I have been asked to take over an Adult Bible Fellowship at my church, and my preparations are in earnest for the first series in January. The overall series will be entitled "Big Things Come in Little Packages." In a sense, I will take some of the smaller books of the Old and New Testament to show how mighty those minute books are -- Haggai, Habakkuk, Obadiah, 2nd John, 3rd John, Jude, and Philemon. The problem is that we neglect the time and effort in those small writings. The doctrine is there, but American Christians are lazy (self-included).
2nd John is just such a book. Reading through it should take no more than 5 minutes; but as you read through this epistle, notice the focus on truth and love. You can subdivide the book into three sections: Welcome (v1-3), Walk (v4-6), and Warning (v7-13). Clearly, John is hammering the point that truth is of absolute importance as a foundation for love and fellowship. Sometimes, scholars will debate the truth and love in a similar fashion about which came first -- the chicken or the egg?
The answer is simple: truth.
Truth underscores love. Five times in the first four verses, we see that powerful focus on truth. The author says truth is alive, available, and always. We know that Christ is the truth (John 14:6), and since He is alive, truth lives too. We know that truth is available because Jesus stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20). Finally, we know that God's Word is always (Psalm 119 and John 1).
Admittedly, I struggle with love and mercy because I often get hung up on truth. However, we must balance our stance upon truth with love. This does NOT mean that we compromise doctrine for fellowship, but it does indicate that truth has a loving side. How do I know? Look at what John said in this introduction. He offers salutations of grace, mercy and peace. I like these acronyms to explain these terms:
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense
Messiah's
Extraordinary
Redemption that
Changes
You
Providence
Exemplified
As
Contentment
Ensues
Grace puts us in a restored relationship with our Creator God. Mercy is backed by tremendous love that, once understood, produces a change in our daily lives. Those two items -- grace and mercy -- produce peace that the world cannot understand. We see the truth of those terms, but God enacts them because of his love.
Truth is the foundation of love, but love is behind all truth.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Does the Church Matter Today?
Why Church Matters by Joshua Harris is a clear and concise book that deals with some of the questions many ask in pondering church membership. Having read several of his other works, this one pales in comparison to them because the depth and insight that are normally in Harris’ manuscripts were lacking. Granted, I have been in church my entire life; so, my perspective quite possibly clouds my judgment in that regard. If I were, in his words, a “church dater,” this book may have been a perfect fit.
His progression is logical in that he cites the prominence of uncommitted “church daters.” He then discusses the symbolism of the Church as the bride of Christ. Finally, he shifts into a description of the need for a church, how to choose one, and why there is a need to join. Without a doubt, chapter 6 – “Rescuing Sunday” – was the best part of this little book. Harris provides solid steps for Christians to maximize the most of their time at Church. We are all guilty of simply going through the motions; so he offers suggestions on how to be more purposeful in church attendance.
If you are looking to continue a similar study, get a copy of David Jeremiah’s latest book I Never Thought I’d See the Day. He has a chapter about the irrelevance of the church in our modern world. Jeremiah’s intent is somewhat different, but a comparison of their thoughts is rather enlightening. While the books are written seven years apart, they do offer the same conclusion -- yes, in this world of heartache and pain, the Church does matter while, sometimes, the churches do not.
My biggest gripe for Harris rests upon the lacking style of his scholarship. I am not challenging his intellectual basis; however, I am questioning his attention to detail. I discovered several wonderful quotes that I wanted to explore further; yet, Harris denied me (and other readers) that opportunity. Instead of providing clear citations from other books, personal emails, or sermons, Harris merely stated the quote with the author’s name.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. For additional details, please visit http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
His progression is logical in that he cites the prominence of uncommitted “church daters.” He then discusses the symbolism of the Church as the bride of Christ. Finally, he shifts into a description of the need for a church, how to choose one, and why there is a need to join. Without a doubt, chapter 6 – “Rescuing Sunday” – was the best part of this little book. Harris provides solid steps for Christians to maximize the most of their time at Church. We are all guilty of simply going through the motions; so he offers suggestions on how to be more purposeful in church attendance.
If you are looking to continue a similar study, get a copy of David Jeremiah’s latest book I Never Thought I’d See the Day. He has a chapter about the irrelevance of the church in our modern world. Jeremiah’s intent is somewhat different, but a comparison of their thoughts is rather enlightening. While the books are written seven years apart, they do offer the same conclusion -- yes, in this world of heartache and pain, the Church does matter while, sometimes, the churches do not.
My biggest gripe for Harris rests upon the lacking style of his scholarship. I am not challenging his intellectual basis; however, I am questioning his attention to detail. I discovered several wonderful quotes that I wanted to explore further; yet, Harris denied me (and other readers) that opportunity. Instead of providing clear citations from other books, personal emails, or sermons, Harris merely stated the quote with the author’s name.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. For additional details, please visit http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Some Issues with Expansion....
The NKJV Expanded Bible, which is part of the Signature Series by Thomas Nelson, fits its name perfectly. This Bible provides additional insight for deeper study. The bold type presents their translation into more modern language while the regular type, within brackets, serves as the expanded portion. These comments focus upon more literal renderings of the word, traditional renderings (often from the King James), cross-referencing material, or textual variants from the original manuscripts.
If a reader compares this New King James translation with another, they will immediately discover differences within the translation. That rationale is explained by the editors in the beginning. Rather than waging into the debate between formal (literal) equivalent or functional (meaning) equivalent translations, the authors “compromise” by blending both formats in this Bible.
While each equivalency has pros and cons, this merging of the two creates its own set of problems. First, the eminent readability of functional translations (the NIV) is lost while the beauty of language within the formal translations (the KJV) is also missing. Second, the “safety” of formal translations (typically theologically precise due to less personal interpretation by editors) may have been lost. I am not a student of the original languages, but this type of Bible forces one to rely upon the three editors for precision. I am not saying these men purposefully skewed the text one way or another, but this blended format opened the door for bias to enter into textual renderings.
The above-mentioned format for the NKJV Expanded Bible affords itself to personal, in-depth study; however, I cannot recommend this Bible for a new Christian or someone wishing to own a smooth reading text. The quirky nature of the expansion brackets inhibits the natural flow and, at times, can present confusion. I reviewed the electronic version of this Bible and am uncertain whether the same erratic pattern would exist. Maybe the actual hard copy would resolve some of that issue for me.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
If a reader compares this New King James translation with another, they will immediately discover differences within the translation. That rationale is explained by the editors in the beginning. Rather than waging into the debate between formal (literal) equivalent or functional (meaning) equivalent translations, the authors “compromise” by blending both formats in this Bible.
While each equivalency has pros and cons, this merging of the two creates its own set of problems. First, the eminent readability of functional translations (the NIV) is lost while the beauty of language within the formal translations (the KJV) is also missing. Second, the “safety” of formal translations (typically theologically precise due to less personal interpretation by editors) may have been lost. I am not a student of the original languages, but this type of Bible forces one to rely upon the three editors for precision. I am not saying these men purposefully skewed the text one way or another, but this blended format opened the door for bias to enter into textual renderings.
The above-mentioned format for the NKJV Expanded Bible affords itself to personal, in-depth study; however, I cannot recommend this Bible for a new Christian or someone wishing to own a smooth reading text. The quirky nature of the expansion brackets inhibits the natural flow and, at times, can present confusion. I reviewed the electronic version of this Bible and am uncertain whether the same erratic pattern would exist. Maybe the actual hard copy would resolve some of that issue for me.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Churched....
Churched by Matthew Paul Turner is a sometimes witty and funny discussion of spiritual upbringing. As a reader, I wondered how much of the book is truly a memoir as opposed to an embellishment to prove his underlying thesis. Clearly, the author has a sense of humor – just read pages 28-30 about the KJV term for donkey in Scripture! This format, in my opinion, cheapened his story and left it unfinished.
