Summer Reading, Part 1

By | August 20, 2008
3 Comments

I thought I might review some of my recent reading here, not 1) to burden you with more reading than you already have, nor 2) to impress you with my reading, as I know it is impressive neither in quantity nor in erudite works, nor 3) to suggest that these are the best works to read.  I do it simply because I read these, and since I’m not really “doing” anything with them, I thought I might at least pass on a few comments before putting them back on the shelf.  I like to know what others are reading, unless it seems like a brag-fest.

According to Luke, by David Gooding – I’m going to start out with two books that I read last semester, as I didn’t get the chance to mention them before.  This is not really a commentary on Luke, but an exposition of Luke.  That means that it reads like a book, explaining what Luke was saying in expanded language, and with lots of insights into Luke’s structure and intention.  It’s a model book for me in some ways, and I would highly recommend it.  You’ll learn a lot about the gospel and it’s much more enjoyable than reading a commentary.  Unfortunately, it is hard to find.  I got my copy for $15, but I don’t see any available for that now.

Genesis: A Commentary, by Bruce Waltke – I don’t read many commentaries straight through (and this is the one book on the list that I didn’t quite finish – 100 pages to go), but I found this one less technical and full of great insights.  If you haven’t studied Genesis beyond the intro college level, put it on your “to do” list.  Genesis is a much more remarkable book than the simple stories you thought you mastered in Sunday School.  And a commentary like this one will open your eyes to many, many new things.  This isn’t the only commentary on Genesis worth reading, but it’s a good one and might be easier to access than the standard ones.

Exodus, by Leon Uris – I don’t read many books twice, but since I read this about 18 years ago and have continually recommended it since then, I thought it would be a good read for the airplane ride to Israel.  This is fiction based around historical events and it’s a fun read about how the modern state of Israel came to be.  I’m glad I recommended it, and will continue to do so.

The Copper Scroll, by Joel Rosenberg – I actually listened to this book while in Israel and on the plane.  I have to say that I want to like Rosenberg (he’s a conservative believer), but his books are just too in-your-face and far-fetched to get me to do anything more than barely admit that I read this.

The Quest for the Historical Israel: Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel, by Israel Finkelstein and Amihai Mazar – I read this for a review in the next edition of the Journal of Evangelical Theological Society.  I benefited from it, though I disagreed with nearly everything both of them said.  I wrote a post on one point made in the book that I might actually finish one day.  This “debate” is between two positions that are hardly distinguishable.  Both claim to be “centrist,” but not many years ago they’d be widely viewed as liberal.

I’ll continue this list soon.

Something for Everyone

By | August 15, 2008
3 Comments

Here’s the latest edition of me helping you to spend your precious little time.  Enjoy!

John Walton has written a great little post on Zondervan Academic’s new blog on bad things people do in teaching children the Bible.  I’m motivated to do something about it (tell a S.S. lesson, write a blog post, something).  But I don’t agree with one of his points.

This month Christianaudio.com is offering The Confessions of Augustine for free.  And since everyone else seems to have read this (and all the other classics), let me help you feel less like a dolt: I haven’t read it either.

Sovereign Grace has a new music CD out entitled Psalms.  You can download one song for free. I have it and I like it.

As of Tuesday, I can again remember my kids’ ages: 10, 8, 6, 4.  Until November.

An Israeli journalist went “undercover” in a messianic church in Tel Aviv.  From the Caspari Review:

An extraordinarily lengthy article appeared in Yediot Ahronot on August 8, detailing the “evangelistic activity” of one of its journalists, Techya Barak (28), who went undercover in the Messianic movement for two and a half months to discover “how the Messianic Jewish sect in Israel is attempting to convert children, IDF soldiers, and Holocaust survivors, and to bring them close to Yeshu.” Techya’s interest in the subject was sparked when she found a flier – “one of thousands distributed in the streets of Israel as a part of a ‘Jews for Jesus’ campaign.” Techya stated openly that her “mission” was to “infiltrate” the community “under the guise of being a new believer.”  (The rest is here.)

