New Book

I’m reading N. T. Wright’s Simply Christian. It has been interesting so far seeing him taking an alternative approach to truth in a conservatively Christian manner. He has started moving away from focusing on winning people by arguments based on absolute truths that much of the Western Church has taken. He wants to focus more on Justice, the unseen that we seek, relationships, and beauty to help us get to even the concept of God. He seems similar to C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, which is apologetic in a Modern sense. But Wright is differing on some levels since he is interacting with more post-modern critique than Lewis ever did. I look forward to this.

I’m also reading Umberto Eco’s Foucalt’s Pendulum, Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, and Henri Nouwen’s In the Name of Jesus. So far, the reading is excellent.

Grace and Peace.

 

July 4th (America and the Church)

I wanted to post on this again, since we just got past the Fourth of July. I struggle with the idea that America is the nation of God. It doesn’t seems to make much sense to me. I have been looking at references to the Kingdom of God/Heaven in the New Testament and there are a few things that stand in the way of calling this nation the nation of God.

1) America wasn’t around during the time that scripture is spoken of. If Jesus was representing the Kingdom of God, Heaven (which is defined as the place where God dwells), and America had not been born, then it would have to follow that there might not be parallels. The events leading to America started much later in world history. Jesus also was speaking to the only political entity to ever be given such a title, which was Israel. The title has changed, since Israel is not necessarily the nation of God, since that has fallen to the Church, which has opened the membership to everyone across nations, kinships, races, etc. God has merely favored America, but the frightening question is why He has done so.

2) The Kingdom in the times referred to in the Bible is ruled by God. There is nothing in the founding documents, or in current American law that gives God the ruling of President of the USA (God can actually only be totalitarian since His rule is conditioned on the complete obedience of those under him).

3) The Prophets, Jesus, and the writers of the letters continually mention or reference the kingdom coming. If the Church has fulfilled the messianic hope of the new kingdom, then it must follow that America can fall in line and recognize our commissioning by God (my apologies to the Republican platform). Although I am American, I must say that when it come to representing either this country or the nation of God, I choose God.

This is not a post of rebellion, but of perspective. I do not condone anyone seeking to use God as an excuse to defy what is not evil in itself. God has told us that governments are meant to promote order and peace (though they fail, and that is the exception) in Romans 13. Although it is assuming the correct actions of the governing, it still stands as a testament against fulfilling your selfish desire for anarchy or pointless liberation.

In Revelation 21:24, John shows us that God is not about destroying the nations, but having them follow him (and that would mean one world government ordained by God for the ones who thing one world government is evil). Also in 22:1-7 states that the end times are a time of healing the nations, which means that we should be about healing the nation with the healing we have to offer. If a nation is being heavily taxed, lets offer advice of mercy. When it is oppressing, let’s bring words of challenge. When the people are violent against their rulers, let’s offer creative consequences that teach and do not kill. And remember…

The Church

Not America

is the Nation of God,

and we will see vindication and glory.

So go out and do the gospel to the world. I hope we see many great things in these end times (which, to clarify, has been that last 2000 years, give or take).

Grace and Peace.

 

Virginia Visit

I was up in Virginia this morning in the Hillsville area, and I got to say, a rocking chair in the mountains is quite nice. It was a cool morning and I spent it talking with my brother, aunt, uncle. It was the first time in awhile that I have been awake before my parents. It was interesting when I ended up the final one sitting in the rocker thinking about things. Thinking about my summer so far spent working. Finding new people to hang out with. Trying to find a better social network, since I get miserable when there aren’t many people to spend time with. I like my alone time as much as the next guy, but I don’t like living out of the way. I just thought I would try to describe how nice it was to have a mini-retreat to the mountains this morning. It makes me want to plan a retreat for a week in Kentucky since I know about a place where some people live (I think they’re monks) and they offer retreats. I don’t agree with completely separating yourself from reality, but it is good to step away every now and then. Who knows, maybe I would come out of it with a refreshed mind and heart.

Also, my cousin was married today. I truly wish him the best and hope that his marriage ends up more successful than the statistics would have them believe they could be.

grace and peace.

 

New Book

I finished N. T. Wright’s book Paul. It was an intriguing work that seemed to propose that the great majority of Paul’s writings are focused on God and His creation, which was shortly followed by eschatology, which was far different from the “End Times” theology in the North American Fundamentalist and Evangelical churches. Although they may have things to say to us theologically, Biblically, they are unsustainable considering evidence from the sources that speak on Second Temple Judaism. I usually am cautious about saying that these people are wrong in what is going to happen, but most of their biblical support does reflect a lack of Biblical study. The reference to certain mentions faith and what they mean in a certain context is interesting too, but I’ll leave that for those who choose to benefit from this book.

I liked this book, and I recommend it for people in the ministry. It’s not too hard to follow, although at times, there are linguistic references that would take some back-study, but they are explained in a way that you can catch Wright’s meaning. The socio-historical references are explained up front. It is a challenging book for the modern American Church. It is challenging, so I warn the reader to be open to the ideas and there consequences. I hope you enjoy.