After reading this a second time, I am left puzzled as to the author’s true intent. Was it merely to portray fundamentalists is a poor light? If not, where is the rest of the story about his journey? The back cover of the book indicates that he “falls in love with Jesus,” but that cannot be assumed unless the author provides details lending to that claim. The subtitle referenced a journey toward God; however, the balance of the book does little more than poke fun at anyone that is a fundamentalist.
The first chapter and the last chapter scantly mention time outside of that circle; so, as a reader, I did not see how he has fallen in love with Jesus.
On page 213, the author issues one of his own personal absolutes: “Fundamentalism has little to do with Jesus.” Such a statement betrays a misunderstanding of Fundamentalism, but on page 223, Turner professes that he does not believe the Bible is infallible. Much of his humorous angst against fundamentalists comes from his own lack of understanding.
Historically, the term fundamentalism originated with the publication of 12 pamphlets entitled The Fundamentals by Princeton Theological Seminary (1910-1915). Contextually, these sought to explain the macabre events of World War One and provided a reaction to Darwin’s evolutionary theory. From that point of origin, many Christian colleges were created to teach these fundamentals – including the one that produced Pastor Nolan described in this book.
Simply put, fundamentalism, unlike modern liberalism, teaches the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Thus, salvation from sin is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ. The author’s absolute could not be further from the truth. Yes, some circles within the broader fundamentalist movement have introduced legalistic practices; however, the author’s far-reaching generalization is unfortunate and wrong.
Turner says on Page 108 that “being a fundamentalist was pointless without hell.” Once again, I have to disagree. I was born and raised within one of those legalistic, fundamental circles; yet, I developed an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Through much personal study and wrestling with Scripture, I came to realize that many of the teachings (i.e. suits on Sunday and tapered haircuts) were personal preferences rather than Biblical theology.
My current fundamentalist life is fueled by a love of Jesus. That love has produced theological depth and personal growth; yet, God utilized those times to forge a passion for the glory of God. I cannot agree with the front and back cover of the book which labels fundamentalism as a “holy mess” or the “chaotic mess of religion.” Such terms portray fellow believers as crazed and blinded simpletons, meaning the author completely overlooked the tenets of 1 Corinthians 12:26 that “the members [of the body of Christ] may have the same care for one another.”
If you are looking for humor, this is a great book. If you are looking for a story that shows a personal story producing a love for Jesus, this is not the book for you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. For additional details, please visit http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
After reading this a second time, I am left puzzled as to the author’s true intent. Was it merely to portray fundamentalists is a poor light? If not, where is the rest of the story about his journey? The back cover of the book indicates that he “falls in love with Jesus,” but that cannot be assumed unless the author provides details lending to that claim. The subtitle referenced a journey toward God; however, the balance of the book does little more than poke fun at anyone that is a fundamentalist.
The first chapter and the last chapter scantly mention time outside of that circle; so, as a reader, I did not see how he has fallen in love with Jesus.
On page 213, the author issues one of his own personal absolutes: “Fundamentalism has little to do with Jesus.” Such a statement betrays a misunderstanding of Fundamentalism, but on page 223, Turner professes that he does not believe the Bible is infallible. Much of his humorous angst against fundamentalists comes from his own lack of understanding.
Historically, the term fundamentalism originated with the publication of 12 pamphlets entitled The Fundamentals by Princeton Theological Seminary (1910-1915). Contextually, these sought to explain the macabre events of World War One and provided a reaction to Darwin’s evolutionary theory. From that point of origin, many Christian colleges were created to teach these fundamentals – including the one that produced Pastor Nolan described in this book.
Simply put, fundamentalism, unlike modern liberalism, teaches the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Thus, salvation from sin is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ. The author’s absolute could not be further from the truth. Yes, some circles within the broader fundamentalist movement have introduced legalistic practices; however, the author’s far-reaching generalization is unfortunate and wrong.
Turner says on Page 108 that “being a fundamentalist was pointless without hell.” Once again, I have to disagree. I was born and raised within one of those legalistic, fundamental circles; yet, I developed an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Through much personal study and wrestling with Scripture, I came to realize that many of the teachings (i.e. suits on Sunday and tapered haircuts) were personal preferences rather than Biblical theology.
My current fundamentalist life is fueled by a love of Jesus. That love has produced theological depth and personal growth; yet, God utilized those times to forge a passion for the glory of God. I cannot agree with the front and back cover of the book which labels fundamentalism as a “holy mess” or the “chaotic mess of religion.” Such terms portray fellow believers as crazed and blinded simpletons, meaning the author completely overlooked the tenets of 1 Corinthians 12:26 that “the members [of the body of Christ] may have the same care for one another.”
If you are looking for humor, this is a great book. If you are looking for a story that shows a personal story producing a love for Jesus, this is not the book for you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. For additional details, please visit http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Culture Shift
Culture Shift: The Battle for the Moral Heart of America by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. offers cogent insight into the cultural war within America and the world at-large. He highlights the major edicts of secularism and offers arenas wherein the battle is raging – the law, public education, science, philosophy, and religion. The short chapters are filled with detailed research that transforms this book into a swift read; yet it deserves prolonged attention and reflection.
In discussing this topic, Mohler portrays a rather novel thesis for his discourse. His mentality permeates the entire treatise and is built upon Matthew 22:36-40. On page 26, he says: “we are motivated by love for other human beings, believing that health and welfare and happiness and commonweal [sic] are dependent on society’s being ordered in such a way that the Creator’s intentions for human relationships are honored and upheld.” This rationale perfectly explains why Christians should actively work within the world while not living like the world. Our love for God trumps everything else, yet that love for God drives us to live like no one else.
I agree with Mohler that public schools present ideological problems for Christian parents seeking to rear children from a Biblical worldview. He provides ample evidence of the cultural shift; however, I take exception to the conclusion of chapter 8. His solution, as stated on page 60, is for Christians “to develop an exit strategy from the public schools,” but this idea conflicts with his thesis on page 2. There, Mohler extrapolates that loving God and our neighbor “gives us a clear mandate for the right kind of cultural engagement.” The exit strategy hypothesis performs the exact opposite by exalting cultural disengagement on the part of Christians.
I am a Christian that proudly serves within the public school system. Yes, public education has significant flaws; however, the opportunities to showcase the love of God abound. Since we are commanded to be salt and light in this world, withdrawal prevents fulfillment of the directives in Matthew 5. Instead, Christian parents should remain highly involved in the education of their children by offering a Biblically-based education. Their children with then have the opportunity to live those lessons in the world, which will bring God the glory.
Despite the criticism of that point, Mohler’s book passionately proclaims the need for every Christian to present the world with “the undiluted truth of Christianity” (page 124). While I encourage you to get a copy and deeply consider its contents, I strongly urge you to dig deeper into the Bible to evaluate your life against God’s standards of truth.
Please rate this review:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. For additional details, please visit http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
In discussing this topic, Mohler portrays a rather novel thesis for his discourse. His mentality permeates the entire treatise and is built upon Matthew 22:36-40. On page 26, he says: “we are motivated by love for other human beings, believing that health and welfare and happiness and commonweal [sic] are dependent on society’s being ordered in such a way that the Creator’s intentions for human relationships are honored and upheld.” This rationale perfectly explains why Christians should actively work within the world while not living like the world. Our love for God trumps everything else, yet that love for God drives us to live like no one else.
I agree with Mohler that public schools present ideological problems for Christian parents seeking to rear children from a Biblical worldview. He provides ample evidence of the cultural shift; however, I take exception to the conclusion of chapter 8. His solution, as stated on page 60, is for Christians “to develop an exit strategy from the public schools,” but this idea conflicts with his thesis on page 2. There, Mohler extrapolates that loving God and our neighbor “gives us a clear mandate for the right kind of cultural engagement.” The exit strategy hypothesis performs the exact opposite by exalting cultural disengagement on the part of Christians.
I am a Christian that proudly serves within the public school system. Yes, public education has significant flaws; however, the opportunities to showcase the love of God abound. Since we are commanded to be salt and light in this world, withdrawal prevents fulfillment of the directives in Matthew 5. Instead, Christian parents should remain highly involved in the education of their children by offering a Biblically-based education. Their children with then have the opportunity to live those lessons in the world, which will bring God the glory.