A friend in Israel shares some personal thoughts on anti-missionary forces. Along that line, here’s a video on the persecution of Messianic Jews that I meant to share before.

The science and art of blurbing is discussed in this NY Times article.  A blurb is a positive endorsement of a book, but it isn’t all that it might seem.

Krauthammer points out the latest brilliant Democratic logic in Pelosi: Save the Planet, Let Someone Else Drill.

One more week of summer!

In the News

By | August 11, 2008
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The Steven Curtis Chapman family talked with Larry King about the recent death of their daughter. 

Israelis thriving in a Muslim land?  Yes, really.

Eisenbrauns is selling some good titles this month at excellent prices. 

That was a great relay race last night when the French failed to smash the Americans.  Besides the obvious drama of the amazing comeback, five teams beat the previous world record.  This NY Times article looks at why so many swimming world records are falling.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned from John Edwards’ mistakes.  This is just an aside from Michael Kinsley (formerly of Slate and LA Times):

The MSM told a story about Edwards–they told it often and loud–it was probably one of the best-known and totally accepted stories of the 2008 campaign: John loyally standing by his loyal wife as she deals with cancer. If the story isn’t true, they should run a correction. My g–, look at the things they run corrections over–the spelling of people’s names, and so on. Yet they’re leaving this huge story uncorrected, and leaving their readers misinformed. No?

You Too Can Change Your Name

Police found the suspect and his car on John Fitch Blvd. The driver didn’t stop right away when police tried to pull him over, but he eventually was stopped and arrested.

He was identified as Almighty Supremebeing Allah, age 35, who lives on Elmhurst St. in West Hartford.

“The arrestee in the narcotics case had apparently legally changed his name to ‘Almighty Allah,’ and has convictions under this new name,” Scott Custer from the South Windsor police department said.

The Purpose of Amusements

By | August 10, 2008
2 Comments

J. R. Miller, “In Green Pastures” 1890, via Grace Gems:

Amusement must never become an end in life. It must always be a means, a help on the way–just as sleep is, just as rest is. An hour’s amusement, should be to you, just what a night’s sleeping is. It should make you stronger, clearer-headed, braver, calmer-souled, more hopeful, more earnest, more enthusiastic–inspiring you for godly living.

Anything which leaves a taint of impurity upon the life, or starts a thought of impurity in the mind, anything which degrades or debases the soul–is an unfit and unworthy amusement for a Christian. Christian amusements must be such, as do not harm spiritual life; they must be means of grace.

08/08/08

By | August 8, 2008
7 Comments

The cool date of 08/08/08 is one I’ve thought about for years.  Now it’s here.  August 8 is our anniversary, and so we always celebrate it on 08/08, but this year, it’s better (especially if you’re intrigued by numbers, as I am).  I suppose it would be better if it were our 8th or 80th anniversary, but 08+08=16, which counts for something.  Here’s something else: Kelli’s sister was married on July 7, and her brother on October 10.  You might think there was some grand scheme.  Actually, there was.  I wanted to get married on August 1, but one of my closest friends stole it from us (and then didn’t come to our wedding; you know there are offenses that are hours old that you completely forget, and there are those things that are simply impossible to ever forget).  But in the Lord’s good timing, we were married on August 8.  We drove up the coast for a five-day honeymoon (recommended stop: Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo), then spent seven days living in my parents’ trailer, and then we moved to Israel with a couple of days in London on the way.  Much of the time we spent together that first year was studying modern Hebrew at our kitchen table.  By the end of that year, I was guiding Chorale around Israel and praying that God would start IBEX (we didn’t know the name, but the plan was formulated).  On 08/08 on our fourth anniversary (1996), we moved to Israel to teach at IBEX.  I can say that God has richly blessed us these 16 years.  God has given me far more than I deserve.

