Monday, December 29, 2008
The Shack
It was a discipline, having read reviews, pro and con, to attempt an unbiased read. Most will probably suggest my failure.
Sigh.
First blush, I loved it!
It was a fictional dream. Job: 33:15-18 God, forbid, the ministry of dreams!
Can God do this?
Does God do this?
Is this the “norm”?
As to the latter, NO!
As to the former, I don’t know.
God can do whatever He likes! But, and If He does, my suspicion is, he will prompt the recipient in the manner in which he provoked The Apostle Paul ( 2 Cor. 12:7-10.) .
As it pertains to each and every attempt of a believing author, I am driven by Isaiah’s admonition: “…Isaiah 8:20 and Matt. 22:29.
Ain't that a beach!
We are left with propositions!
Propositions?
Feelings are so much more substantial, whatever a "...feeling..." is?
Where does God get off with leaving us with propositions, when Moses and the others had visions, dreams, visual manifestations, etc.?
Somehow, I get the idea the "bar' has been raised in terms of The New Covenant?
What gives?
Does this suggest God intends to treat me as an Adult?
Oops!
BraveHearted Gospel
Much of what the author writes falls into the category for me, of, “..take it or leave it..”.
But this quote resonated as I considered my experience of the church and the average saint over the past 50+ years!
How often have we/I heard the mantra, “…ignorance is bliss…”?
Well, ignorance, i.e. wilfull ignorance is personal and culpable responsibility for the believer. (Proverbs 24:11, 12) (Prov. 31: 8, 9)
How I wish the author, IMHO, had a more correct view of the New Covenant.
The issue IS NOT, what would Jesus do: but, what are we to do in a New Covenant context?
Jesus was a son of the Old Covenant.
I am a son of the New.
Correspondingly, our conduct is slightly different.
At the same time, my model: if you will pardon the seeming irreverence: is NOT Jesus.
I am a son of the New Covenant. He was a son of the OLD
Though I greatly admired the example of Paul and Peter, and acknowledge my falling short of their example, still I am a son of the New Covenant which they inaugurated and saw fulfilled; but under which they never truly/fully lived.
History is unfolding in the context of The New Covenant. The “…stone cut out without hands…” destroyed the 4th kingdom and the kingdom of God now reigns!
Our perception of that reign must be captive to the text, versus our interpretation of said texts!
I suspect this post/comment will elicit a measure response.
Yeow.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Yeow!
What a year!
Personally, I can’t recall an era more confusing than that which we have experienced under Bush II.
IMHO, since 1937, the year of my birth, we have moved from a Republic ( though one being seriously undermined by our oligarch FDR) to a Homeland with nary a concern being expressed by the population at large.
(Homeland)?
Somehow, that brings to mind the teachings of someone named Adolph!
Talk about a testimony to the effectiveness of the NAE!
Time was when education meant something other than indoctrination!
Back in those days, politicians “feared” the electorate!
Ask yourself: today, who fears whom?
Today, the electorate fears the politicians and their henchmen!
Orwell was prescient, to be sure; only 20-30 years off target!
Today, Newspeak dominates.
Definitions are as amorphous as a fart in a tornado!
Sigh.
Still, thank God, the issues are as clear as in the day of Elijah on
Oops…that is, if your epistemology is grounded in “…the word of God, written…”.
How is this for an appeal to disciplined Bible Study?
Given his role as Apostle to the Gentiles and Pioneer of the New Covenant, it behooves us to seriously consider his admonition to the church at
How equipped are you for this exercise?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Word of Promise-Next Generation CD
Terrific tool!
Loved it!
While listening, I found nothing distracting, neither the actors/readers nor the music. It all seemed to flow naturally!
I especially appreciated the introductory segments! Though I may personally disagree with certain aspects, the whole was well presented and whet one’s appetite to continue.
Candidly, the reading of the text and introductions to each text is the best part.
The supplemental DVD comments tend toward confusion.
My hope is the purchasers will listen first before watching the DVD.
While I readily acknowledge the NexGen is more aurally and visually oriented, one must still contend with the fact God left his revelation in a written format. My opinion is, He expects His saints to read and think.
Listening to the Word spoken is legitimate; but, even so, one must acknowledge the bias of the speaker.
Therefore, it behooves one to read!
In fact, the written Word is far, yea, far more important than personal testimony, etc.
Hopefully, this medium will whet the appetite to read the text of scripture.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Process vs Product
How so?
Given the proclivity of Western Christianity to programs and efficiency, we have opted to in attempt to “mass produce” disciples via our awesome programs.
If you doubt the awesomeness of these programs, simply visit the plethora of websites devoted to discipleship,
It is staggering.
Instead of being “person” centered, we are “program” centered.
Once we entertain that idea, we lose sight of the biblical teaching of the uniqueness of each individual.
Once we entertain the idea the individual is part of a program to be managed, not someone unique, to be personally ministered to, we lose sight of the individual.
Discipleship, or to use a New Covenant term, equipping the saint, is a life on life process.
It is a mutually accountable relationship where disciple and discipler are committed to one another and God in a life on life experience.
Neither is committed to an agenda, save for adherence to The Faith.
Each is eager to please God and advance The Kingdom. Neither seeks to manipulate the other into a particular mold; but each is confident on God the Spirit and His particular plane which is discovered to them in the process!
THIS is the Joy of New Covenant Equipping.
Sadly, IMHO, this is what has been lost over the past few centuries.
As a result, we have raised up generations of Clones who continue to perpetuate the same old headaches.
To get out of the current malaise, we need to return to our First love and His objective: disciple/equip individuals.