Despite the criticism of that point, Mohler’s book passionately proclaims the need for every Christian to present the world with “the undiluted truth of Christianity” (page 124). While I encourage you to get a copy and deeply consider its contents, I strongly urge you to dig deeper into the Bible to evaluate your life against God’s standards of truth.
Please rate this review:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. For additional details, please visit http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Saturday, October 15, 2011
A Long Absence....
It has been quite some time since I have shared my thoughts about my devotional readings. No, I have not been unfaithful in reading God's Word; however, I will concede that I do not spend enough time in studying His thoughts. It is amazing how that we, as Christians, stand upon His Word for our eternal destiny; yet, we are so quick to read a chapter and declare our relationship fine. Instead, we must get alone, dig, study, and apply everything that we read. Sometimes, we must read quite a bit in order to discover what God has for us in that setting. Anyway, I needed to remind myself of that fact before moving onward; so please excuse that digression.
In working through the Biblical history books, last night found me moving through II Chronicles 26:16-23. Uzziah was considered a good king, but his life provides a specific challenge to us all. This section personally applies to me because I have recently received a promotion at work and am the Director of my Office. So, let's learn about this king and see how we can ensure that we do not repeat his mistakes.
Uzziah, according to verse 16, fell into the trap of pride due to his prosperity and position -- "when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction." Clearly, the verse shows that his strength and success did not produce future success. Past results are not guarantee of future gain! Future accomplishments can only be produced the same way as the past -- through vigilant, hard work. If you look at the preceding verses, we see that Uzziah's strength came from the craftsmanship of his people. He developed machines on the city walls to launch rocks and arrows - early versions of the trebuchet or catapult.
With that backdrop, Uzziah decided to offer incense, which he, as king, could not do. In modern vernacular, he was dead wrong! The king served as the civil authority of the nation; however, he did so at the pleasure of God. Multiple times, God spoke to His people and told them that He would bless them as long as they followed His commands. Uzziah was hoping to usurp one of those directives by assuming the role of priest as well -- something that would never work (i.e. look at the example of the judge Gideon who lived like a king and created a priestly ephod that led Israel back into idolatry).
Thankfully, the priests, in verse 18, "withstood King Uzziah." They warned him! The Hebraic term references taking a stand and defending. In other words, they surrounded him, stopped him, and stood to stop him. Verse 17 reveals that 80 priests stood together against the king - quite possibly for their own peril - but God wanted us to remember them as valiant or strong men. Typically, in the Old Testament, valiant is a word utilized for soldiers. Its usage in this context reveals that standing for what is right against wayward leaders is just as vital. Simply, they warned their king about the error of his ways and attempted to prevent Uzziah's death. Whereas Uzziah listened to his advisers regarding military machines on the walls, he failed to heed the warnings of these priests.
While the king was wrong and warned by servants loyal to him, Uzziah's response was one of wrath. These priests sought to protect him, but the king could only see them as lowly priests that were subservient to his authority. He has already entered a part of the Temple that was forbidden to him, and when rebuked, he became "furious" and "angry." The NKJV uses two different words, but they are both the same Hebrew term. To get an understanding of Uzziah's response, the Hebrew term does denote anger but in two expressive ways: (1) foaming at the mouth and (2) intense burning. Uzziah was not disappointed, he was about to explode in rage.
Although wrong and warned by others, his wrath led to the final element of this story -- his power waned. God punished this king by immediately causing leprosy to break out upon him. The presence of leprosy was symbolic of uncleanness and Uzziah fit that symbolism perfectly. This king who was earlier described as strong was not thrown out of the Temple and could no longer live in his palace. He resided in an "isolated house" meaning that he could not judge his people -- his son had to instead. The once powerful man had been reduced to the holder of a position. His influence was gone because he refused to listen to the proper advice of his constituents.
The implications are clear for leaders and for those aspiring to become leaders. We know what is right and must continue to practice rightness even when we have climbed the ladder. Further, when corrected by others, gauge your response correctly. Too often, we stubbornly refuse to listen and launch into a defense of our position. Listening and reflecting may prevent serious heartbreak down the road. Also, anger can be a dangerous thing; so beware of its hold upon your life. Finally, if you will not do right, will not listen to advisers, and will not respond correctly, then expect a hard fall.
What a challenge this was to me, and maybe it will help you as well.
In working through the Biblical history books, last night found me moving through II Chronicles 26:16-23. Uzziah was considered a good king, but his life provides a specific challenge to us all. This section personally applies to me because I have recently received a promotion at work and am the Director of my Office. So, let's learn about this king and see how we can ensure that we do not repeat his mistakes.
Uzziah, according to verse 16, fell into the trap of pride due to his prosperity and position -- "when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction." Clearly, the verse shows that his strength and success did not produce future success. Past results are not guarantee of future gain! Future accomplishments can only be produced the same way as the past -- through vigilant, hard work. If you look at the preceding verses, we see that Uzziah's strength came from the craftsmanship of his people. He developed machines on the city walls to launch rocks and arrows - early versions of the trebuchet or catapult.
With that backdrop, Uzziah decided to offer incense, which he, as king, could not do. In modern vernacular, he was dead wrong! The king served as the civil authority of the nation; however, he did so at the pleasure of God. Multiple times, God spoke to His people and told them that He would bless them as long as they followed His commands. Uzziah was hoping to usurp one of those directives by assuming the role of priest as well -- something that would never work (i.e. look at the example of the judge Gideon who lived like a king and created a priestly ephod that led Israel back into idolatry).
Thankfully, the priests, in verse 18, "withstood King Uzziah." They warned him! The Hebraic term references taking a stand and defending. In other words, they surrounded him, stopped him, and stood to stop him. Verse 17 reveals that 80 priests stood together against the king - quite possibly for their own peril - but God wanted us to remember them as valiant or strong men. Typically, in the Old Testament, valiant is a word utilized for soldiers. Its usage in this context reveals that standing for what is right against wayward leaders is just as vital. Simply, they warned their king about the error of his ways and attempted to prevent Uzziah's death. Whereas Uzziah listened to his advisers regarding military machines on the walls, he failed to heed the warnings of these priests.
While the king was wrong and warned by servants loyal to him, Uzziah's response was one of wrath. These priests sought to protect him, but the king could only see them as lowly priests that were subservient to his authority. He has already entered a part of the Temple that was forbidden to him, and when rebuked, he became "furious" and "angry." The NKJV uses two different words, but they are both the same Hebrew term. To get an understanding of Uzziah's response, the Hebrew term does denote anger but in two expressive ways: (1) foaming at the mouth and (2) intense burning. Uzziah was not disappointed, he was about to explode in rage.
Although wrong and warned by others, his wrath led to the final element of this story -- his power waned. God punished this king by immediately causing leprosy to break out upon him. The presence of leprosy was symbolic of uncleanness and Uzziah fit that symbolism perfectly. This king who was earlier described as strong was not thrown out of the Temple and could no longer live in his palace. He resided in an "isolated house" meaning that he could not judge his people -- his son had to instead. The once powerful man had been reduced to the holder of a position. His influence was gone because he refused to listen to the proper advice of his constituents.
The implications are clear for leaders and for those aspiring to become leaders. We know what is right and must continue to practice rightness even when we have climbed the ladder. Further, when corrected by others, gauge your response correctly. Too often, we stubbornly refuse to listen and launch into a defense of our position. Listening and reflecting may prevent serious heartbreak down the road. Also, anger can be a dangerous thing; so beware of its hold upon your life. Finally, if you will not do right, will not listen to advisers, and will not respond correctly, then expect a hard fall.
What a challenge this was to me, and maybe it will help you as well.
Real Manhood....
