Some Things – 9/15

By | September 15, 2008
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Here’s a funny video at the Onion (2.5 min).

I watched the Charlie Gibson interview with Sarah Palin on Friday night.  I’m guessing they chose Gibson because 1) when the liberal media was slammed at the Republican Convention, everyone started chanting “NBC” and 2) CBS is the party of Dan Rather.  But Gibson sure showed the world that he is a jerk.  A more erudite critique of his journalistic practices is here.

I don’t know if anyone likes to shop for electronics on the internet, but I need a projector remote for my Sunday School class.  I found it for $89 at The Projector Pros, but that strikes me as outrageously high for a little piece of plastic with buttons.  The projector is a Mitsubishi XD500.

Some months ago I had a few minutes and made a little slideshow with some of my favorite pictures for BiblePlaces.  For reasons I no longer remember, I decided I didn’t like something about the program.  It probably would not be hard to make something like this I could use if I knew the right program.  But for now, it’s a complete stall, so rather than burying it completely, I’ll let you look at the pics if you’re interested.

Today was Isaiah.  Tomorrow is 2 Corinthians.

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

By | September 13, 2008
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I recently mentioned a new book on the BiblePlaces Blog written by my friend Wayne Stiles.  I’m not going to repeat that review here, but since the nature of this blog is more personal, I might just affirm that you would enjoy this book.  I can say that more directly because I have a pretty good sense of many people who read here.  The BiblePlaces Blog gets all kinds of random readers, but most who read here are:WalkingintheFootstepsofJesusCover

  • Intelligent
  • Adventure-seeking
  • Desiring spiritual growth
  • Wanting to know more about the life of Christ
  • Love the land of Israel
  • Enjoy a well-written book

Thus, I can confidently suggest that you would enjoy this book.  It is a “travelogue” that follows the life of Christ chronologically.  The book is full of insights, both spiritual and geographical.  And it’s just a fun read.  I know of plenty of books that are either wise or challenging or fun or helpful.  This book is all of them.  Plus it’s not too long (and that is ever more important to me!).

Now, the best part.  Because I proofread the book for Wayne, he has given me five copies and I am willing to give three of those away, particularly to those who would be willing to read it in the next month and to post a review of it on Amazon.  If you’re interested, email me with your mailing address.  If I get more than three requests, I will choose based on the ones that convince me most they will read and review it in a short amount of time.  Deadline to email me: September 20.

Two Quotes from Today's Reading

By | September 12, 2008
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I spent nearly all day doing required reading for Hermeneutics class.  Here are two quotes (from rare portions of the reading that I actually understood):

“Here someone might argue that if God does more in the NT fulfillment of OT promises and types than he promised in the OT then he is not unfaithful if he does not fulfill literally the OT promises. [fn. Waltke] But how can a retracted promise in the OT text be the basis for the Church’s faith and confidence? In Oss ‘ example from 2 Samuel 7, how can the dismissal of any claim of a literal fulfillment for the nation of Israel be the basis of the Church’s hope? Or, if some of God’s promises to Israel are typological of experiences of the Church—such as the Church’s election, participation in the new covenant, and salvation—then how can such an application be any comfort to the Church if God does not keep those promises made to the nation of Israel in the OT context (1 Pet 2:9–10; Rom 9:25–26)?”  (Source: W. Edward Glenny, “The Divine Meaning of Scripture: Explanation and Limitations,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 38 (1995): 499.)

“The outcome of biblical studies in the academy is a trained incapacity to deal with the real problems of actual living persons in their daily lives.”  (Source: Walter Wink, cited in Anthony C. Thiselton, The Two Horizons: New Testament Hermeneutics and Philosophical Description, p. 86).

For the Glory of God

By | September 9, 2008
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How do you “do everything for the glory of God”?  You may have memorized this verse at one point:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).

In the context of this passage, this is not an abstract idea.  It is not a feeling in your heart or a strong desire, “O God, I want this to be for you.  Please help me to glorify you.” 

Read this verse in the context (1 Cor 10:23-11:1) and you’ll see that “doing all for the glory of God” means to “seek the good of others” above your own good.  When you seek the good of others, you glorify God.  (Note esp. verses 24, 33.)

Be thus exhorted: whatever you do, seek the good of others.

