 And why are you troubled about clothing? See the flowers of the field, how they come up; they do no work, they make no thread:
Mat 6:29 But I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 But if God gives such clothing to the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is put into the oven, will he not much more give you clothing, O you of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Then do not be full of care, saying, What are we to have for food or drink? or, With what may we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 Because the Gentiles go in search of all these things: for your Father in heaven has knowledge that you have need of all these things:
Mat 6:33 But let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition.
Mat 6:34 Then have no care for tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Take the trouble of the day as it comes.
I mentioned worry at Brighton last Sunday. There I said that it was an opportunity to pray. I mentioned that all of us worry. One of my listeners took umbridge with that generalization. I should never worry. He felt that he never did. He spoke at length about it after the service. I thought to myself, "You are in a great nursing home. All your needs are met." But that was unfair of course. His wife has been gone for twenty years and he still speaks of her in the presence tense. I really know nothing of his life. But what I do know he has surely been blessed. He said he is 97 years old. He is very mentally alert and gets around very well with a walker. He has little stoop at all.
In the evening sermon August 8 RC challenged us to know we will be with him in paradise, to have no doubt, to not worry about it.
It boils down to knowing God only gives good gifts. His gifts do not come with curses attached, with unexpected gotchas. They might come with responsibilities but that is not the same thing. We can overcome those.
I am a man of little faith. I pray, and firmly believe that God has a place in his kingdom for men (and women) of little faith.
Even though I am evil (have a bent towards selfishness) I attempt to give good gifts. My Father God is much more willing and able to give good gifts to those who love him. In fact he gives good gifts to all people.
Yet I can be like the lamenting psalmists. I look at my circumstances and complain to God. He hears. The psalmists always end a psalm with a statement of faith. Somethings it seems this statements really do not have much faithful force behind them. The psalmist is making the faithful statement trying to will himself into believing it. I think often he wants to believe it but is struggling to really feel it. At least I know that is true for me. God smiles. He is taking care of me.
Help me God to love you more than money, to trust you more than money. Help me to trust you for security despite the fragility of my investments. Help me to yearn to have more association with you and to love our time together more.
Mat 6:26 See the birds of heaven; they do not put seeds in the earth, they do not get in grain, or put it in store-houses; and your Father in heaven gives them food. Are you not of much more value than they?
Mat 6:27 And which of you by taking thought is able to make himself a cubit taller?
Mat 6:28 And why are you troubled about clothing? See the flowers of the field, how they come up; they do no work, they make no thread:
Mat 6:29 But I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 But if God gives such clothing to the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is put into the oven, will he not much more give you clothing, O you of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Then do not be full of care, saying, What are we to have for food or drink? or, With what may we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 Because the Gentiles go in search of all these things: for your Father in heaven has knowledge that you have need of all these things:
Mat 6:33 But let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition.
Mat 6:34 Then have no care for tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Take the trouble of the day as it comes.
I mentioned worry at Brighton last Sunday. There I said that it was an opportunity to pray. I mentioned that all of us worry. One of my listeners took umbridge with that generalization. I should never worry. He felt that he never did. He spoke at length about it after the service. I thought to myself, "You are in a great nursing home. All your needs are met." But that was unfair of course. His wife has been gone for twenty years and he still speaks of her in the presence tense. I really know nothing of his life. But what I do know he has surely been blessed. He said he is 97 years old. He is very mentally alert and gets around very well with a walker. He has little stoop at all.
In the evening sermon August 8 RC challenged us to know we will be with him in paradise, to have no doubt, to not worry about it.
It boils down to knowing God only gives good gifts. His gifts do not come with curses attached, with unexpected gotchas. They might come with responsibilities but that is not the same thing. We can overcome those.
I am a man of little faith. I pray, and firmly believe that God has a place in his kingdom for men (and women) of little faith.
Even though I am evil (have a bent towards selfishness) I attempt to give good gifts. My Father God is much more willing and able to give good gifts to those who love him. In fact he gives good gifts to all people.
Yet I can be like the lamenting psalmists. I look at my circumstances and complain to God. He hears. The psalmists always end a psalm with a statement of faith. Somethings it seems this statements really do not have much faithful force behind them. The psalmist is making the faithful statement trying to will himself into believing it. I think often he wants to believe it but is struggling to really feel it. At least I know that is true for me. God smiles. He is taking care of me.