If you are seeking a “how to” manual in teaching your son the principles of manhood, then William J. Bennett’s The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood is not for you. Rather than clearly describing specific steps or providing teaching principles, Bennett takes a completely different approach by assembling a myriad of quotes, stories, and case studies. In doing so, he leaves the interpretation of those vignettes to the reader, thereby, giving them freedom to adapt as needed for instruction.
I did not expect the book to be the large compendium that it is; however, he adroitly utilizes small poems and quotes in order to retain interest. The format allows a reader to be able to move quickly through his six major divisions. The author tackles this work, as he has done all others, with time and effort. He wanted to ensure that he got his point across through as many different manners as possible.
For those using this volume to teach their sons, I offer this advice --- do not read the book in the order it is written. Instead, I encourage you to read in the following order: 6th chapter (man in prayer and reflection), 5th chapter (man with woman and children), 2nd chapter (man at work), 4th chapter (man in the polis), 1st chapter (man at war), and then 3rd chapter (man at play, sports and leisure). My rationale is rather simple – a man’s relationship with God determines everything else. Being right with God, transforms a family and allows him to keep a proper perspective about work. In working, he seeks to contribute to society at large and, if called upon, will serve his nation at war. Finally, and least important, is leisure time. Our society, unfortunately, has inverted this prioritization in that we largely focus upon leisure and entitlement at the expense of all other considerations.
This book is on a shelf awaiting my son, who is about to turn 4, to become older. We will read some of these together and I will use the primary resources to teach him about manhood. As good as this voluminous collection may be, never forget that your life is a book that children read every day. In order to teach your sons about manhood, we, as men, must project the right idea of manhood – not this bumbling view offered by Hollywood. Simply, we can benefit from Bennett’s work too.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I did not expect the book to be the large compendium that it is; however, he adroitly utilizes small poems and quotes in order to retain interest. The format allows a reader to be able to move quickly through his six major divisions. The author tackles this work, as he has done all others, with time and effort. He wanted to ensure that he got his point across through as many different manners as possible.
For those using this volume to teach their sons, I offer this advice --- do not read the book in the order it is written. Instead, I encourage you to read in the following order: 6th chapter (man in prayer and reflection), 5th chapter (man with woman and children), 2nd chapter (man at work), 4th chapter (man in the polis), 1st chapter (man at war), and then 3rd chapter (man at play, sports and leisure). My rationale is rather simple – a man’s relationship with God determines everything else. Being right with God, transforms a family and allows him to keep a proper perspective about work. In working, he seeks to contribute to society at large and, if called upon, will serve his nation at war. Finally, and least important, is leisure time. Our society, unfortunately, has inverted this prioritization in that we largely focus upon leisure and entitlement at the expense of all other considerations.
This book is on a shelf awaiting my son, who is about to turn 4, to become older. We will read some of these together and I will use the primary resources to teach him about manhood. As good as this voluminous collection may be, never forget that your life is a book that children read every day. In order to teach your sons about manhood, we, as men, must project the right idea of manhood – not this bumbling view offered by Hollywood. Simply, we can benefit from Bennett’s work too.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wisdom for the Ages...
The Little Red Book of Wisdom by Mark DeMoss is a compelling read for anyone but particularly for those in positions of leadership. He divides his book into two sections and offers wisdom for both. While many use this primarily for professional development, he hammers home the truth that you are what you do every day. So, our professional and personal lives are one and the same because choices in one arena impact those choices in the other.
I highly encourage anyone in a position of leadership, or those ascribing to leadership, to purchase a copy of this book and read its contents. You can read through it quickly, and that is acceptable for a first pass. However, my suggestion for a second read is simple: dwell on a single chapter for a full week by reading it on Monday and then studying the Bible verses peppered throughout.
My book reviews normally include small critiques for underlying assumptions or unfulfilled promises; however, I cannot make that claim with this book. In all honesty, I could not find a single critique. He encloses his thoughts within Biblical principles and concludes with the ultimate choice of wisdom – a call to trust Jesus Christ. If our relationship with Him is right, then the rest of our lives will be lived wisely. Acting with wisdom does not entail a life free of difficulties, but wisdom allows you to handle those quickly approaching circumstances with aplomb.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I highly encourage anyone in a position of leadership, or those ascribing to leadership, to purchase a copy of this book and read its contents. You can read through it quickly, and that is acceptable for a first pass. However, my suggestion for a second read is simple: dwell on a single chapter for a full week by reading it on Monday and then studying the Bible verses peppered throughout.
My book reviews normally include small critiques for underlying assumptions or unfulfilled promises; however, I cannot make that claim with this book. In all honesty, I could not find a single critique. He encloses his thoughts within Biblical principles and concludes with the ultimate choice of wisdom – a call to trust Jesus Christ. If our relationship with Him is right, then the rest of our lives will be lived wisely. Acting with wisdom does not entail a life free of difficulties, but wisdom allows you to handle those quickly approaching circumstances with aplomb.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
A Challenge for All Americans
Be the People, by Carol Swain, presents a stinging indictment of American culture. The problem within American culture rests with each individual. We longingly gaze toward those in elected positions to lead us; however, we fail to understand the implications that leadership and positions are not the same. In a sense, we have abdicated leadership to others because they hold titles; and in doing so, we have allowed them to escape consequences of political double-speak. We can, and should, ask pointed questions of our elected officials, but we must do so in respectful tones. America was built upon the ability to host robust and rigorous debate while still being able to coexist in the greatest country of the world. Unfortunately, this ability is no longer an accepted practice.
She weaves back and forth through difficult topics (abortion, immigration, racial relations, etc.) and presents details that are heart-wrenching. Her ultimate conclusion, the right one, is that we have forsaken God and have received exactly what we wanted.
I must confess that, although much of what the author wrote resonates with me, the title and the material of the book did not coincide very well. Yes, Swain provided tremendous research within her chapters, but the overall connection to “being the people” was missed in those detailed chapters. I expected a vibrant plan for turning around the prevalent cultural relativism of our day; however, the denouement failed to deliver that stunning conclusion. While a series of steps were outlined in the last chapter, those final thoughts paled in comparison to the depth of the prior chapters.
I would love to discuss this further with the author over coffee because I believe, based upon her interesting American story, that our conversation would be intellectually stimulating. Her work is challenging to read – and quite shocking – yet it is one that I will pass along to inspire others to be the people that our country desperately needs.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
She weaves back and forth through difficult topics (abortion, immigration, racial relations, etc.) and presents details that are heart-wrenching. Her ultimate conclusion, the right one, is that we have forsaken God and have received exactly what we wanted.
I must confess that, although much of what the author wrote resonates with me, the title and the material of the book did not coincide very well. Yes, Swain provided tremendous research within her chapters, but the overall connection to “being the people” was missed in those detailed chapters. I expected a vibrant plan for turning around the prevalent cultural relativism of our day; however, the denouement failed to deliver that stunning conclusion. While a series of steps were outlined in the last chapter, those final thoughts paled in comparison to the depth of the prior chapters.
I would love to discuss this further with the author over coffee because I believe, based upon her interesting American story, that our conversation would be intellectually stimulating. Her work is challenging to read – and quite shocking – yet it is one that I will pass along to inspire others to be the people that our country desperately needs.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Monday, June 13, 2011
Smiling at Your Enemies...
I Samuel 2:1 is often considered the prayer or praise song of Hannah. She begged the Lord for a child and made a vow with the Lord - give me a son and I will leave him at the tabernacle to serve You the remainder of his life. God honored that prayer and Hannah's opening phrase is interesting: "I smile at my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation." Say what? How does that apply?
Culturally, a barren Hebrew woman was considered cursed of the Lord. In ancient times, if a husband had a wife that did not bear him children, he often married another wife. Hannah's husband did likewise and his second wife bore him many children (including sons). While Elkanah, Hannah's husband loved her more, the second wife berated Hannah frequently. At every turn, she maliciously reminded Hannah that she has sons while Hannah had none. These attacks hurt Hannah and drove her to find comfort in the Lord.
