November 11

By | November 9, 2009
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The Iraqi military is using the latest in military technology.  If only suicide bombers were so “smart.”

One blogger answers the question of how he manages a busy life with four kids. If you have kids, you might find some helpful advice here.

Desiring God has some interesting and affordable book packages in time for Christmas shopping.  The Bargain Hunter deal gets you 4 good books for $10.  The New Christian collection is solid too.

You can now buy jeans at Amazon.  Here’s why I like this: they have my size.  I must be an odd size because it is hard to find at the store.  I just ordered (Levis 560) and saved 30 minutes (at least).

Recently I linked to the Bible vs. the Book of Mormon video online.  The team behind that continues to develop resources that will strengthen your faith and challenge some false assumptions of Mormons.  Times are tough and they are looking for support.

Less Sweet Enjoyments?

By | November 7, 2009
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By J. R. Miller, via Grace Gems:

Is the love of pleasure growing upon you, gaining the power and the ascendency over you? Is it dulling the keenness of your zest for spiritual pleasures? Is it making Bible-study, prayer, communion with Christ, meditation upon holy themes–less sweet enjoyments than before? Is it making your hunger for righteousness, for God–less intense? Is it interfering with the comfort and blessing you used to find in worship services, or in Christian work?

If so, there is only one thing to do–hasten to return to God, cut off the pleasure which is imperiling the soul, and find in Christ the joy which the world cannot give, and which ever enhances the life. We must test all our pleasures and amusements by this rule–Are they helping us to grow into Christ-likeness and spiritual beauty?

Ancient Police Report

By | November 6, 2009
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This strikes me as funny.  At least it provides a revealing look into ancient life.  It was written on papyrus in AD 28 in Egypt.

To Serapion, chief of police, from Orsenouphis son of Harpaesis, notable of the village of Euhemeria, in the division of Themistes.  In the month Mesore of the past 14th year of Tiberius Caesar Augustus I was having some old walls on my premises demolished by the mason Petesouchus son of Petesouchus, and while I was absent from home to gain my living Petesouchus in the process of demolition discovered a hoard which had been secreted by my mother in a little box as long ago as the 16th year of Caesar, consisting of a pair of gold earrings weighing 4 quarters, a gold crescent weighing 3 quarters, a pair of silver armlets of the weight of 12 drachmae of uncoined metal, a necklace with silver ornaments worth 80 drachmae, and 60 silver drachmae.  Diverting the attention of his assistants and my people he had them conveyed to his own home by his maiden daughter, and after emptying out the aforesaid objects he threw away the box empty in my house, and he even admitted finding the box, though he pretends that it was empty.  Wherefore I request, if you approve, that the accused be brought before you for the consequent punishment.  Farewell.

Orsenouphis, aged fifty, scar on left forearm.

Just a few comments:

  • Luke 3:1 reads, “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar…”
  • He notes the month.  I’ve been struck in reading through other correspondence that they often give specific dates, whereas we wouldn’t necessarily do that today.  Nor do the writers of New Testament epistles.
  • I wonder how he knew the exact contents of the box.  The box of course was forgotten, yet he knew exactly what was in it.  Did his mom tell him?  Or did he plant an empty box so that he could accuse the contractor?
  • How did he know that the contractor “diverted the attention of his assistants”? 
  • If you were the judge, how would you rule?
  • How would you sign your name?

Above, Below, and on Either Side

By | November 5, 2009
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The Turabian handbook is well-known to students as a guide for writing research papers, theses, and dissertations.  Within another few weeks, I ‘ll have read it cover to cover.  Tonight I read this sage piece of advice on finding books on your topic:

If you ‘re allowed in the stacks (where all the books that you can check out are kept), find the shelf with books on your topic.  Then scan the titles on that shelf and the ones above, below, and on either side.  Then turn around and skim titles behind you; you never know (7th ed., p. 31).

It just struck me as ridiculous that a book would need to tell students to browse the bookshelves in search of related resources.  I guess the writers must have had students who never figured this out.