Todd and Kelli Jerusalem 93
1993

God's Purpose in Creation

By | August 6, 2008
27 Comments

I heard that there were some good messages at the Resolved conference this year, and since for a time they are not charging for those messages, I downloaded and listened to the final sermon, that by John Piper.  It was an excellent message, and probably would have been better if I had heard some of those preceding it, and I would commend the series and this message to you.

At the end of the sermon, Piper gave a one-minute survey of God’s purpose in creation that I thought was worthy of further attention.  I think it is very good:

When God conceived of a universe of material things, he conceived of everything.  It will be created perfectly.  It will, by my decree, fall.  I will labor patiently for thousands of years with a people recalcitrant, showing the depth of human sin, and I will, at the center and apex of my purpose, send my Son to bear my wrath on my people. And then I will gather a people who believe in him for myself.  And then I will return and I will cast all of the unbelievers into hell which will demonstrate the infinite worth of my glory and the infinite value of my Son’s sacrifice which they have rejected.  And I will renew the earth and I will make my people so beautiful and then tailor this universe for them with this purpose that when my Son is lifted up with his wounds they will sing the song of the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world in the mind of God who planned it all.

There is, however, something missing.  (You can read it again if you didn’t see anything missing.)  That which he left out is probably not due to a lack of time.  I think it is missing because he does not believe it to be true.  This something receives great attestation in the Bible and will result in unspeakable praise and glory to God the Father for his magnificent plan and perfect promise-keeping character.  It is something so central to God’s plan that nearly half of his revelation would be unnecessary if this were not true.  That something is this: God will save Israel.

I want to focus attention on this section of the summary:

I will labor patiently for thousands of years with a people recalcitrant, showing the depth of human sin, and I will, at the center and apex of my purpose, send my Son to bear my wrath on my people. And then I will gather a people who believe in him…

Piper recognizes that God worked with Israel.  But he has them ultimately damned, not saved.  They never turn to him.  The purpose of Israel, apparently, was solely to show the depth of human sin.  God tried for thousands of years, even sending his Son.  But it didn’t work (Israel didn’t repent) and God moved on.  There is no place for a redeemed Israel in this summary.  They have been replaced.  Note the transition from “my people” to “a people.”  He means by that, of course, a different people.  This naturally enough raises the question: has God’s word failed?  Will God’s promises (to Israel in the OT) be left unfulfilled?  Did God reject his people?  Paul answers that question: By no means! (Rom 11:1).  Paul anticipated this very question (that Piper’s summary provokes) and he answers in an extended treatment in Romans 11: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.  And so all Israel will be saved….God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 

What is the culmination of this great event of the future salvation of Israel?  It is great glory and praise to God, as Paul, even in thinking about it in a distant future, cannot contain himself from uttering one of the most profound doxologies in Scripture: Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (and it continues). 

I am not saying that God does not receive great glory in the way that Piper described it, but I am saying that many of the Reformed persuasion miss one of the most glorious events when they assume that the church eternally assumes Israel’s place in God’s plan.  I am saying that when you look at the people of Israel today, whether in Jerusalem or in Dallas, and you see hearts that are apathetic to their Messiah and other hearts that are strongly antagonistic toward their Savior, and when you read what Zechariah (12:10) wrote…

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

…you can only marvel.  There are a few things that are predicted in the Bible that are simply unfathomable to me, apart from the miraculous power of God, and this is chief among them.  IF GOD CAN DO THIS, if God can turn the hearts of his people to himself, if he can make a New Covenant with them, and give them hearts of flesh, then there will be no words to describe our amazement or the glory of God.  But it will happen.  As Zechariah (13:1) later said:

On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

This has never occurred in history, but it will (and if you think it has, be sure to read the verse in context).  And God will be praised by the Jews and by the Gentiles.