Hannah's reflection on the situation provides us a wonderful example to follow -- when berated by our enemies. Turn to God who will comfort you. Her words are valuable in that they reveal a needed perspective. Rather than focusing on the difficulty, we should be seeing the Savior. Anything that happens to us has been approved by the Sovereign God of the Universe to produce something better in us. However, we can choose to allow those events to make us bitter. Hannah did not do so because she ran to God.
When hurt by enemies, offer a smile. Jesus, much later, in the New Testament commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). Loving our enemies is something so outrageous that it will attract the attention of others. They, in turn, will want to know why or how we can do so; and that opens the door to share our faith. The typical response - hating your enemies - is expected of the world, and leaders thrive in the extraordinary.
Be a leader. Be a Christian example. Smile at your enemies and, in doing so, share the love of Jesus.
Culturally, a barren Hebrew woman was considered cursed of the Lord. In ancient times, if a husband had a wife that did not bear him children, he often married another wife. Hannah's husband did likewise and his second wife bore him many children (including sons). While Elkanah, Hannah's husband loved her more, the second wife berated Hannah frequently. At every turn, she maliciously reminded Hannah that she has sons while Hannah had none. These attacks hurt Hannah and drove her to find comfort in the Lord.
Hannah's reflection on the situation provides us a wonderful example to follow -- when berated by our enemies. Turn to God who will comfort you. Her words are valuable in that they reveal a needed perspective. Rather than focusing on the difficulty, we should be seeing the Savior. Anything that happens to us has been approved by the Sovereign God of the Universe to produce something better in us. However, we can choose to allow those events to make us bitter. Hannah did not do so because she ran to God.
When hurt by enemies, offer a smile. Jesus, much later, in the New Testament commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). Loving our enemies is something so outrageous that it will attract the attention of others. They, in turn, will want to know why or how we can do so; and that opens the door to share our faith. The typical response - hating your enemies - is expected of the world, and leaders thrive in the extraordinary.
Be a leader. Be a Christian example. Smile at your enemies and, in doing so, share the love of Jesus.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
He's Alive....Are You?
Luke 20 contains the last ditch effort of the Jewish religious leaders to ensnare Christ with a series of questions. The Sadducees step up to the plate and throw Christ a curve-ball. This religious sect did not believe in the resurrection, but their opening allowed for the possibility of a resurrection. Christ masterfully answers their inquiry and they admit that "Teacher, you have spoken well" (v39). They have been soundly defeated in this debate.
As you ponder the thoughts, a short phrase exists that got me to thinking -- "For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him" (v38). A few weeks ago, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ meaning that we have no fear in death. He has conquered it for us leaving us only one option -- TO LIVE!! That thought has raced through my mind for several weeks and, now, I see this phrase in Luke 20.
Are you alive? That question presupposes life in Him; and if that assumption is founded, are you living daily? The world is filled with events and circumstances that can sap the life out of people; however, that deduction is a personal choice. We, by our actions, allow other things to diminish the life that we can live for Him. A deacon at a past church always said: "Don't let nobody steal your joy." He embraced the concept of living for Jesus because Christ gives us life.
Tough times comes. Hardships abound. Trials and temptations are just around the corner. Remember, He's alive and so are you. Live!! While it may be raining now, close your eyes and remember the sunshine and warmth it provides. Live for Him daily and nothing can rain on your parade.
As you ponder the thoughts, a short phrase exists that got me to thinking -- "For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him" (v38). A few weeks ago, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ meaning that we have no fear in death. He has conquered it for us leaving us only one option -- TO LIVE!! That thought has raced through my mind for several weeks and, now, I see this phrase in Luke 20.
Are you alive? That question presupposes life in Him; and if that assumption is founded, are you living daily? The world is filled with events and circumstances that can sap the life out of people; however, that deduction is a personal choice. We, by our actions, allow other things to diminish the life that we can live for Him. A deacon at a past church always said: "Don't let nobody steal your joy." He embraced the concept of living for Jesus because Christ gives us life.
Tough times comes. Hardships abound. Trials and temptations are just around the corner. Remember, He's alive and so are you. Live!! While it may be raining now, close your eyes and remember the sunshine and warmth it provides. Live for Him daily and nothing can rain on your parade.
A Talent Plus Person...
Beyond Talent, by John C. Maxwell, continues the long line of leadership books written by the internationally recognized expert. The book was originally released in 2007; however, it has been updated and re-released in 2011. If you have ever read Maxwell, then you immediately know the type, style, and format of this book. He has the ability to make complexity rather simple.
The thesis of Beyond Talent remains as valuable today as it was several years ago. Extraordinary results do not merely originate from a talented individual because we all know people that possess tremendous talent that did not produce as predicted. Talent is an asset, but it is not the most important one. As Maxwell clearly states on page 7: “The key choices you make – apart from the natural talent you already have – will set you apart from others who have talent alone.” In other words, hard work earns success and relying upon anything else will result in underperformance.
I must confess that, at the time of this review, I have not yet finished the entire book. The rationale is rather simplistic in that any reader must go through this manuscript slowly but deeply. Each chapter concludes with a series of questions that take mere words or ideas from the page and force a reader to wrestle with the content. The questions, in a sense, are the formulation of a personal action plan to remove personal dependence on talent. I highly suggest that you open a free account with Evernote so that you can access your comments from any computer or via a smart-phone. In doing so, date your comments because this allows you to read through Beyond Talent in the future and see whether or not you have made progress.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The thesis of Beyond Talent remains as valuable today as it was several years ago. Extraordinary results do not merely originate from a talented individual because we all know people that possess tremendous talent that did not produce as predicted. Talent is an asset, but it is not the most important one. As Maxwell clearly states on page 7: “The key choices you make – apart from the natural talent you already have – will set you apart from others who have talent alone.” In other words, hard work earns success and relying upon anything else will result in underperformance.
I must confess that, at the time of this review, I have not yet finished the entire book. The rationale is rather simplistic in that any reader must go through this manuscript slowly but deeply. Each chapter concludes with a series of questions that take mere words or ideas from the page and force a reader to wrestle with the content. The questions, in a sense, are the formulation of a personal action plan to remove personal dependence on talent. I highly suggest that you open a free account with Evernote so that you can access your comments from any computer or via a smart-phone. In doing so, date your comments because this allows you to read through Beyond Talent in the future and see whether or not you have made progress.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Final Summit
In the book The Final Summit, Andy Andrews explores several possible answers to the following question: “what does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward a successful civilization?” Several strong responses are utilized along the way until they arrive at the correct answer. Ultimately, each reader must decide if that is the true and correct answer as I can think of at least one that supersedes the answer provided by the protagonist – David Ponder.
The book contains an extensive amount of leadership nuggets, but there are some issues that must be overlooked to find that value: (1) a quirky storyline using a sarcastic archangel, (2) blatant universalistic theology, (3) over-reaching historic praise, and (4) loose artistic interpretation (i.e. swearing and smoking in heaven). Despite these distractions, the book encapsulated a wealth of one-liners that can be used by leaders to improve themselves and their people.
The list below contains a few of the great statements on leadership: (1) page 103 – “I gain a great deal of wisdom by simply remaining silent;” (2) page 156 – “can you make yourself do something you don’t particularly want to do in order to get a result you would like to have;” and (3) page 176 – “if you want to test a person’s character, give him power.” Many more of these great statements are peppered throughout the manuscript.
The unforeseen power of the book is beyond the final pages. Andrews has created a study guide for the book that, when reading it a second time, will help you focus on the most pertinent principles. Further, his website has an unlock link that will allow you to access additional resources for a deeper understanding.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The book contains an extensive amount of leadership nuggets, but there are some issues that must be overlooked to find that value: (1) a quirky storyline using a sarcastic archangel, (2) blatant universalistic theology, (3) over-reaching historic praise, and (4) loose artistic interpretation (i.e. swearing and smoking in heaven). Despite these distractions, the book encapsulated a wealth of one-liners that can be used by leaders to improve themselves and their people.
