I have thought long and hard about the issues of reading and translating the Bible, much less interpreting it. My conclusion is not very heart-warming to those who want to apply the Bible directly and distinctly to this plane in which we dwell. It is the best that we have, but we have to understand that it is not perfect -- I say this because that human language is an imperfect construct. God's Thoughts are prefect, but we do not have them. What we have is a poor substitute, God's Thoughts in the language of humankind. Human language, post-Babel, I have to point out. God's thoughts are not just a little bit above ours, they are as high above our thoughts as are the heavens above the earth. The best we can catch is a glimpse. These are worthwhile, valuable, and critically important glimpses, but let's keep in mind the fact that they are just glimpses.
The observations (and ramblings) of a Real Person searching for the Real God in the Real World.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
67 years ago
On this day in 1941, Father Maximilian Mary Kolbe died at Auschwitz. You may know his story, but it certainly bears repeating.
During World War II, the Polish priest sheltered refugees from his home nation, including 2,000 Jews, whom he hid from Nazi persecution. In February 1941 he was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned in Pawiak, and was later transferred to Auschwitz.
In July 1941 a man from Kolbe's barracks vanished, prompting the camp commander to pick 10 men from his barracks to be starved to death in the infamous Block 13. One of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting that he had a family.
Kolbe stepped forward and offered to take his place. 'I wish to die for this man.' The surprised commander asked him to identify himself. He simply answered, 'I am a Catholic priest.' He was allowed to take Gajowniczek’s place.
During the time in the cell he led the men in songs and prayer. After three weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe and three others were still alive. Finally he was murdered with an injection of carbolic acid and cremated in the ovens.
Father Kolbe was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Franciszek Gajowniczek attended the ceremony.
Lord, grant me St. Maximilian’s courage.
During World War II, the Polish priest sheltered refugees from his home nation, including 2,000 Jews, whom he hid from Nazi persecution. In February 1941 he was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned in Pawiak, and was later transferred to Auschwitz.
In July 1941 a man from Kolbe's barracks vanished, prompting the camp commander to pick 10 men from his barracks to be starved to death in the infamous Block 13. One of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting that he had a family.
Kolbe stepped forward and offered to take his place. 'I wish to die for this man.' The surprised commander asked him to identify himself. He simply answered, 'I am a Catholic priest.' He was allowed to take Gajowniczek’s place.
During the time in the cell he led the men in songs and prayer. After three weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe and three others were still alive. Finally he was murdered with an injection of carbolic acid and cremated in the ovens.
Father Kolbe was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Franciszek Gajowniczek attended the ceremony.
Lord, grant me St. Maximilian’s courage.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
In, But Not Of
The earliest organized apologetic for the Christian faith may be the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus (100-180 AD). What follows is from Chapter 5 of Lightfoot's translation, giving a very early-church view of how we are (or should be) different from those around us:
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For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind either in locality or speech or customs. For they dwell not in cities of their own, neither do they use some different language.
Nor again do they possess any invention discovered by any intelligence or study of ingenious men, nor are they masters of any human dogma as some are.
But while they dwell in cities of Greeks and barbarians, and follow the native customs in dress and food and the other arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth, is marvellous, and contradicts expectation.
They dwell in their own countries, but only as sojourners; they bear their share in all things as citizens, and they endure all hardships as strangers. Every foreign country is a fatherland to them, and every fatherland is foreign.
They marry like all other men and they beget children; but they do not cast away their offspring.
They have their meals in common, but not their wives.
They find themselves in the flesh, and yet they live not after the flesh.
Their existence is on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven.
They obey the established laws, and they surpass the laws in their own lives.
They love all men, and they are persecuted by all.
They are ignored, and yet they are condemned. They are put to death, and yet they are endued with life.
They are in beggary, and yet they make many rich. They are in want of all things, and yet they abound in all things.
They are dishonoured, and yet they are glorified in their dishonour. They are evil spoken of, and yet they are vindicated.
They are reviled, and they bless; they are insulted, and they respect.
Doing good they are punished as evil-doers; being punished they rejoice, as if they were thereby quickened by life.
War is waged against them as aliens, and persecution is carried on against them, and yet those that hate them cannot tell the reason of their hostility.
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For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind either in locality or speech or customs. For they dwell not in cities of their own, neither do they use some different language.
Nor again do they possess any invention discovered by any intelligence or study of ingenious men, nor are they masters of any human dogma as some are.
But while they dwell in cities of Greeks and barbarians, and follow the native customs in dress and food and the other arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth, is marvellous, and contradicts expectation.