So if I could alter the paragraph quoted above, I would do so like this (my additions in bold):

When God conceived of a universe of material things, he conceived of everything.  It will be created perfectly.  It will, by my decree, fall.  I will labor patiently for thousands of years with a people recalcitrant, showing the depth of human sin, and I will, at the center and apex of my purpose, send my Son to bear my wrath on my people. And then I will gather a people who believe in him for myself, and Israel will embrace their Messiah.  And then I will return and I will cast all of the unbelievers into hell which will demonstrate the infinite worth of my glory and the infinite value of my Son’s sacrifice which they have rejected.  And I will renew the earth and I will fulfill all of my promises to my people and make my people so beautiful and then tailor this universe for them with this purpose that when my Son is lifted up with his wounds they will sing the song of the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world in the mind of God who planned it all.

Small changes, but important in understanding the great glory that God has designed for himself.

Six Flags

By | August 4, 2008
6 Comments

Since I mentioned our impending visit to Six Flags and a few people have asked me about it, here are a few thoughts:

First, I can save you a year of marketing classes in college by simply suggesting that you go to Six Flags and observe.   These guys are brilliant in selling, upselling, reselling, and otherwise extracting every penny from your wallet.   An example: sell a water bottle (colored and with a belt loop) for $15 that gives you free refills all day.   Not attractive to you the buyer?   Well, when a single Coke costs $4, it becomes moreso.   Another example: charge $15 for parking.   Another example: in between every ride, put many booths that charge.   There’s more but I’ll stop.

Second, if your kids are about the age of mine, I recommend that the first ride you take them on is not Flashback.   You do three loops and then run the whole thing in reverse.   I had no idea what the ride was when we got on.   Definitely not one to introduce rollercoasters to your kids. Since I made such a mistake, I wish at least I would have had video of their faces during it.   Of course, any ideas they had about which rollercoasters they wanted to do before the day started based upon the map were immediately altered.

Third, I learned why it’s called “Six Flags.”   Growing up, we went to Magic Mountain.   Then some company bought them and tried to change the name to “Six Flags Magic Mountain.”   But it was always “Magic Mountain” to us.   But it turns out that Six Flags started at this particular park, and it was so named for the “six flags” of different countries that have flown over Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, The Confederate States of America, and the United States of America.

Fourth, it was interesting to note who was there.   Not many kids the age of my kids.   Not many adults my age.   Almost no adults older than me.   Mostly teenagers and their chaperones.

Overall, the kids liked it, especially as they got more comfortable as the day went on. They were sad to leave, though quite tired out.

Brain Power

By | August 2, 2008
11 Comments

Earlier this year a professor sent me his collection of 18,000 images of the biblical lands.  As I have time, I look through some.  In my first pass through, I set Irfanview to advance each one every half second.  So I’m watching these pictures fly by, many from different angles than I’m used to, and I’m struck by what is happening.  In one half second (or less), my brain is seeing the picture, interpreting it as a certain place and from a certain angle, and then running it against all of my photos of that place and all of the previous photos in this same collection.  While I’m marveling over the genius of Mother Evolution that so naturally selected brains like mine can do this, I consider who gets the glory in an evolutionary model.  I think actually that I get some of it.  I’m part of the chain, and I’ve adapted from what was passed down, and I’ll pass on superior traits (or the heirs will be eliminated).  So this made me realize that congratulations are in order.  Good job, Todd!

I recently read an outstanding paper on the failures of the Low Chronology proposal of Finkelstein.  It was very insightful on a number of archaeological points.  One curious note: the guy who wrote it was at IBEX but did not take my OT Archaeology class.  Which means that just because you didn’t take the archaeology class either doesn’t mean that one day you won’t end up publishing a paper on it. 

This is going to seem most trivial to many, but it’s a minor crisis in my life.  I cannot figure out, and no one I have asked seems to know, when I need to dial a 1 before a number and when I cannot.  In the DFW area, you always dial the area code.  But sometimes you have to dial a 1, and sometimes not.  And it absolutely will not work if you do it the other way, and the phone company absolutely will not allow the call to go through, and my phone absolutely requires me to re-dial the entire number (with or without the offending 1).  And this whole thing is not area code dependent.  Sometimes the 972 area code (which we are in) requires a 1 and sometimes it forbids it.  There must be some solution to this ordeal, or I suppose that the whole city would be going mad.