Radical Living

By | September 6, 2008
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Seventeen years ago I remember being blown away hearing from a missionary who lived in one of the worst places in the world that I had ever been to (a cemetery in a large city in the Middle East). I couldn’t believe someone would live there.  Four years ago a friend got me on his daily email list as this man began working in another Middle Eastern city.  Over these four years, I can honestly say one of the best things in my life has been journeying with him and his team.  We (Kelli and I) feel that they are part of our lives in a way unlike few we know.  Several times I shared with some of my classes in Israel about the incredible ministry they were having, and the almost unbelievable ways in which God was answering prayers. 

Earlier this summer we went and heard a few of the team members speak at a nearby church.  Tonight we got to see and meet the entire team.  It was a remarkable privilege.  A few observations:

These people have given everything up for Jesus.  They know they may die, and they are ready to.  Living in the situation they are in is much harder than dying.

They are not doing this out of ignorant idealism.  They’ve been working in this part of the world for a long time.  And they’re going back (after a summer in the US).  They could easily stay.  It would be easy to say that they should stay here to train others or (fill in the blank).  They know their calling, they know the cost, and they seek the greater prize.

While in many ways, they strike me as spiritual giants, they are real people.  They struggle and they fail.  What separates me and you from them is not some difference of essence.  They have simply (or not so simply) decided to do what God asked of them.

If the Lord has me teaching college again (and I believe he will), I pray that I will carefully and regularly challenge students to not resist God if he is calling them to the most difficult place of ministry.  Not for the sake of difficulty (which can easily be motivated by pride, which of course will not sustain such a ministry), but for obedience to desperate needs.  You only have one life.  Don’t waste it on yourself.

One of the team members was impacted by the team leader from a very early age as he visited their home.  I want my kids to be “in the way” of radical followers of Christ.

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  I wonder how many cities and towns have ZERO believers.

Though we never met, the team leader knew who I was tonight because of many who were introduced to his prayer team in part through my classes.  I never directly encouraged that because security is very sensitive and I did not know what was allowed and didn’t want to get in trouble.  (The security issue is why this whole post is so vague.)  But I felt like I got a bit of a green light tonight if others want to join in praying for the team.  He said I could recommend people I knew and trusted to join.  So if you have been waiting for such an opportunity, email me your first and last name and email address.  He told me a few of my students were considering work with them.  I pray that God would multiply that.

Shaban, Sheldon, and Palin

By | September 6, 2008
4 Comments

Many of my readers will be interested in the changes on Jaffa Road and at Shaban’s shop.

Wonder how much you’ll have to pay after you buy your ticket?  Here are the airlines with the most and least fees.

Free audio book of the month: Charles Sheldon, In His Steps.  Not free, but highly recommended by Justin Taylor, is The Screwtape Letters, read by John Cleese ($11 or $7.50 if you join).

http://photosthatchangedtheworld.com/

I wondered if anyone else would see Palin as the new Reagan.  Apparently Reagan’s son does.

Here’s an interesting article that includes 1) why McCain should still not be trusted; 2) why the liberals hate Palin so; 3) how Palin might help reverse Roe v. Wade.

My dad had me using Brylcreem when I was a kid.  I never knew it was so cool (1 min).

Commentaries plus

By | September 2, 2008
8 Comments

I’ve been collecting things for a while now, so if a few of these sound out of date, you know why. 

If you use Logos, you can get a free commentary of Matthew and Mark if you enter the coupon “cornerstone”.  For a limited time.

I enjoyed watching some of the Olympics this year.  A few of the races were unforgettable, including Phelps beating Cavic at the wall.  SI has a series of photos showing that MP did win.

If you teach the Bible or do serious study of it, then you probably use commentaries.  As I pursue my studies in all 66 in the next few years, I am intending to purchase the best commentaries for each book.  To that end, I use some commentary guides, including those written by Longman (OT), Carson (NT), Rosscup (66), and Glynn (66+).  A new website is taking some of the data from these guides, and making it more useful and accessible online:  http://www.bestcommentaries.com/ 

Here’s a 1-minute ad illustrating the perils of being late.

The attacks on Palin that I’ve read show a desperation among liberals who thought they had things wrapped up.  Buchanan makes a few good points about Palin’s experience and constituency that you won’t see elsewhere.

Ramadan has begun and it’s a good time to pray for the Muslim world.  Here is a guide to praying this month.