Help me God to love you more than money, to trust you more than money. Help me to trust you for security despite the fragility of my investments. Help me to yearn to have more association with you and to love our time together more.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Sermons August 1
As I finished with the day last week I was excited about the two sermons I heard and planned to blog on them first thing in the week. I could not decide which to do first. I thought about working on it Sunday night and then saving them.
You can see I did not. Now they are dim in my memory and I will have to look at notes to even have a chance to blog on them.
In the morning MP gave part three in a sermon series. This is called the Value of Hardship. I have not really figured out how the different sermons tie together.
His conclusion seems to be that we will have to risk to spread the gospel just as Paul had to risk. And there will of necessity be hardship, maybe not as much as Paul had but we can expect it to be hard. It will cost us something. He spoke of a couple in Turkey that has lost a lot because they were caught sharing the gospel. The courts charged them with a crime and after several years the case has not be resolved. An example closer to home was of a late night store clerk who was robbed at gunpoint. She responded by sharing the gospel with him and urging him not to do this. The robber admitted to being a Christian and decided to leave rather than force her. Both of these examples show risk taking in the name of the Lord God.
In the evening we are still going through the Apostle's Creed line by line. This is an interesting idea but the priests are having trouble actually sticking to one line. RC spoke this night. This night the line was "He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God." Well something like that. But the preacher seemed more interested in the line that came before about descending into hell. He wanted to explain hell and talk about the difference between Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades (Greek) understandings. The priest last week also covered this. I guess it was harder to get a handle on today's line.
He did finally get to that line. Perhaps it was just me, I was not interested in what he said about it. I do have some notes here.
He had a cute joke at the beginning and a personal story at the end. He was asked recently why the Apostles Creed has more line about Jesus than about anything else. RC responded by saying maybe it was because Jesus was the first born. First borns always get all the attention. ;-)
RC has told us more than once how he came to move here. His contract at the previous church had run out and he had to find a new church. He asked God to make it easy on him to decide. He asked God to close all the doors but the right one. Then he sent out 24 resumes. God answered his prayer, only one church said yes they were interested and that is how he got here. But recently he was talking to his wife. He said, "I know I am a good priest. I should have gotten more interest than just one church. It was not because I am a bad priest, but because God was answering my prayer that I only received one offer." We were not told what his wife said. hehe ;-)
You can see I did not. Now they are dim in my memory and I will have to look at notes to even have a chance to blog on them.
In the morning MP gave part three in a sermon series. This is called the Value of Hardship. I have not really figured out how the different sermons tie together.
His conclusion seems to be that we will have to risk to spread the gospel just as Paul had to risk. And there will of necessity be hardship, maybe not as much as Paul had but we can expect it to be hard. It will cost us something. He spoke of a couple in Turkey that has lost a lot because they were caught sharing the gospel. The courts charged them with a crime and after several years the case has not be resolved. An example closer to home was of a late night store clerk who was robbed at gunpoint. She responded by sharing the gospel with him and urging him not to do this. The robber admitted to being a Christian and decided to leave rather than force her. Both of these examples show risk taking in the name of the Lord God.
In the evening we are still going through the Apostle's Creed line by line. This is an interesting idea but the priests are having trouble actually sticking to one line. RC spoke this night. This night the line was "He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God." Well something like that. But the preacher seemed more interested in the line that came before about descending into hell. He wanted to explain hell and talk about the difference between Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades (Greek) understandings. The priest last week also covered this. I guess it was harder to get a handle on today's line.
He did finally get to that line. Perhaps it was just me, I was not interested in what he said about it. I do have some notes here.
He had a cute joke at the beginning and a personal story at the end. He was asked recently why the Apostles Creed has more line about Jesus than about anything else. RC responded by saying maybe it was because Jesus was the first born. First borns always get all the attention. ;-)
RC has told us more than once how he came to move here. His contract at the previous church had run out and he had to find a new church. He asked God to make it easy on him to decide. He asked God to close all the doors but the right one. Then he sent out 24 resumes. God answered his prayer, only one church said yes they were interested and that is how he got here. But recently he was talking to his wife. He said, "I know I am a good priest. I should have gotten more interest than just one church. It was not because I am a bad priest, but because God was answering my prayer that I only received one offer." We were not told what his wife said. hehe ;-)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Genesis 31:22-42 Jacob acts precipitously
Jacob flees from Laban. Seven days later in Gilead he is caught. Gilead is just on the east side of the Jordan, some of the tribes later settle there outside of the true promised land.
