I was doing some research during my study this morning, and came across a new site, The Voice. It is a good resource for understanding the Bible better, and though theologically it leans toward Wesleyanism, it provides very clear outlines of books of the Bible, as well as some really good timelines. Oh, and the site overall is pretty easy to navigate, especially with its "related pages" bar on the right-hand side. It's complete, but not overwhelming like some other sites.
So yeah, here are my recommended links from the site, but I'm sure if you poke around, you'll find even more stuff to enjoy.
The Books of the Bible
Brief Overview of the Bible's Storyline
Israelite Kings Date Chart
Israelite Prophets Date Chart
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
to our shame
Corresponding with the last post, I'm finishing up a semi-deep study in 1 Corinthians today, and can't help but notice how Paul continuously scolds the congregation in Corinth.
I'm sure not many of you are interested in anthropology, but I come from what anthropoogists call a "guilt culture" and what I live in now is a "shame culture," which is really all of Asia. (You can read more here.) The more I study Corinthians, the more I realize that this is was a shame culture. In our churches, our tactics are not so blunt, but we try to cause inner guilt to bring people to salvation, to our altars.
I'm not an anthropology major, and because of that, I can say this: our churches should reflect a shame culture. I don't know how this would play out, but it sounds like a pretty good idea for a thesis, don't you think?!
The fact is, we're not embarassed by what we do because everybody accepts us and loves us. Sure, the church should reflect love in reconciling a brother or sister to a holy life, but they should also be scolded with the Word. Whose job is this? Our small groups? Our mentors'?
And above all that, something that really struck me as Paul brings this letter to the congregation to a climax:
1 Cor. 15:34, "Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame."
The ultimate shame is that some around us have no knowledge of God.
Yes, we should be ashamed.
I'm sure not many of you are interested in anthropology, but I come from what anthropoogists call a "guilt culture" and what I live in now is a "shame culture," which is really all of Asia. (You can read more here.) The more I study Corinthians, the more I realize that this is was a shame culture. In our churches, our tactics are not so blunt, but we try to cause inner guilt to bring people to salvation, to our altars.
I'm not an anthropology major, and because of that, I can say this: our churches should reflect a shame culture. I don't know how this would play out, but it sounds like a pretty good idea for a thesis, don't you think?!
The fact is, we're not embarassed by what we do because everybody accepts us and loves us. Sure, the church should reflect love in reconciling a brother or sister to a holy life, but they should also be scolded with the Word. Whose job is this? Our small groups? Our mentors'?
And above all that, something that really struck me as Paul brings this letter to the congregation to a climax:
1 Cor. 15:34, "Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame."
The ultimate shame is that some around us have no knowledge of God.
Yes, we should be ashamed.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
on the seriousness of sin
Today was reading in 1 Corinthians 5, "It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst."
This verse got me thinking earlier about how there are so many in our congregations who live in sin, yet we let it go because we want to show them "love." Paul, however, never labels leaving a person in sin as "love" or allowing them to stay with Christ's bride as "love," but "arrogance."
I got to thinking about why they would be labeled "arrogant" and realized that when we do that--it is arrogance. It's saying that we know a better way to deal with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
and THEN, in v. 8, he concludes, "Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
When/if we do this to our brother or sister in Christ, we do it in sincerity and truth--not malice or wickedness. That is actual love.
Wow. I have a lot to repent for.
This verse got me thinking earlier about how there are so many in our congregations who live in sin, yet we let it go because we want to show them "love." Paul, however, never labels leaving a person in sin as "love" or allowing them to stay with Christ's bride as "love," but "arrogance."
I got to thinking about why they would be labeled "arrogant" and realized that when we do that--it is arrogance. It's saying that we know a better way to deal with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
and THEN, in v. 8, he concludes, "Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
When/if we do this to our brother or sister in Christ, we do it in sincerity and truth--not malice or wickedness. That is actual love.
Wow. I have a lot to repent for.
reading a couple of books
Read a couple of challenging books this week. One of them I won't share over this blog, but if you want to know what it is, then e-mail me. It's worth it, I assure you.
The second was a book called "23 Minutes in Hell."