Obama and Biden

By | August 29, 2008
26 Comments

I actually watched Obama’s speech at the convention last night.  It’s the first political speech I’ve seen in a long time, which may make my perspective either ignorant or fresh.  I actually expected, because of his reputation, to be convinced by Obama that he would be a fine president, even if I disagreed with some/most of his policies.  That, however, was not my impression from his speech.  What I kept thinking, over and over again, throughout the first half of his speech is, “that’s a lie,” “that’s not true,” “that’s deceptive.”  I believe that he was fundamentally dishonest.  He was lying, and he knows it.  Now, John McCain may be no better in this category, I don’t know.  Maybe I misunderstand the genre of political speech.  But my honest impression is that he said what he did for political points, not because it is true or he believes it (excluding, perhaps, some things at the end).  At the end of the broadcast, the commentators said that McCain had issued a point-by-point rebuttal.  I felt like I could have easily written one myself, without any reference to Obama’s competition.  But I didn’t and I won’t.  Nor am I going to take the time to read McCain’s rebuttal.  But you can, if you want.

In looking for the rebuttal, I found this McCain ad, congratulating Obama.  It strikes me as completely sincere. 

Krauthammer’s take on the speech/convention is different than mine.  He argues that no one attested to Obama’s leadership because no one can.

Many of the readers of this blog are younger than me, and so they may not remember the plagiarism scandal that doomed Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in 1988.  I wasn’t carefully following Democratic primary races at that time, so I didn’t know all of the details.  Does character matter?  Does what someone did 20 years ago matter?  Those answers depend in part on the age of the guilty (plagiarism is different when you’re 16 than when you’re 36), and whether it’s a one-time offense or a pattern.  I had the mistaken impression that Biden’s error was a one-time youthful indiscretion.  This article in Slate tells you “Why Biden’s plagiarisms shouldn’t be forgotten.”

The Palin choice strikes me as brilliant.  Time will tell.

Summer Reading, Part 2

By | August 21, 2008
3 Comments

This is a continuation of the previous post.  I’ve listed the books more or less in the order that I read them.

Bringing up Boys, by James Dobson – Kelli and I read through and discussed this book.  I was disappointed, as it was more of a commentary on our society than tips in how to raise boys.  A couple of his main points: boys are made by God to be aggressive, so be ready for that; there are lots of traps in society to hurt boys, so watch out.  Maybe I’m ignorant, but I didn’t have major problems with his “psychology,” though he’s clearly more of a motivator than a Bible teacher.

Paul and His Letters, by John B. Polhill – This was the most helpful book I read this summer, but it also took the longest (440 pages of smaller print).  I read it on the advice of a DTS prof, but it won’t count for anything class-wise.  But it’s a great book for putting Paul’s ministry and writings together.  I don’t agree with all of his conclusions, but he is pretty thorough (for the nature of the work), writes well, and helps you to see the big picture.  Recommended.

A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible, by Robert H. Stein – Any self-respecting PhD student wouldn’t publicly admit that he read this, but while it is simpler than what I’m going to get in my Hermeneutics class this semester, I think it is (generally) helpful.  Simple can be better.  And I’m not sure how necessary it is to understand all the wackos who think that there isn’t a single meaning or the text is detached from the author.  I guess I’m about to find out.  But you can save yourself the grief if you just want a basic and intelligent guide to hermeneutics. 

Blame It on the Brain?: Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience, by Edward T. Welch – Kelli and I read this at the recommendation of a TMC counseling prof.  The book overall had good insights and I would certainly recommend it.  It didn’t have the magic pill I was looking for for a specific problem in our lives, but I don’t think that’s the book’s fault.  It is relatively brief, reads fast, and contains much wisdom.

Exegetical Fallacies, by D. A. Carson – My last book before I start on reading due for my first class (oh, the evil of distributing syllabi ahead of time, such that the teacher can require gobs of reading on the first day you show up).  This is another one I should be ashamed to admit that I read for the first time.  It’s considered a classic by many, and rightly so.  If you got out of seminary, like me, without reading it, I suggest you fix that.  Bible majors in college could certainly benefit from it, and on up.  It’s also fast and easy reading.

I wish I could read more, but I feel that it was probably one of my better summers of reading in a long time.  My desire to read is very high, but the priority is low because of other responsibilities.  That reminds me: I’ve actually read many other books this summer that aren’t this list.  I’m not sure that those would be as interesting to you though.