Strong Words

One of my pet peeves is words -- words that have strong meanings that are used in ways that weaken the words. I have tons of these, but today I'll talk about the word "miracle."

A miracle is something that occurs outside the natural order only with the direct intervention of God, such as instant healing, walking on water, etc . . . I may even give you salvation as a miracle, but I just think that "miracle" is a pretty high standard and should only be reserved for truly miraculous events.

I love sunsets, but sunsets are not miracles; they happen every day at specifically predictable times; they are by definition part of the natural order.

Babies, too. They are born every day all over the world; again, they define the natural order as oppose to violate it. It doesn't get much more predictable than that.

These events are awesome, cool, wonderful, breathtaking, amazing, etc . . . they just aren't miracles.

Repent!

Say you're surfing. You've seen the pose, knees bent, one foot in front of the other, blond tresses blowing in the sea breeze. The waves are changing, or you're at the end of a run, and you need to change the direction of the board, what do you do? You do the switchfoot, moving the position of the feet on the board to change the direction you're going.

To turn around. To completely change direction. To Switchfoot.

BTW, go buy their new album.

Katrina thoughts

The pictures coming out of the South are still gripping, but nonetheless I am starting to move from emotional response to theological response to this natural disaster. In no particular order, here are some of my thoughts:

* It is a fallen world, one in bondage to decay. Whether this signifies the end times or anything calamitous of that nature I don't know, but it certainly is reflective of a wild world. Singer Tonio K once noted, "it's a jungle out there; it used to be a garden."

* Man is not by nature good. Quite to the contrary, when the strictures of authority and civilized society are gone, we snap quickly (QUICKLY) into our true looting, raping, pillaging, selfish selves.

* There is light in the darkness. The storm is not evidence of God's absence, but help and heroism are evidences of His presence.

"Christian" is not an adjective!

One of my pet peeves is the use of the word "Christian" as an adjective; i.e., Christian business, Christian radio, Christian movie, etc . . . . used to describe a person or a group of people is a little closer to acceptable, such as Christian author or Christian band, because Jesus did not die to redeem your business or your radio station, he came to redeem you and me. "Christian" is a noun, a person, not a descriptor for an inanimate object.

I understand the need for shorthand at times, and certainly fall into it myself, but I think it's something we should be cognizant of and make sure we're using the word properly.

Pat Roberston said what???

Yeah, I guess I decided to re-activate this blog just in time. Formerly relevant televangelist Pat Roberston has called for the assassination of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

{shakes head in shame and disappointment}

I was in Virginia in 1988, and I remember clearly when he was at his peak. This latest pronouncement is actually quite surprising, considering Robertson has been involved in politics all of his life; his father was a US Senator, after all. He should know better -- I just don't get this one.

Boy have I missed you!

It has been right at 13 months since I last posted here, but I am ready to pick up the habit again. Check out the archives for what I usually write about: pop Christianity, music, movies, and books, musings on my faith, and any other place where God intersects with the real world.

The Democratization of the Spirit

I think that many of the adjustments that God makes in dealing with people in the Old Testament and New Testament is the role of the Holy Spirit. At the crucifixion, the veil was ripped open and at that point the Spirit became available for all men. This is a radical departure from the role of Spirit in the Old Testament. In the OT, the Spirit rested on only a few people at a time, and these people (usually designated "prophets") had authority in the body. In the Church Age, the Spirit is available to all who follow Christ, regardless of their ability, holiness, or calling. It is easy -- and tempting -- to pay attention to those in whom the Spirit is obvious, and follow their teachings and leadership. But that is not the model of New Testament leadership.

Figuring It Out

It is the classic conundrum of Bible study. I want to strive to understand the Word of God, but I do not want to actually understand it. I have always been comfortable with my inability to grasp the intricate details of doctrinal issues. If I can understand God, then he wouldn't be worth my worship, would he? The key is the striving, not in the understanding.

Book review: Glimpsing Mary

From Beverly Roberts Gaventa book "Mary: Glimpses of the Mother of Jesus." Gaventa is one of the few protestant women who has studied Mary. I love Mary, and found this book enlightening.Referring to the 4 women in the genealogy of Jesus: "None of them fits in with the way things are "supposed" to be. Each of the women is presented as threatening the status quo in some way . . . each is also part of the divine plan."Key traits that Mary presents inthe Gospels: vulnerability, reflection, and witness. "What he have in these glimpses of MAry are some important aspects of what it means to be a disciple of Christ: living with vulnerability, reflecting with care on the advent of Jesus Christ, and witnessing God's actions in the world. In that sense, Mary remains a model for all Christians."

Book Review: Bleah

The Heart Reader, by Anonymous. This is a typical evangelical novel (read "not very good"), by an author who has has written "several CBA bestsellers" and who is donating the royalties for this work to charity. The slim volume is an attempt to show us how to be evangelical, by listening to God's voice and hearing what He is saying to us about those around us, and about their needs. The portrayal of the heart of the Father is the strongest aspect of this work, but the portrayals of the characters are below average. It would not be so bad a book if the author put his or her name to it; a book presented anonymously has to not just meet the minimum standards, but far and away surpass them. This work does not.