The list below contains a few of the great statements on leadership: (1) page 103 – “I gain a great deal of wisdom by simply remaining silent;” (2) page 156 – “can you make yourself do something you don’t particularly want to do in order to get a result you would like to have;” and (3) page 176 – “if you want to test a person’s character, give him power.” Many more of these great statements are peppered throughout the manuscript.
The unforeseen power of the book is beyond the final pages. Andrews has created a study guide for the book that, when reading it a second time, will help you focus on the most pertinent principles. Further, his website has an unlock link that will allow you to access additional resources for a deeper understanding.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Friday, March 18, 2011
Doing Virtuous Business: A Review
Theodore Roosevelt Malloch, a professor at Yale University, provides a cogent defense of capitalist society in his recent book Doing Virtuous Business. While the intent of manuscript focuses upon the incorporation of faith-based practices into corporations, he demonstrates clearly the worthlessness of socialist critiques of modern capitalism. Malloch does concede that examples of perverse business practices exist, yet he changes the argument into one where left-wing critiques are forced to understand their contributions to these shortcomings.
Malloch focuses upon spiritual capital, which he defines on page 60: “the long-term investment of trust that is contained in a religious faith, and which enables people freely to elicit the best in each other, however menial the task.” He described numerous examples of organizations that are founding upon religious principles and demonstrates their profitability. His underlying assumption stated that faith-based practices produce better profits and satisfaction for all involved.
He correctly states that “we are works in progress, and God has a purpose in it all” (xiv); however, I left this book with a fear. That fear is based upon an omission by the author because he never addressed an implication. Instead of driving home that faith acts as a personal change agent, he left impression that anyone with any belief in any higher power will attain profit by having faith. By remaining silent on the issue, Malloch inadvertently sides with historians like Paul E. Johnson who state that religion is little more than social control (see his work A Shopkeeper’s Millennium). After all, if faith is just a tool that can produce corporate profit and philanthropic drive or control the behaviors of the masses, then faith is of little, eternal value. While the author does have a short chapter (only 13 pages) devote to answering some questions, he needed more time on the issues mentioned above to fully explain away the concern.
The book is structured logically in an easy-to-follow manner. He begins through a discussion of spiritual capital but refuses to define it until much later in the work. He moves through the classical assumptions – both Greek and Roman – of virtue and highlights why he selected the specific virtues in the book. The next two chapters discuss “hard” (leadership, courage, patience, perseverance, discipline) and “soft” (justice, forgiveness, compassion, humility, gratitude) virtues in significant detail with specific, corporate examples provided for each. In my opinion, the strength of the work rests in these sections and Appendix 1 where he restates the virtue and summarizes the examples.
Assuredly, this work advances content that should reach the hands of every corporate CEO. However, I caution readers to avoid viewing these pages as a get-rich-quick scheme. Faith must change the heart before it can change the life. Even then, Jesus Christ beckons us to choose whom to serve – God or money – because no man can serve two masters.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Malloch focuses upon spiritual capital, which he defines on page 60: “the long-term investment of trust that is contained in a religious faith, and which enables people freely to elicit the best in each other, however menial the task.” He described numerous examples of organizations that are founding upon religious principles and demonstrates their profitability. His underlying assumption stated that faith-based practices produce better profits and satisfaction for all involved.
He correctly states that “we are works in progress, and God has a purpose in it all” (xiv); however, I left this book with a fear. That fear is based upon an omission by the author because he never addressed an implication. Instead of driving home that faith acts as a personal change agent, he left impression that anyone with any belief in any higher power will attain profit by having faith. By remaining silent on the issue, Malloch inadvertently sides with historians like Paul E. Johnson who state that religion is little more than social control (see his work A Shopkeeper’s Millennium). After all, if faith is just a tool that can produce corporate profit and philanthropic drive or control the behaviors of the masses, then faith is of little, eternal value. While the author does have a short chapter (only 13 pages) devote to answering some questions, he needed more time on the issues mentioned above to fully explain away the concern.
The book is structured logically in an easy-to-follow manner. He begins through a discussion of spiritual capital but refuses to define it until much later in the work. He moves through the classical assumptions – both Greek and Roman – of virtue and highlights why he selected the specific virtues in the book. The next two chapters discuss “hard” (leadership, courage, patience, perseverance, discipline) and “soft” (justice, forgiveness, compassion, humility, gratitude) virtues in significant detail with specific, corporate examples provided for each. In my opinion, the strength of the work rests in these sections and Appendix 1 where he restates the virtue and summarizes the examples.
Assuredly, this work advances content that should reach the hands of every corporate CEO. However, I caution readers to avoid viewing these pages as a get-rich-quick scheme. Faith must change the heart before it can change the life. Even then, Jesus Christ beckons us to choose whom to serve – God or money – because no man can serve two masters.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Truth....
It is amazing that you read passages over and over but completely miss things. I guess our lives are so busy that we must force ourselves to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). In this fast-paced world of so many gadgets, it truly is hard to be still and think; yet, those times of personal and spiritual reflection are invaluable.
On my drive home this evening, I was pondering two verses from Matthew 21. Verse 26 and verse 45 contain a similar phrase: "they feared the multitude." In this first instance, the religious rulers demanded an answer from Christ, but He told them to answer Him first. They chose not to answer because He forced them to make a choice -- admit who sent John the Baptist (God), which would destroy their "religious authority," or call John the Baptist a mere man, which would rile the people against them because they perceived him to be a prophet. They chose the neutral position of not saying anything.
The second instant is rather similar because they were angry at Jesus. Again, Christ confronted them with truth, but, instead of changing, they hoped to end this Jesus issue once and for all. They did nothing because they feared the people's view of Jesus as a great prophet.
In both of these vignettes, the religious rulers -- those that were to set the tone for the entire nation -- chose error over truth. They had opportunities to recognize Jesus as God and follow Him, but they held on to personal pride and prestige instead of humbling themselves before the truth.
I had never thought about these passages in that manner until this afternoon, and then I thought about my life's routine. This application fits both the physical, social, and spiritual worlds that we inhabit. We want to preserve what we know as a comfortable or secure life, and that often means remaining silent when we should not. The old adage that "silence means assent" applies perfectly here. Do we or do we not value the truth? If we value the truth, then it should be spoken at every opportunity. Yes, revealing of truth needs to be done with love and in tactful manners; however, not speaking the truth is perpetuating error.
Do you love the truth? If so, do you live truthfully? That last question is the penetrating one for me. I pray that God will challenge my heart and mind to speak the truth when the opportunities are presented to me.
On my drive home this evening, I was pondering two verses from Matthew 21. Verse 26 and verse 45 contain a similar phrase: "they feared the multitude." In this first instance, the religious rulers demanded an answer from Christ, but He told them to answer Him first. They chose not to answer because He forced them to make a choice -- admit who sent John the Baptist (God), which would destroy their "religious authority," or call John the Baptist a mere man, which would rile the people against them because they perceived him to be a prophet. They chose the neutral position of not saying anything.
The second instant is rather similar because they were angry at Jesus. Again, Christ confronted them with truth, but, instead of changing, they hoped to end this Jesus issue once and for all. They did nothing because they feared the people's view of Jesus as a great prophet.
In both of these vignettes, the religious rulers -- those that were to set the tone for the entire nation -- chose error over truth. They had opportunities to recognize Jesus as God and follow Him, but they held on to personal pride and prestige instead of humbling themselves before the truth.
I had never thought about these passages in that manner until this afternoon, and then I thought about my life's routine. This application fits both the physical, social, and spiritual worlds that we inhabit. We want to preserve what we know as a comfortable or secure life, and that often means remaining silent when we should not. The old adage that "silence means assent" applies perfectly here. Do we or do we not value the truth? If we value the truth, then it should be spoken at every opportunity. Yes, revealing of truth needs to be done with love and in tactful manners; however, not speaking the truth is perpetuating error.