Jacob did the right thing. He was done in Babylon. It is how he did it that was wrong. He should have confronted Laban like a man. That is what his grandfather Abraham did.
But Jacob was always trying to cut corners find a trick. I can identify. In my case I often call it laziness. But short cuts often get us into trouble and cause things to be worse. This certainly happened to Jacob here.
Jacob was obedient in the big thing, God asked him to leave. But in how he did it he relied on his own understanding and it got him into trouble. He was rash. He did not wait for the proper time or seek God about the proper method.
Another way he was rash was when Laban accused him of taking the household idols he pronounced death on anyone who had them. That was rash and totally unnecessary.
Laban was a rude and unscrupulous man. Without God's intervention telling him not to say anything bad or good to Jacob he might have harmed Jacob. He might have taken the flocks and his daughters back. He seemed to think they were still his. He was not ready to accept the reality. Jacob finally feels enough courage to confront him after the idols are not found. He feels enough anger to finally talk back to him. So Laban backs down.
Laban was a self centered man. Jacob was not much different really. As we continue through Genesis Jacob will go through much heartache and deprivation. But does he ever learn to trust and seek God wholly? It seems that he always trusts his own flawed instincts first.
It is good to acknowledge God and do what he asks. But we must also be sensitive to do it God's way and in his time. This is total trust. When the pressure was on Jacob trusted more in his own abilities. But God's ways are always better than our ways.
I am reminded of my dream the other night from a recent blog. In trying to do a task I found myself at a loss to do it well or safely. I need help from God. In that specific situation I would need help from others and not be too proud to ask.
Jacob did the right thing. He was done in Babylon. It is how he did it that was wrong. He should have confronted Laban like a man. That is what his grandfather Abraham did.
But Jacob was always trying to cut corners find a trick. I can identify. In my case I often call it laziness. But short cuts often get us into trouble and cause things to be worse. This certainly happened to Jacob here.
Jacob was obedient in the big thing, God asked him to leave. But in how he did it he relied on his own understanding and it got him into trouble. He was rash. He did not wait for the proper time or seek God about the proper method.
Another way he was rash was when Laban accused him of taking the household idols he pronounced death on anyone who had them. That was rash and totally unnecessary.
Laban was a rude and unscrupulous man. Without God's intervention telling him not to say anything bad or good to Jacob he might have harmed Jacob. He might have taken the flocks and his daughters back. He seemed to think they were still his. He was not ready to accept the reality. Jacob finally feels enough courage to confront him after the idols are not found. He feels enough anger to finally talk back to him. So Laban backs down.
Laban was a self centered man. Jacob was not much different really. As we continue through Genesis Jacob will go through much heartache and deprivation. But does he ever learn to trust and seek God wholly? It seems that he always trusts his own flawed instincts first.
It is good to acknowledge God and do what he asks. But we must also be sensitive to do it God's way and in his time. This is total trust. When the pressure was on Jacob trusted more in his own abilities. But God's ways are always better than our ways.
I am reminded of my dream the other night from a recent blog. In trying to do a task I found myself at a loss to do it well or safely. I need help from God. In that specific situation I would need help from others and not be too proud to ask.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
dreaming
I just had a long recurring dream. And then a second one which I forgot as I was writing down the first one. I think the meaning (?) of the second one was the same as the first. I start waking up every hour or so after 3 AM usually. Each time I woke up I was still brooding about the same subject.
This night (last night) I woke up with variations of the same dreaming going in my head. Perhaps it was more like a vision. I must have woken up at least five times.
In my dream I was required to get up to the top of an impossibly high ceiling and change something. Maybe it was a light bulb but no it was more than that. Once there it would take some manipulation but it would not be too difficult. At first I was on a long, very long ladder which could be leaned against a ridge than ran like a rectangle in the middle of the ceiling. I may not be describing this well. The ridge was only a few inches deep, maybe six inches. I watched myself from the ground trying to climb this ladder, slowly, taking it one step at a time. I can remember how I felt trying to use a ladder to get to the top of my house roof. Then I would be seeing the situation as through my eyes from far up.