Scholarly Imaginations

By | November 4, 2009
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What I’d like to see sometime in an analysis of a scholarly theory.

The only value in Smith’s proposal is that no one has ever thought of it before.  He has substituted imagination for analysis, creativity for evidence.  While this is likely to garner acclaim in the scholarly world, it is worthless for determining truth.

Here the latest example I’ve found that provokes such a thought.

Herod Agrippa arrested Peter because of his friendly attitude concerning Gentiles but tolerated the (allegedly) conservative James.

Here’s another one.

The Jerusalem church dismissed Peter because he was regarded as too liberal.

These theories are both cited by Schnabel in Early Christian Mission, 1:720, and though he doesn’t use the critique I suggest above, he does use words like “audacious,” “historically implausible,” and “preposterous.”

This might be a fun task for some underworked student or pastor: make a collection of the most ludicrous theories published by scholars (and I don’t mean the internet guys who believe that aliens built the pyramids).

November 3

By | November 3, 2009
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The WSJ says that Obamacare is The Worst Bill Ever.

Why are we so busy?  Pascal tells you.

Have you ever tried holding down the control key and pressing a cursor button at the same time?  I didn’t start using this shortcut until a few months ago, but now I use it all the time.  Give it a try.

Tim Challies has started a good series entitled Sexual Detox, in which he writes about the destructive effects of pornography, breaking free, and a theology of sex and a couple others.

If you have school-aged children might benefit from this article on E. D. Hirsch and his campaign to reform education.

Why do hamburgers always look so much better on TV than they do at when you buy one?  This food stylist shows you why.

Thoughts on Bible Book Poll

By | November 2, 2009
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I’ve been asked to explain my thoughts behind giving a poll asking which Bible book you would take to a desert island if you could only take one.  The inquiry was a good one, as there a little bit of thought behind the poll.

In order to answer the question, you had to think through the Bible.  You had to review the contents of each book.  That’s valuable in and of itself.  Possibly you found yourself not remembering what was in each book.  Possibly you wondered why I included Zephaniah as a choice.  Possibly you reflected on the differences between the gospels and why you might choose one over another.

Of course, there is no right answer.  Every book is valuable in its own right, and some have proven to be considered particularly rich by Christians over the centuries.  So in asking you to choose one, you had to decide what you especially valued and what you might need.

You might also have considered how long that book would “hold” you.  I am not of the opinion that all Bible books are created equal.  They may be equally inspired, but they ‘re not equally relevant for us today.  They ‘re not equally rich in theology.  They ‘re not equally long.  So to answer the question, you would probably try to choose a book that you felt you could “gnaw” on for a long time, receiving nourishment year after year.  You probably wouldn’t want 3 John or Zephaniah.  I don’t mean by that that there’s not enough in those books to last a lifetime (though I’m not sure that there is), but that you probably wouldn’t be able to gnaw that long, without coming up with all manner of allegorical interpretations.

I expected Psalms to win, far and away.  It should have.  (Can I say that while saying that there is “no right answer”?)  I didn’t choose it myself, but I believe that it would take most people farther than the other books.  Psalms covers the whole of life.  Every conceivable situation, every conceivable emotion, every conceivable need.  It’s not only the longest book in the Bible, it is rich with theology, particularly truths about God.  One person commented that they chose John because they wanted to read about Jesus.  Well, guess what?  Psalms (and Isaiah) have lots to teach you about Jesus.

Another thought: you might consider the purpose of the book in making your decision.  What is the purpose of the gospel of John?  The apostle doesn’t leave it a mystery (see John 20:31).  Given the fact that I believe already, perhaps I would do better choosing a different book.  That’s not to say that there’s not much that John packed in there that believers need to learn, but perhaps other books are more directly suitable for my life situation.

Beyond that, I wouldn’t choose John because (be careful here) I feel like I know it pretty well already.  True, I haven’t memorized it in Greek (or in English).  But I know the stories, and I know a lot of the wording.  Contrast that with Isaiah (or Psalms), and I think that I’d rather have a book I haven’t mined carefully yet.  I could write in the margins of Isaiah many things that I recall from John, but I’m not sure that I could do it as well the other way around.