They dwell in their own countries, but only as sojourners; they bear their share in all things as citizens, and they endure all hardships as strangers. Every foreign country is a fatherland to them, and every fatherland is foreign.
They marry like all other men and they beget children; but they do not cast away their offspring.
They have their meals in common, but not their wives.
They find themselves in the flesh, and yet they live not after the flesh.
Their existence is on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven.
They obey the established laws, and they surpass the laws in their own lives.
They love all men, and they are persecuted by all.
They are ignored, and yet they are condemned. They are put to death, and yet they are endued with life.
They are in beggary, and yet they make many rich. They are in want of all things, and yet they abound in all things.
They are dishonoured, and yet they are glorified in their dishonour. They are evil spoken of, and yet they are vindicated.
They are reviled, and they bless; they are insulted, and they respect.
Doing good they are punished as evil-doers; being punished they rejoice, as if they were thereby quickened by life.
War is waged against them as aliens, and persecution is carried on against them, and yet those that hate them cannot tell the reason of their hostility.
Friday, August 01, 2008
July Reading List
54. Murder on K Street, by Margaret Truman
55. LOTR: ROTK, by J.R.R. Tolkien
56. Big Deal, by Anthony Holden
57. Bigger Deal, by Anthony Holden
58. Infinite Crisis, by Greg Cox
59. Hard Row, by Margaret Maron
60. The Top Ten, by J. Peder Zane (ed)
61. The Purrfect Murder, by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown
62. Metal Swarm, by Kevin J. Anderson
63. Worship Evangelism Justice, by Mike Pilavachi, with Liza Hoeksma
64. Deja Dead, by Kathy Reichs
55. LOTR: ROTK, by J.R.R. Tolkien
56. Big Deal, by Anthony Holden
57. Bigger Deal, by Anthony Holden
58. Infinite Crisis, by Greg Cox
59. Hard Row, by Margaret Maron
60. The Top Ten, by J. Peder Zane (ed)
61. The Purrfect Murder, by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown
62. Metal Swarm, by Kevin J. Anderson
63. Worship Evangelism Justice, by Mike Pilavachi, with Liza Hoeksma
64. Deja Dead, by Kathy Reichs
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Worship Evangelism Justice
From the introduction to Worship Evangelism Justice, by Mike Pilavachi, with Liza Hoeksma. Pilavachi is the founder and leader of Soul Survivor, in the UK. The book is an good read, and the perspective of what God is doing across the pond always interests me.
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"Jesus told us that loving God and loving our neighbor should go hand in hand. We've often separated out our spiritual activities from our secular ones; we go to a home group, that's spiritual; we buy a pair of sneakers, that's secular. Or is it? If we do our part to ensure that the person who is making our sneakers gets a fair wage and works in reasonable conditions, isn't that an act of loving our neighbor and therefore a spiritual activity? God is interested in the whole of our lives and He wants access to everything so that we can make choices that reflect Him better.
I believe that worship, evangelism and justice are close to God's heart and that they belong together. If we continue to ignore them, or even separate them, we will continue to see the numbers of people following God decline and te church's voice grow weaker. If we bring them back together, could it be that the church will again be right at the heart of the community and God will again be worshipped as He deserves?"
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"Jesus told us that loving God and loving our neighbor should go hand in hand. We've often separated out our spiritual activities from our secular ones; we go to a home group, that's spiritual; we buy a pair of sneakers, that's secular. Or is it? If we do our part to ensure that the person who is making our sneakers gets a fair wage and works in reasonable conditions, isn't that an act of loving our neighbor and therefore a spiritual activity? God is interested in the whole of our lives and He wants access to everything so that we can make choices that reflect Him better.
I believe that worship, evangelism and justice are close to God's heart and that they belong together. If we continue to ignore them, or even separate them, we will continue to see the numbers of people following God decline and te church's voice grow weaker. If we bring them back together, could it be that the church will again be right at the heart of the community and God will again be worshipped as He deserves?"
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Devotion to Christ
This is what we learn from Mary Magdalene, whose feast the church has historically celebrated on July 22.
Much of her story is shrouded in mystery and misidentification, as well as recent ficitional (highly fictional) attempts to further change her story. What we know about her speaks to her wholehearted devotion to Jesus. She accompanied Him on His final trip to Jerusalem, stood at the cross, and then went to the tomb. And her reweard, of course, was that she was the first person our risen Lord spoke to.
Lord, give me the devotion of our sister, St. Mary of Magdala.