When I got near the top I could see that the ladder had slipped or bowed (I am a big guy) and was about to fall. So I thought I should get down fast. It looked like it was about to fall, that it should fall, but it never did. I wondered if the ladder would fall all the way to the ground or would it land on the wall. In some visions it would have landed on the wall, in others it would fall all the way to the earth.
At one time I asked whether someone small might climb the ladder and I would simply hold it for them. But no this was my job, no one else would take it.
There were times when I wondered how I would get it up there. I never saw how that was resolved but it did. There were others watching and possibly helping so perhaps they helped me. But I was required to do the climbing.
It seems I never got the job done so I tried to get one of those little trucks equipped with a platform to ride myself up to the ceiling. But this ceiling was really high for this and I was afraid at that height if I shifted too much the whole thing would tip over. Looking at it in a vision from the ground it looked really precarious. This did not seem to work either so at the end of my dream I was trying to build a scaffold to reach the ceiling. But I did not really know how to build a scaffold. I never saw it completely built, only half way. And I never finished my task.
What does this all mean? Does it mean anything?
Perhaps it is related to the world view class where I pontificated way too much. I get so worked up. I ventured into a lot of areas that I know I have not mastered, just dabbled in. It may be a case of knowing enough to be dangerous. Perhaps I know a little more than others or they wisely kept their own council.
But the difference is not that significant between anyone there and myself. I still cannot reach resolution. A little voice comes to me and says I should cease trying so hard and just relax and enjoy.
If this dream is God trying to speak to me I'd say its significant that despite my striving ignorantly into a very dangerous situation I seemed to be never truly in danger. I was scared yes. But God always seemed to be taking care of me. He was watching and he cared. You could even say he was proud of me and my strivings, even if they were misguided a bit.
I think the comment by ND to the effect that there must be a balance between saying there is no faith without works (James) or there is no works without faith (Paul). Taking either one to the extreme makes one off. God may be trying to underscore that truth in my heart, not just my mind.
Thanks be to God.
This night (last night) I woke up with variations of the same dreaming going in my head. Perhaps it was more like a vision. I must have woken up at least five times.
In my dream I was required to get up to the top of an impossibly high ceiling and change something. Maybe it was a light bulb but no it was more than that. Once there it would take some manipulation but it would not be too difficult. At first I was on a long, very long ladder which could be leaned against a ridge than ran like a rectangle in the middle of the ceiling. I may not be describing this well. The ridge was only a few inches deep, maybe six inches. I watched myself from the ground trying to climb this ladder, slowly, taking it one step at a time. I can remember how I felt trying to use a ladder to get to the top of my house roof. Then I would be seeing the situation as through my eyes from far up.
When I got near the top I could see that the ladder had slipped or bowed (I am a big guy) and was about to fall. So I thought I should get down fast. It looked like it was about to fall, that it should fall, but it never did. I wondered if the ladder would fall all the way to the ground or would it land on the wall. In some visions it would have landed on the wall, in others it would fall all the way to the earth.
At one time I asked whether someone small might climb the ladder and I would simply hold it for them. But no this was my job, no one else would take it.
There were times when I wondered how I would get it up there. I never saw how that was resolved but it did. There were others watching and possibly helping so perhaps they helped me. But I was required to do the climbing.
It seems I never got the job done so I tried to get one of those little trucks equipped with a platform to ride myself up to the ceiling. But this ceiling was really high for this and I was afraid at that height if I shifted too much the whole thing would tip over. Looking at it in a vision from the ground it looked really precarious. This did not seem to work either so at the end of my dream I was trying to build a scaffold to reach the ceiling. But I did not really know how to build a scaffold. I never saw it completely built, only half way. And I never finished my task.
What does this all mean? Does it mean anything?
Perhaps it is related to the world view class where I pontificated way too much. I get so worked up. I ventured into a lot of areas that I know I have not mastered, just dabbled in. It may be a case of knowing enough to be dangerous. Perhaps I know a little more than others or they wisely kept their own council.
But the difference is not that significant between anyone there and myself. I still cannot reach resolution. A little voice comes to me and says I should cease trying so hard and just relax and enjoy.
