c'mon, you know you'd love to eat every meal like this! I think it was fun until he got some birthday cake frosting in the eyes, then, not so much.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
New Books
A friend gave me three new books just this week. I can't wait to dig into them after I'm done with the 'required reading' for class (I did a little dance last night when I finally finished Meredith Klines Kingdom Prologue).
I've never read anything by Goldsworthy before, but he comes highly recommended. I'd like to takle this one before the semester begins, but that seems a little lofty!
I've read lots of books on spirituality, but this one looks to be a unique look at Biblial models of spirituality.
I've been looking forward to getting this for months. It will be a delayed gratification, cause I'm putting it off until I get the other two read, but the first book in this series, which I mentioned in my sermon on Habakkuk, was great - if you're into church history.
Oh yeah, before I read any of these, I'm going to make it a point to read a work of fiction. Maybe the Lord of the Rings, which I've never actually read!
I've never read anything by Goldsworthy before, but he comes highly recommended. I'd like to takle this one before the semester begins, but that seems a little lofty!
I've read lots of books on spirituality, but this one looks to be a unique look at Biblial models of spirituality.
I've been looking forward to getting this for months. It will be a delayed gratification, cause I'm putting it off until I get the other two read, but the first book in this series, which I mentioned in my sermon on Habakkuk, was great - if you're into church history.Oh yeah, before I read any of these, I'm going to make it a point to read a work of fiction. Maybe the Lord of the Rings, which I've never actually read!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Two Ways to Live Gospel Presentation
I know many of us struggle with clear and concise ways to articulate the message of the gospel. I, for one, am not a fan of many of the presentations such as Four Spiritual Laws, but this one seems to capture more of the narrative in which the gospel comes to us. Check out the Two Ways to Live (and if you want some tracts to share, I have some in my office!).
Jesus learned obedience
That is a striking statement that at first glance might seem almost heretical - if it weren't right out of Hebrews 5. "Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered" (Heb 5:8, ESV). What does that mean?
The first statement to make is that Jesus wasn't moving from disobedience towards obedience. He was always innocent and never disobedient. But, as one commentary puts it, "innocence differs from virtue". Innocence is to be zereod out on the merit/demerit scale. Sin is to be on the negative side, but virtue is on the positive side. As Jesus grew and learned, he grew consistenty in virtue, having always been perfect in innocence.
Another helpful thought to consider is that prior to actually going through the suffering he suffered, his obedience to the Father's plan was only hypothetical. He was willing to obey, but by actually acting, he obeyed.
Third, you could think of this as a baseball player learning how to hita curve ball. How do they learn - by actually doing it! How do we learn obedience - by actually obeying - not by disobeying. We learn the consequence of disobedience by disobeying and the value of obedience by disobeying, but the only way we can learn to obey is by obeying. It's important to know that Jesus never learned from his mistakes (sinful ones), but learned by doing righteousness.
Thinking about this since I was asked two weeks ago has reminded me how much good intentions must give way to actions. We are all very willing to obey, but what about when it comes time to act. Are we learning obedience by being obedience, or just bidding our time.
The first statement to make is that Jesus wasn't moving from disobedience towards obedience. He was always innocent and never disobedient. But, as one commentary puts it, "innocence differs from virtue". Innocence is to be zereod out on the merit/demerit scale. Sin is to be on the negative side, but virtue is on the positive side. As Jesus grew and learned, he grew consistenty in virtue, having always been perfect in innocence. Another helpful thought to consider is that prior to actually going through the suffering he suffered, his obedience to the Father's plan was only hypothetical. He was willing to obey, but by actually acting, he obeyed.
Third, you could think of this as a baseball player learning how to hita curve ball. How do they learn - by actually doing it! How do we learn obedience - by actually obeying - not by disobeying. We learn the consequence of disobedience by disobeying and the value of obedience by disobeying, but the only way we can learn to obey is by obeying. It's important to know that Jesus never learned from his mistakes (sinful ones), but learned by doing righteousness.
Thinking about this since I was asked two weeks ago has reminded me how much good intentions must give way to actions. We are all very willing to obey, but what about when it comes time to act. Are we learning obedience by being obedience, or just bidding our time.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Calvin Quote
A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent. - John Calvin
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