Dissertation follow-up

By | August 1, 2008
7 Comments

I think it would be appropriate for me to comment on my previous post about the poorly written dissertation.  I gave the impression to some that I did not esteem a particular school, and I want to state that that is not the case.  My point would have been the same if I did not name the school, and in hindsight, I should not have included its name.  The reason I did is that I admire the school, and was thus surprised by this paper.  But by not making my admiration clear, my post communicated the opposite.

Southern is one of the leading evangelical seminaries in the U.S. today.  I think all would agree on that.  No one would have been surprised if the dissertation had been written at the Seminary of the Wacko Theological Nuts.  I have several friends who are former and current PhD students at Southern, and I have the highest respect for each of them.  One of them wrote a dissertation that I cannot understand, but that is owing to his brilliance and my ignorance.  Furthermore, I think it is fair to say that he became this knowledgeable because of his PhD education at Southern.  (He was smart when I knew him in college, but he’s a different machine now.)  On the other hand, I have seen poor papers in other seminaries.  I recall that in college I typed a paper (that was a job in those days) for a graduating senior, and I thought that they really should not allow a guy who writes this poorly to graduate.  So this issue is one that crosses schools, degree programs, and geography.  And thus it would have been better for me to omit the name of the institution.

It might be appropriate to note here too what may not always be recognized by my readers.  I consider this blog to be a personal and private blog, written for my friends and former students.  I do not have any interest in others reading this blog, though if they find it and do so, I can’t stop them.  I have a public blog and several websites, but there are no links to this blog from any of them.  The search engines do not index this blog (because of settings I have made).  The intention is to be invisible to the world.  Others find me, and in hindsight, I should have chosen a more obscure domain name (like s8r5e9w2vw9u234nw9dk.com), but that doesn’t change my purpose here.  I realize that anything on the web can be found, and so there are things I don’t include here (including personal details about our family; that’s why we have a family update email).  But things I discuss here are intended to be “in house,” and among friends.  Sometimes someone I don’t know will comment, and it may sound like it doesn’t belong.  That I attribute to the fact that they don’t know me and assume I’m speaking to a different audience than I am.  All of this is perhaps helpful to communicate, and it would tie back to the Southern issue in this way: my post was not intended as a public flogging of the school but rather a comment to friends about a particular aspect of today’s educational system.  A seminary faculty doesn’t need me to tell them how to grade papers, and completed dissertations are publicly available on the internet.  I intended it as an entertaining private comment on a public matter.

I thought about simply editing the previous post to delete the school’s name, but since many have already read it, and the comments would be difficult (or impossible) to appropriately edit, I chose to address it here.

Rainbow

By | July 30, 2008
4 Comments

I won’t bore you with the story (about how I am always reading to my kids at 8 at night and generally never walk outside for no reason, etc.), but tonight I walked outside and I saw this.

DSC_0171dxo

It’s actually a double rainbow. 

My camera, my wonderful awesome camera, pretty much hates me since I never use it anymore.  I don’t really go outside much (I haven’t filled the gas tank in 6 weeks now).  My daily commute is from bed to chair.  I don’t even take pictures of my kids.  But tonight I got to exercise at least my right index finger and remind my camera of the good ol’ days.

Actually I did take a picture a few weeks ago.  This is of Kelli just before we returned the scooter thing.  She now is walking around the house, somewhat, without a crutch.  I don’t think it ever occurred to either of us how much work it takes to be able to walk again after a broken ankle.  When Jesus healed the lame guy and he just got up and walked, without many sessions of painful physical therapy, well, that’s more of a miracle than you might think.

DSC_0162dxo

My boys “won” free passes to Six Flags Over Texas.  Tomorrow we’ll find out if that was a blessing or a curse.