Do you love the truth? If so, do you live truthfully? That last question is the penetrating one for me. I pray that God will challenge my heart and mind to speak the truth when the opportunities are presented to me.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Sacred Journey
The Unknown. A Journey. Discovery. Those short phrases can be used to describe a pilgrimage, but they are also personal thoughts as I perused a copy of Charles Foster’s The Sacred Journey (Thomas Nelson, 2010). Not quite knowing what to expect, I encountered a thought-provoking manual that I read in two sittings over a single afternoon. Foster, showing his passion, switches easily between hilarity, humility, honesty, and the holy.
The beauty of Foster’s book rests within the integrity of the author. He, from the beginning, states that he will anger some while appeasing others. He offers an apology at the beginning and end yet remains true to his central thesis. He traces the historical origins of pilgrimages and then describes the key elements of that journey. He continues with personal experiences, suggestions, and an answer to those that are totally opposed to any type of pilgrimage. His conclusion is powerful in that he deals with a passionate objection to pilgrimages and, in turn, reveals how that life is really an example of a pilgrimage.
Foster peppers the book with irreverent one-liners that, taken at face value, I vehemently oppose; yet, I am certain that these statements contain a deeper meaning that I have obviously missed. Those statements are part of the work’s appeal in that I will have to return to the manuscript to seek the deeper meaning. I would love nothing more than to converse about these one-liners with the author while on a pilgrimage through Scotland or Ireland.
While Foster clearly states his rationale and provides Biblical support for his analysis, I struggle with the overt simplicity of his Cain (settler) versus Abel (nomad) foundation. I wonder if too much is being read into the text; yet, regardless, the author presents a novel approach to the same old story.
The further development of this motif contains my largest critique of the work. Whereas the book asserts that God is a nomad or wanderer at heart and wants us to do likewise, Foster does not fully explain, then, why God gave His chosen people – the Hebrews – a homeland. Further, God used Gideon, one of the Hebrew judges, to expel the Midianite hordes who were a Bedouin people.
Even without closing this final loophole, Foster has written an account that I will turn to again. I do not agree with all of his conclusions, but that disagreement and self-examination is part of the journey too.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The beauty of Foster’s book rests within the integrity of the author. He, from the beginning, states that he will anger some while appeasing others. He offers an apology at the beginning and end yet remains true to his central thesis. He traces the historical origins of pilgrimages and then describes the key elements of that journey. He continues with personal experiences, suggestions, and an answer to those that are totally opposed to any type of pilgrimage. His conclusion is powerful in that he deals with a passionate objection to pilgrimages and, in turn, reveals how that life is really an example of a pilgrimage.
Foster peppers the book with irreverent one-liners that, taken at face value, I vehemently oppose; yet, I am certain that these statements contain a deeper meaning that I have obviously missed. Those statements are part of the work’s appeal in that I will have to return to the manuscript to seek the deeper meaning. I would love nothing more than to converse about these one-liners with the author while on a pilgrimage through Scotland or Ireland.
While Foster clearly states his rationale and provides Biblical support for his analysis, I struggle with the overt simplicity of his Cain (settler) versus Abel (nomad) foundation. I wonder if too much is being read into the text; yet, regardless, the author presents a novel approach to the same old story.
The further development of this motif contains my largest critique of the work. Whereas the book asserts that God is a nomad or wanderer at heart and wants us to do likewise, Foster does not fully explain, then, why God gave His chosen people – the Hebrews – a homeland. Further, God used Gideon, one of the Hebrew judges, to expel the Midianite hordes who were a Bedouin people.
Even without closing this final loophole, Foster has written an account that I will turn to again. I do not agree with all of his conclusions, but that disagreement and self-examination is part of the journey too.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
C4
If you know anything about explosives, you know exactly what C4 is capable of doing. It is more powerful than TNT; and even in a small package, it can provide quite a punch. I chuckled as I reached Jeremiah 37 because its 21 verses pack a mighty punch.
I chose C4 as my title due to its explosive message as well as that my four main points begin with "C."
CRISIS
Israel is besieged by the Babylonians and Zedekiah is currently king. With the Egyptians on their way into the area, these Babylonians withdrew for a time; and I am quite sure the people of Jerusalem celebrated!! Jeremiah has prophesied these events, according to the word of God, for quite some time. Despite his constant warnings, his message has been ignored. Other prophets said that good would come to the land, so these soothing words were preferred to Jeremiah's harsh prophecy. The key underlying these exchanges is the refusal by Israel to recognize and repent of their sin, wherein, they replaced God with things.
CHOICE
Once again, Jeremiah is given the opportunity to inquire of the Lord. In other words, people gave him another chance to speak the words they wanted to hear. This was his chance to gain popularity and rejoice with others. Instead, he chose to stick by the truth and told Zedekiah that the Babylonians would again return, the city would be burned, and that the king would be taken away as a captive. He spoke this truth and the Scriptures do not relay to us the way the message was received. He had a choice to side with man, and gain popularity, or remain true to God, and be an outcast. He chose Providence, and we must follow his example.
CONSEQUENCES
Some time after speaking with the king, the Egyptians did cause the Babylonians to withdraw. Now that the city was freed from its siege, Jeremiah was headed to his tribe of Benjamin to claim his land (he bought a field, as directed by God, in chapter 32). As he was leaving, a guard seized him and accused him of fleeing to be with the Babylonians. He was taken before the princes who beat and imprisoned him. They knew of his prophecy, but now was their chance to exact revenge on him for not siding with them. He stood for the truth and it cost him comforts; however, had he compromised his ethics, it would have cost him far more.
CHANCE
The king comes to the prison and inquires of Jeremiah one more time. This appearance may have been after several days to allow Jeremiah to feel some pressure. The king asks, and, immediately, Jeremiah answers -- "You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon!" There was no hesitation in his remarks because he knew what was right. Did he get out of prison? No. Our choices must be based upon truth and not just a chance to improve our comforts in life. As a bit of vindication, he asked the king where were those prophets that proclaimed good and peace -- were they in jail? The answer was no; however, the king did slightly change his accommodations by providing some additional food for Jeremiah.
In reflecting on the chapter, it has several applications for us:
(1) Speaking truth may not be popular, but it is the right thing to do. God will provide for us through it all.
(2) Difficult circumstances cannot force us to compromise our ethics. Nothing forces an ethical compromise because it is a personal choice.
(3) God is always in control and we have to trust Him when we do not understand things. Jeremiah bought land without seeing it, and going to see that land caused him to end up in jail. God had been working through this all to provide him another chance to speak the truth to the king in Jerusalem.
To understand and enact those three applications, we must have complete and total trust in the Lord. Without our faith, we will falter. Even with our faith, we will fall; but the difference is that our firm foundation -- Jesus Christ -- is right there to carry us through it all.
I chose C4 as my title due to its explosive message as well as that my four main points begin with "C."
CRISIS
Israel is besieged by the Babylonians and Zedekiah is currently king. With the Egyptians on their way into the area, these Babylonians withdrew for a time; and I am quite sure the people of Jerusalem celebrated!! Jeremiah has prophesied these events, according to the word of God, for quite some time. Despite his constant warnings, his message has been ignored. Other prophets said that good would come to the land, so these soothing words were preferred to Jeremiah's harsh prophecy. The key underlying these exchanges is the refusal by Israel to recognize and repent of their sin, wherein, they replaced God with things.
CHOICE
Once again, Jeremiah is given the opportunity to inquire of the Lord. In other words, people gave him another chance to speak the words they wanted to hear. This was his chance to gain popularity and rejoice with others. Instead, he chose to stick by the truth and told Zedekiah that the Babylonians would again return, the city would be burned, and that the king would be taken away as a captive. He spoke this truth and the Scriptures do not relay to us the way the message was received. He had a choice to side with man, and gain popularity, or remain true to God, and be an outcast. He chose Providence, and we must follow his example.