Much of her story is shrouded in mystery and misidentification, as well as recent ficitional (highly fictional) attempts to further change her story. What we know about her speaks to her wholehearted devotion to Jesus. She accompanied Him on His final trip to Jerusalem, stood at the cross, and then went to the tomb. And her reweard, of course, was that she was the first person our risen Lord spoke to.
Lord, give me the devotion of our sister, St. Mary of Magdala.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Even in the Darkness
A terrific song from an alternative folk duo, based out of Chicago, but touring the EU during the through November.
-------------------------------------------------
Even in the Darkness
by Rue Royale (Brooklyn and Ruth Dekker)
Oh, I will follow you
Even in the darkness know your truth
Oh I will follow you
Walking in the light you’ve called me to
‘Cause I love your name, it is like honey on my mouth
I love your name
I love your ways, they are so beautiful to me
I love your ways
Oh, I will trust in you
Offer up my life to be made new
Oh, I will trust in you
I will cast my every care on you
Oh, I believe in you
I believe your every word is true
Oh, I believe in you
I will give my life, my love, to you
‘Cause I love your name, it is like honey on my mouth
I love your name
I love your ways, they are so beautiful to me
I love your ways
Even in the darkness, know your truth
Even in the darkness, know your truth
-------------------------------------------------
Even in the Darkness
by Rue Royale (Brooklyn and Ruth Dekker)
Oh, I will follow you
Even in the darkness know your truth
Oh I will follow you
Walking in the light you’ve called me to
‘Cause I love your name, it is like honey on my mouth
I love your name
I love your ways, they are so beautiful to me
I love your ways
Oh, I will trust in you
Offer up my life to be made new
Oh, I will trust in you
I will cast my every care on you
Oh, I believe in you
I believe your every word is true
Oh, I believe in you
I will give my life, my love, to you
‘Cause I love your name, it is like honey on my mouth
I love your name
I love your ways, they are so beautiful to me
I love your ways
Even in the darkness, know your truth
Even in the darkness, know your truth
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Book Review
The Reason For God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, by Timothy Keller.
The Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, Keller walks the reader through an accessible apologetic for basic Christian beliefs, such as sin, the crucifixion, and resurrection. He also takes on criticisms of the church and God, such as the problem of evil and the Church's historic role in causing/promoting injustice. Keller takes his experiences pastoring in "godless" Manhattan to balance an academic approach to the topic with modern (and post-modern) language and examples to reach 21st century skeptics.
The Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, Keller walks the reader through an accessible apologetic for basic Christian beliefs, such as sin, the crucifixion, and resurrection. He also takes on criticisms of the church and God, such as the problem of evil and the Church's historic role in causing/promoting injustice. Keller takes his experiences pastoring in "godless" Manhattan to balance an academic approach to the topic with modern (and post-modern) language and examples to reach 21st century skeptics.
Monday, June 30, 2008
June Reading List
48. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
49. Book of the Dead, by Patricia Cornwell
50. Snakehead, by Anthony Horowitz
51. The Third Secret, by Steve Berry
52. The Dragon Prince, by Melanie Rawn
53. Restored, by Neil T. Anderson
Currently Reading: The Star Scroll (30% done), Murder on K Streeet (25%), LOTR:Return of the King (10%).
49. Book of the Dead, by Patricia Cornwell
50. Snakehead, by Anthony Horowitz
51. The Third Secret, by Steve Berry
52. The Dragon Prince, by Melanie Rawn
53. Restored, by Neil T. Anderson
Currently Reading: The Star Scroll (30% done), Murder on K Streeet (25%), LOTR:Return of the King (10%).
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Book Review
How to be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job, by Brother Benet Tvedten
Tvedten is a monk at a Benedectine monastery in South Dakota, so he knows what it is to be monastic. In this book, he describes the life of an oblate – a “lay monastic,” if you will. An oblate takes vows of spiritual commitment to a particular monastery, but has a regular job and family. Although I am not going to make this particular life choice, the life of balance that monastics exemplify I find attractive. I found the book on the "Monk Rock" website (monkrock.com) ... folks whose motto is "You don't have to be a monk to live like one."
I must say I learned a lot from this little book.
Tvedten is a monk at a Benedectine monastery in South Dakota, so he knows what it is to be monastic. In this book, he describes the life of an oblate – a “lay monastic,” if you will. An oblate takes vows of spiritual commitment to a particular monastery, but has a regular job and family. Although I am not going to make this particular life choice, the life of balance that monastics exemplify I find attractive. I found the book on the "Monk Rock" website (monkrock.com) ... folks whose motto is "You don't have to be a monk to live like one."
I must say I learned a lot from this little book.
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