I know I'd seen this book before, and passed it off as another "Hell-obsessed" book that doesn't emphasize Christ too much.. The wannabe Don Miller in me tends to shy away from fire and brimstone as a tactic to scare people into faith. I think, with the course of this book, the Lord helped me realize that "fire and brimstone" isn't just a tactic to scare people into faith, but if done well, it's preaching the truth.
Fact is, the book is written as an actual experience the author claims he had in hell. Of course, the conservative in me always questions this type of thing--like prophetic dreams we sometimes hear of, and over the years I've come to see this thing 2 ways: If the gospel and only the gospel is emphasized through this occurance, then it could be true. (Hear the skepticism even in that statement?) If it happens and some other agenda is preached outside of the gospel alone, then it is Satan.
I usually weigh supernatural occurances like these by that guideline, and I'd have to say that after reading this book, I do believe that the author really had a twenty-three minute experience in hell. I don't know how, and I doubt I ever will.
With all that said, I highly recommend it, if nothing but an intriguing story. It has a very heavy emphasis on the gospel, and backs everything up with Scripture. It is for believers and nonbelievers alike. You can run a search for the mp3 and find a million sources, so just Google it.
The second was a book called "23 Minutes in Hell."
I know I'd seen this book before, and passed it off as another "Hell-obsessed" book that doesn't emphasize Christ too much.. The wannabe Don Miller in me tends to shy away from fire and brimstone as a tactic to scare people into faith. I think, with the course of this book, the Lord helped me realize that "fire and brimstone" isn't just a tactic to scare people into faith, but if done well, it's preaching the truth.
Fact is, the book is written as an actual experience the author claims he had in hell. Of course, the conservative in me always questions this type of thing--like prophetic dreams we sometimes hear of, and over the years I've come to see this thing 2 ways: If the gospel and only the gospel is emphasized through this occurance, then it could be true. (Hear the skepticism even in that statement?) If it happens and some other agenda is preached outside of the gospel alone, then it is Satan.
I usually weigh supernatural occurances like these by that guideline, and I'd have to say that after reading this book, I do believe that the author really had a twenty-three minute experience in hell. I don't know how, and I doubt I ever will.
With all that said, I highly recommend it, if nothing but an intriguing story. It has a very heavy emphasis on the gospel, and backs everything up with Scripture. It is for believers and nonbelievers alike. You can run a search for the mp3 and find a million sources, so just Google it.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
a skewed view of "just enough"
As Americans, when we think of "living within our means," we usually include basic cable and the occasional meal at McDonald's.
Prov. 30:8-9,
"Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
That I not be full and deny You and say, 'Who is the LORD?'
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God."
According to this, "living within our means" means that we have food that is just enough.
Just enough. No leftovers. Maybe not even feeling full, but still enough to sustain our bodies.
Our view of poverty is, in fact, living within one's means.
One time I tried fasting every week, and the process reminded me of how much our bodies really don't need food or drink to go about our daily business. It's a psychology thing. An American thing.
So, who is up for praying that for their own lives and families?
Christ became to us...
Lately I've been reading and re-reading through the epistles.
Today I was tackling 1 Corinthians and was quickly amazed at the glory of Christ which we find in the last couple verses of chapter 1.
"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is writted, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
How we simplify the work of Christ.
We see here that Christ is not just Savior and Lord, but he became our:
Wisdom from God
Righteousness
Sanctification
Redemption
Especially interesting is when you think of the different roles of the last three.
Christ became our righteousness, as in only his good can be worthy in front of God, and his goodness has been fully credited to us as believers.
Christ became our sanctification, as in we become more holy and gain knowledge of the Father each day.
Christ became our redemption, our freedom from captivity.
Today I was tackling 1 Corinthians and was quickly amazed at the glory of Christ which we find in the last couple verses of chapter 1.
"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is writted, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
How we simplify the work of Christ.
We see here that Christ is not just Savior and Lord, but he became our:
Wisdom from God
Righteousness
Sanctification
Redemption
Especially interesting is when you think of the different roles of the last three.
Christ became our righteousness, as in only his good can be worthy in front of God, and his goodness has been fully credited to us as believers.
Christ became our sanctification, as in we become more holy and gain knowledge of the Father each day.
Christ became our redemption, our freedom from captivity.
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