CONSEQUENCES
Some time after speaking with the king, the Egyptians did cause the Babylonians to withdraw. Now that the city was freed from its siege, Jeremiah was headed to his tribe of Benjamin to claim his land (he bought a field, as directed by God, in chapter 32). As he was leaving, a guard seized him and accused him of fleeing to be with the Babylonians. He was taken before the princes who beat and imprisoned him. They knew of his prophecy, but now was their chance to exact revenge on him for not siding with them. He stood for the truth and it cost him comforts; however, had he compromised his ethics, it would have cost him far more.
CHANCE
The king comes to the prison and inquires of Jeremiah one more time. This appearance may have been after several days to allow Jeremiah to feel some pressure. The king asks, and, immediately, Jeremiah answers -- "You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon!" There was no hesitation in his remarks because he knew what was right. Did he get out of prison? No. Our choices must be based upon truth and not just a chance to improve our comforts in life. As a bit of vindication, he asked the king where were those prophets that proclaimed good and peace -- were they in jail? The answer was no; however, the king did slightly change his accommodations by providing some additional food for Jeremiah.
In reflecting on the chapter, it has several applications for us:
(1) Speaking truth may not be popular, but it is the right thing to do. God will provide for us through it all.
(2) Difficult circumstances cannot force us to compromise our ethics. Nothing forces an ethical compromise because it is a personal choice.
(3) God is always in control and we have to trust Him when we do not understand things. Jeremiah bought land without seeing it, and going to see that land caused him to end up in jail. God had been working through this all to provide him another chance to speak the truth to the king in Jerusalem.
To understand and enact those three applications, we must have complete and total trust in the Lord. Without our faith, we will falter. Even with our faith, we will fall; but the difference is that our firm foundation -- Jesus Christ -- is right there to carry us through it all.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Jesus Inquest
Charles Foster, in The Jesus Inquest, provides an examination of multiple sources - medical, social, Biblical, archaeological, and historical - within a legal framework to present the case for and against Jesus. He moved beyond the major parts of the story and examines what the early Christians believed and where the notion of a resurrection emerged. He also includes four appendices, which, in my opinion, were rather fascinating – especially the consideration of the Turin Shroud and how Christ actually died.
While the author has clearly performed his research and exerted great effort in formulating his arguments, the book, at times, lacks drama and appeal. The methodology omits the vitality of court with objections to arguments and evidence, thereby, making parts of the work laborious rather than intellectually stimulating.
Foster uses attorneys X and Y as the central figures of the analysis. X prosecutes and Y defends. Unfortunately, the lawyers fail to match each other in vigorous support of their positions. In several instances, Y appears to be more of a court-appointed pauper’s defender rather than a fully committed believer in Christology. For instance, on page 128, Y abandons the idea of an empty tomb (and/or resurrection) when he concedes: “We can’t rule out, of course, that Jesus’ bones were put in an ossuary at some stage.” If Jesus, in fact, did rise from the grave, then His bones could not have been deposited into any jar for burial; yet, Y missed this flaw in his argument.
I do, however, believe Foster failed to complete his court motif because he did not provide final arguments by X and Y. He missed a tremendous opportunity to summarize the prominent positions in a short, cogent analysis. Instead, he attempts to hold a neutral position on page 286: “Whether or not that belief was right is something about which you’ll have to make up your own mind.”
While this book is comprehensive, it failed to meet my expectations. For that reason alone, I consider it a decent read but do not deem it worthy to permanently remain on my shelf.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
While the author has clearly performed his research and exerted great effort in formulating his arguments, the book, at times, lacks drama and appeal. The methodology omits the vitality of court with objections to arguments and evidence, thereby, making parts of the work laborious rather than intellectually stimulating.
Foster uses attorneys X and Y as the central figures of the analysis. X prosecutes and Y defends. Unfortunately, the lawyers fail to match each other in vigorous support of their positions. In several instances, Y appears to be more of a court-appointed pauper’s defender rather than a fully committed believer in Christology. For instance, on page 128, Y abandons the idea of an empty tomb (and/or resurrection) when he concedes: “We can’t rule out, of course, that Jesus’ bones were put in an ossuary at some stage.” If Jesus, in fact, did rise from the grave, then His bones could not have been deposited into any jar for burial; yet, Y missed this flaw in his argument.
I do, however, believe Foster failed to complete his court motif because he did not provide final arguments by X and Y. He missed a tremendous opportunity to summarize the prominent positions in a short, cogent analysis. Instead, he attempts to hold a neutral position on page 286: “Whether or not that belief was right is something about which you’ll have to make up your own mind.”
While this book is comprehensive, it failed to meet my expectations. For that reason alone, I consider it a decent read but do not deem it worthy to permanently remain on my shelf.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Grace in the Wilderness....
I have been reading through Jeremiah and that book is filled with leadership lessons; however, that's a book that you would not believe that to be true. The last couple of chapters did not have a great deal of leadership lessons on them, but I found an amazing gem today. Jeremiah 31:2 says, "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness -- Israel, when I went to give him rest." Huh? What? Grace in the wilderness after surviving slaughter? Really?
That simple phrase struck me. You have the nation of Israel that has been conquered by a foreign nation that resulted in the slaughter of unknown numbers of people. Others were taken away as captives to a foreign land. Still, many were left behind with little and the land was desolate. How can you find grace or rest in that type of circumstance?
As I pondered that through my rather trying day, the answer him me on the ride home. After Jesus was baptized and His Father spoke to those around, He went into the wilderness for 40 days without fellowship or food. He was tempted but remained true to His calling. Why? Why would Jesus go through that? Simply, He can now come along side us and whisper: "I've been there where you are now. Trust me and I will lead you through this wilderness." The key is that last 3 words -- THROUGH the wilderness.
Our modern world, particularly in America, has grown accustomed to our modern conveniences and we love our lives of leisure and luxury. We want grace to get OUT of the wilderness while God wants to show us His grace IN the wilderness. In those tough times, we see that we must depend upon God. The barrenness and the heat of the wilderness forces us to seek shade that only God can provide. The hard times show us the merciful Savior that we have.
Consider Matthew 11:28-30 -- "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Look at the central part of the phrases -- "LEARN FROM ME." Yes, Jesus went to burden so that He could teach us the wonderful, although tough, lessons from the wilderness.
Grace and rest can be found in the wilderness. To find it, we must get our eyes of the daily grind and start looking for Him. He's there and ready to help. The problem in the wilderness is that we think we have something to prove; however, He already knows that we need Him. We are led into the wilderness to confirm in our hearts the truth that He knows -- He must increase and I must decrease (John 3:30)
That simple phrase struck me. You have the nation of Israel that has been conquered by a foreign nation that resulted in the slaughter of unknown numbers of people. Others were taken away as captives to a foreign land. Still, many were left behind with little and the land was desolate. How can you find grace or rest in that type of circumstance?
As I pondered that through my rather trying day, the answer him me on the ride home. After Jesus was baptized and His Father spoke to those around, He went into the wilderness for 40 days without fellowship or food. He was tempted but remained true to His calling. Why? Why would Jesus go through that? Simply, He can now come along side us and whisper: "I've been there where you are now. Trust me and I will lead you through this wilderness." The key is that last 3 words -- THROUGH the wilderness.
Our modern world, particularly in America, has grown accustomed to our modern conveniences and we love our lives of leisure and luxury. We want grace to get OUT of the wilderness while God wants to show us His grace IN the wilderness. In those tough times, we see that we must depend upon God. The barrenness and the heat of the wilderness forces us to seek shade that only God can provide. The hard times show us the merciful Savior that we have.
Consider Matthew 11:28-30 -- "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Look at the central part of the phrases -- "LEARN FROM ME." Yes, Jesus went to burden so that He could teach us the wonderful, although tough, lessons from the wilderness.
Grace and rest can be found in the wilderness. To find it, we must get our eyes of the daily grind and start looking for Him. He's there and ready to help. The problem in the wilderness is that we think we have something to prove; however, He already knows that we need Him. We are led into the wilderness to confirm in our hearts the truth that He knows -- He must increase and I must decrease (John 3:30)
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