Those are my thoughts.  But apparently you disagree since John was selected by 32% and Isaiah received only 7% (including my vote).  At least no one chose Zephaniah.

Why Boast, and about What?

By | November 1, 2009
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“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ‘ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Saturday

By | October 31, 2009
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Gorgeous day today. It started out at 46, but there’s absolutely no way that this afternoon could be any better in terms of weather.

It’s not been that way much this month, however.  It rained at least 19 of the first 28 days, and most of Mark’s soccer games were cancelled, including all three this week.

Good start to the morning, with another six chapters in Isaiah.  It takes about 11 days to read through the book this way, which means you can do it three times in about a month.  I’m teaching Isaiah 7 tomorrow, and my reading today, coincidentally, was Isaiah 7-12.

The kids had great piano lessons.  All three of them.  They all practiced well this week.  We ‘re gearing up for another “Piano Olympics” on Monday, so called because we began these family recitals a year before this previous August, and it gave the kids a connection.

We would have had the “Piano Olympics” on Sunday evening, as is our custom, but Mr. & Mrs. Bdad will be here for dinner.

Lunch today with Bethany gave me insight into why Americans don’t long for heaven.  Why would you when you have all you can eat salad, soup, vegetables, shrimp, roast beef, and 30 kinds of dessert for $8.99?  By the way, if you’ve ever served in the military, you can eat free at Golden Corral on November 16.

Then we went to the library.  One of six or so public libraries in this city.  I found three books on Herculaneum.  But more importantly, I wondered why I ever buy books.  Why do we buy the kids books?  It’s all there.  Not only books, but also CDs and DVDs.  There is a check-out limit of 50 items, which just proves my point.  Who needs heaven?  Who needs salvation? We need trials.  We need Obamacare.  We need depressions so that we are less blind.

I went out to check the mail and a couple of Mormon missionaries found their prey.  We had a good talk on out the sidewalk on this gorgeous afternoon.  I pray that they will follow up on some of my suggestions.  Such as reading Galatians very carefully.  And watching the Bible versus the Book of Mormon.  I think the Mormon church has been so hurt by evidence against what they believe that their approach now is to deny the validity of evidence and go with what Jesus tells them in their heart. Sad.  Don’t be like one of them.

The gorgeous weather almost enabled me to get my personal best on my 10k bike riding path.  If I had run over a few old ladies, I would have made it.

Speaking of which, I think my truck has a sexy side.  Two times in the last three days, other drivers have tried to snuggle up.  Very intimately.  I am thankful that the Lord gave me alertness and quick reflexes.

I finished my research and writing on Pompeii today.  I get double duty out of this, since it counts as one of my additional assignments in a course and it will go on the new Italy and Malta CD for the Pictorial Library.  Pompeii is worth studying if you ‘re interested in what Roman cities were like.  True, Jesus never went to a Roman city (as far as we know).  But Paul never went anywhere else.

Kelli has the kids now at the local church’s Fall Festival.  Bethany asked me at lunch today what Halloween celebrates.  She understands Christmas and Easter, but what does Halloween commemorate?  Good question.

The boys are wrapping up their projects for the History Fair.  Luke is doing the Revolutionary War and Mark is working on Apollo 11 and the moon landing.  This morning we had advanced PowerPoint lessons.

Before the day’s out, I hope to finalize and print my short research paper on Syracuse (see Acts 28:12), read an hour for NT Backgrounds class, write at least one handout on Isaiah 7, and maybe even write some emails.  BTW, if you ever write me and I don’t write back within a week and you want a response, feel free to write me again with a reminder.  If it’s more than a week old, I don’t feel the urgency anymore.  One thing I don’t have to do tonight though is to write a post for this blog.

One Book of the Bible

By | October 29, 2009
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The first poll on this blog was not a failure, so we’ll try another one. There might be value in thinking about this question.