If this dream is God trying to speak to me I'd say its significant that despite my striving ignorantly into a very dangerous situation I seemed to be never truly in danger. I was scared yes. But God always seemed to be taking care of me. He was watching and he cared. You could even say he was proud of me and my strivings, even if they were misguided a bit.
I think the comment by ND to the effect that there must be a balance between saying there is no faith without works (James) or there is no works without faith (Paul). Taking either one to the extreme makes one off. God may be trying to underscore that truth in my heart, not just my mind.
Thanks be to God.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Genesis 29:31-35 (and following)
(Genesis 29:31-35 ESV) When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me." She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
Hated is a strong word, but it is the literal meaning. Often it is translated as "unloved" which is probably closer to the intent.
Jacob had two wives. Perhaps not surprisingly they vied for supremacy. This is so foreign to us on a couple of levels. First we think bigamy is a sin, an awful thing. We look and see there are about an equal number of males and females so it's not fair that some would take two wives and leave others to have none. We value faithfulness, as we should. But faithfulness means only one man and only one woman. For some reason this was not a problem for men in Jacob's time. Why? Were things different as far as the ratio of men to women went? Was it only a factor of some could support wives and others could not? Was it kind of a class thing? There was a servant class and they were expected to remain celibate?
Secondly Jacob seems to feel no guilt about having a favorite. In Genesis we read a lot about favorite wives and children. No one seems to feel this is wrong. We certainly do today. Today we are taught to treat each child as an individual but never to think of one as better than the other. I know DW and I certainly tried to do that. I always tried to have no favorites and thought I succeeded.
But according to my children, now grown, I did not succeed. And I think there is some strong feelings about this. They tell me that they agree that we did have a favorite. So perceptions can be very different from one person to another. And children see things differently than adults. Perception is reality I guess. We, as parents, felt we had to spend more time with one child that needed special attention because of their problems. But to the other children more attention meant favoritism. One got more attention, so that meant they were the favorite. As I look back I do not even think that is true. But you cannot argue with perception. So I guess only God can do it perfectly.
Rachel and Leah thought the way to Jacob's heart was to have sons. There is no evidence given that this plan worked. Jacob was steadfast in his faithfulness to Rachel. He was tricked into taking Leah and he never changed his opinion of that. Yet God worked it for his own purposes. Later in chapter 30 there is the part about mandrakes. It seems mandrakes must have been considered a sort of aphrodisiac. Leah trades mandrakes for time with her husband. It seems Leah was not even getting conjugal visits at this time and she had to give Rachel this gift in order to get Rachel to relinquish Jacob. Jacob openly favored Rachel. But in this situation he seems to not be in control, his wives were.
I am interested in Genesis 29:31-35 and the naming of Leah's first four children. It goes on with the rest of them. We are given etymologies for these names. One might call them "folk etymologies" for scholars and Hebrew experts often scratch their heads about the logic. Also notice that Leah seemed to have total control over naming these children. Jacob seems to have no part in it.
The etymologies given for the names do not follow and rules. They seem to be based on word plays, sound alikes. Yet the sound alikes do not seem alike to us. For example Simeon is seemingly based on the word "shama". It does not seem that close to me. But to the Hebrew mind at that time it did. We are left to simply accept it. I don't think we can understand it. I am reminded of nicknames for English kings and queens. How does one get "Bess" for Elizabeth? There are plenty more like that.
Hated is a strong word, but it is the literal meaning. Often it is translated as "unloved" which is probably closer to the intent.
Jacob had two wives. Perhaps not surprisingly they vied for supremacy. This is so foreign to us on a couple of levels. First we think bigamy is a sin, an awful thing. We look and see there are about an equal number of males and females so it's not fair that some would take two wives and leave others to have none. We value faithfulness, as we should. But faithfulness means only one man and only one woman. For some reason this was not a problem for men in Jacob's time. Why? Were things different as far as the ratio of men to women went? Was it only a factor of some could support wives and others could not? Was it kind of a class thing? There was a servant class and they were expected to remain celibate?
Secondly Jacob seems to feel no guilt about having a favorite. In Genesis we read a lot about favorite wives and children. No one seems to feel this is wrong. We certainly do today. Today we are taught to treat each child as an individual but never to think of one as better than the other. I know DW and I certainly tried to do that. I always tried to have no favorites and thought I succeeded.
