This afternoon I sat before a panel of DTS faculty and they asked me lots of questions about the Bible, everywhere from Genesis to Revelation. After the beating, they invited me to leave the room so they could beat me privately. Then I was invited back in and welcomed to the program. Assuming I pass one more ThM class, I can start coursework in January. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to talk about the test, but some might appreciate this: if you know the answer to 966+480 (and the ins and outs of it), you would have gotten one right. I was happy when they asked me that one.
Presidential Candidate
You might consider this case made by guys I respect:
Our Conservative Choice: An Endorsement of Mike Huckabee
But this doesn’t sound so good. And now this reporter rebuts the WSJ article.
This Little Light of Mine
Last night, on the anniversary of the assassination of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, Israelis set fire to a church building in Jerusalem. The original building was burned to the ground by religious Jews in 1982, and a new building was constructed 11 years later. This building was set afire in multiple places last night, but the damage was mostly limited to the interior. Chairs were burned and walls were blackened, but the structure is apparently sound.
Four congregations meet at the “Baptist House” on Narkiss Street, including two English-speaking congregations, a Hebrew-speaking church, and a Russian-speaking church. I have preached for one of the English-speaking congregations a few times over the years.
What makes this place a target? One important factor is its location in the center of Jerusalem. It is a Christian facility with its own property. It’s one thing for such a group to be in the fringe parts of the country (Tiberias, Eilat), but another to be only blocks away from ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.
You can pray for the believers in Jerusalem. I predict that they’ll try to burn the building down again. As for new ones, they’ll fight against that with all they have.
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:16-22 (ESV)
UPDATE: Here’s the JPost story.
Rabbi Finds Jesus?
I read this story in the Israel Today magazine some months ago and the online version was forwarded to me today. I pass this on with caution: I am not sure 1) that I believe it to be accurate; 2) that God desires witness in such a manner. But I am not sure, so you can read it yourself.
11,000 words
If you prefer a single word: domination.
If I can’t take pictures of tells, this will have to do.
Yankee Green
I need this kind of insult.
A Suitable Peace Partner
Can you be pro-Palestinian and not be anti-Israel?
This graphic was shown on official Palestinian Authority TV. The Palestinian Authority is headed by Abbas, leader of the moderate Fatah faction.
For those who don’t know the symbols here, the map shows a nation of Palestine occupying all of the land of Israel (except the Golan). In this image, which represents the goal of the Palestinians, Israel does not exist.
Less Free Time
I just received this brief email concerning the PhD program:
Congratulations! You passed the written qualifying exam.
If I hadn’t passed, I would have had a lot of extra free time. No future, but a lot of free time. The oral exam is scheduled for Nov 1, 1:00 p.m. There a group of professors will grill me on my knowledge of the Bible.
2.1 Kids
At church on Sunday an older lady saw our family (with 4 kids) and quite delighted and began to tell us how a nation has to have 2.1 kids per family to survive but how America only averages 1.7. And she blessed us for doing our part. I didn’t tell her that I’d be delighted if they all went and lived outside of America. But I wonder what she’d say if she saw this Israeli and his family come to church. Or just imagine trying to get them all to church.
Blind
I’ve been working on Matthew 15 today and have a pretty good idea of what “blind” is: someone who can’t see what is in front of him. What I don’t know is what you call someone who sees what is not in front of her.