But according to my children, now grown, I did not succeed. And I think there is some strong feelings about this. They tell me that they agree that we did have a favorite. So perceptions can be very different from one person to another. And children see things differently than adults. Perception is reality I guess. We, as parents, felt we had to spend more time with one child that needed special attention because of their problems. But to the other children more attention meant favoritism. One got more attention, so that meant they were the favorite. As I look back I do not even think that is true. But you cannot argue with perception. So I guess only God can do it perfectly.
Rachel and Leah thought the way to Jacob's heart was to have sons. There is no evidence given that this plan worked. Jacob was steadfast in his faithfulness to Rachel. He was tricked into taking Leah and he never changed his opinion of that. Yet God worked it for his own purposes. Later in chapter 30 there is the part about mandrakes. It seems mandrakes must have been considered a sort of aphrodisiac. Leah trades mandrakes for time with her husband. It seems Leah was not even getting conjugal visits at this time and she had to give Rachel this gift in order to get Rachel to relinquish Jacob. Jacob openly favored Rachel. But in this situation he seems to not be in control, his wives were.
I am interested in Genesis 29:31-35 and the naming of Leah's first four children. It goes on with the rest of them. We are given etymologies for these names. One might call them "folk etymologies" for scholars and Hebrew experts often scratch their heads about the logic. Also notice that Leah seemed to have total control over naming these children. Jacob seems to have no part in it.
The etymologies given for the names do not follow and rules. They seem to be based on word plays, sound alikes. Yet the sound alikes do not seem alike to us. For example Simeon is seemingly based on the word "shama". It does not seem that close to me. But to the Hebrew mind at that time it did. We are left to simply accept it. I don't think we can understand it. I am reminded of nicknames for English kings and queens. How does one get "Bess" for Elizabeth? There are plenty more like that.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Hebrew 12:4-17
Preface: Some complain that they do not get an exercise high. I do not exercise for the high but I am mighty glad when I experience it. I just realized that I do not get it. This morning I did, even after a fairly short and slow walk around the neighborhood. Maybe I get the high more in the mornings. I can remember quite a few morning gym sessions when I was pretty high for several hours afterward. But some have extended their exercise more and more because they got addicted to that high. That is a bad idea.
Hebrew 12 is about the discipline of God, comparing and contrasting that to the discipline of our earthly dads. My dad attempted to discipline me. I reacted by being at times scared and at times angry. I never thought it fair nor just. Was it?
God's judgment is fair and just. It is very different than my dad's. But when bad things happen, when I am called to act in a disciplined manner my first reaction is likely to be anger.
I have to say that my father's discipline was to my good. I learned to persevere in the face of a lot of hardship. But my feelings are usually negative. So I can be hard to live with.
An example is schooling. I never understood someone who gave up and dropped a course. If I got behind or confused in a class I just buckled down, asked for help, worked longer hours. And no I am not smarter. I am about average intelligence. I always managed to catch up and at least make a "C". I can thank my dad for that ability. He forced me to not give up on several occasions.
God's disciple, well I usually chafe at first but then later rethink it. God is much more patient than a human parent. Like the story Jesus told of two sons who their father told to go to the fields and work. I am like the one who said "no" then later thought better of it and went.
Hebrew 12 is about the discipline of God, comparing and contrasting that to the discipline of our earthly dads. My dad attempted to discipline me. I reacted by being at times scared and at times angry. I never thought it fair nor just. Was it?
God's judgment is fair and just. It is very different than my dad's. But when bad things happen, when I am called to act in a disciplined manner my first reaction is likely to be anger.
I have to say that my father's discipline was to my good. I learned to persevere in the face of a lot of hardship. But my feelings are usually negative. So I can be hard to live with.
An example is schooling. I never understood someone who gave up and dropped a course. If I got behind or confused in a class I just buckled down, asked for help, worked longer hours. And no I am not smarter. I am about average intelligence. I always managed to catch up and at least make a "C". I can thank my dad for that ability. He forced me to not give up on several occasions.
God's disciple, well I usually chafe at first but then later rethink it. God is much more patient than a human parent. Like the story Jesus told of two sons who their father told to go to the fields and work. I am like the one who said "no" then later thought better of it and went.
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