Grace and Peace.

 

At Home…

I am sitting at home this week. I got to meet a few friends again. One really got me with his story. He’s really made some decisions that weren’t the best. The other friend is somewhat on his way. I can’t help but admit that the first had searched for some inspiration and guidance and has maybe found it now, but his search has taken him to places he never should have been (where no one should be for that matter). But grace has found him and he is being pointed in the right direction. My other friend has had guidance and although he has come a long way as in making a great deal of money, he has been quite successful as far as following the guidance of our Lord. It is interesting to see the comparison and contrast.

I see that both contrast on the note of guidance. I’ve heard some friends talk about how cool a parent was for letting kids do whatever they wanted. I have seen people scorned for trying to show kids some sort of boundary. I have heard people say that they don’t want to tell their kids what they need to do. I can’t help be disagree with them. I’ve met these kids who have no boundaries or live a life with no boundaries, and they are many of the times impatient and annoying to everyone. They have no sense of how to survive in relationships, and even when they do, they act miserable. I have to say that history teaches us that kids are in need of guidance. Granted, not just any kind of guidance, good guidance that teaches them that they are not alone in the world and that they should treat all the world with respect and love. To the parents who teach that, thanks. To the kids who have been taught this, you’ll be thankful.

The other part I want to note is that both don’t have all the answers. Both conversations made that quite clear. Both told me stuff that they made mistakes on. They told me that they didn’t know it all, and I gave them a two cents worth but encouraged them to keep up the search for what is better.

So don’t be afraid to tell people that they should or should not do something. It’s our responsibility to show what God has taught us is good. If we see someone living contrary to Christian living, and they are Christian, then we should say something. If they are not Christian, don’t sweat over what they are doing wrong. But the fellow believers are family. Make sure that it is not just opinion, but truly what brings about good things. If you say not to meddle in anything, I say that you are very naive. God spoke through Moses, Samuel, the other Prophets, Peter, and Paul. Even Jesus worked this way. They did not say something that was moral opinion, but what was the core of God’s word (which is not necessarily the Bible, but more so His will).

WAKE UP.

Being a moderate in everything, this is something I have to take heart as a challenge myself. Hope it speaks to someone.

Grace and Peace

 

Delirious is Ending :(

Delirious

I saw Delirious perform their final concert in Kentucky. It was at the Ichthus musical festival. I remember liking them before Hillsong United and even before Passion. Hearing them was quite refreshing and now has me remembering how good they really were with praise and worship. So to all the American and Australian praise and worship authors, aside from just a number I can count using 1 (maybe 2) hands, Britain is quite possibly better at praise and worship than we are.

 

Middle Eastern Concerns

I noticed some things on an article online (Another explanatory article of Iranian politics here). They are pictures of the current unrest within Iran. This unrest might be what eases the American nuclear concerns, but like most international struggles, we’ll probably forget this. Remember that we had our own concerns throughout history. First through the debates concerning the votes of colored people, but also in the Bush vs. Gore election. The level of the failure within the system was at an undefinable level which no one now can figure out. What is important is that the American people began to seek ways to hear everyone’s vote and discover the consensus of the American public. We went through our beatings of those we saw as different and challenging. But today we have progressed past fire hoses and the unrestrained usage of batons and bullets.

The problem, it seems, with Iran is that they are at the stage where the challengers to the status quo are being slighted. Many of the pictures depict college students which is a spark of hope for the future of that country. The country could be at a breaking point and at a time of change or a time of failure. The one thing that struck me was the first pictures of the protesters who support the reformist party (supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi). Then showing how the conservative party (supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) beating the reformists, but later there are some pictures of some reformist protesters protecting a riot officer who might have beat some of the protesters. Some of the reformists might have gone awry and abandoned peaceful protests, but there were some who protected him.

I haven’t studied on the challenger to the current president, but I noticed the polls showed a substantial lean for him over the president. We will just have to see what happens. I would just encourage people to pay attention instead of feeling safer since they will not have to worry about a nuclear explosion. Any smart leader would never fire a nuclear weapon knowing that his own people would not survive the aftermath. Even the fundamentalist of Islam would hold back (although there are a good number I fear would not think about that since they are willing to die). Just pay attention and know that we need to deliver whatever good and helpful things to the “righteous”. The Torah would by far support the ones who are being slighted. Even Jesus was partial to those who were slighted, even those who were not considered followers of his Father. These are just things to look at. Make sure to look at the pictures and see that the pacifists seem to be closer to God in helping someone who is suppressing them rather than the fundamentalists who are acting in violence

Just some food for thought.

Grace and peace to you all.

 

Next book

I am actually on two books. Umberto Eco’s The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, N. T. Wright’s Paul, and Henri Nouwen’s In the Name of Jesus. I am almost done with Eco’s book, very unique and yet quite enjoyable. I will be starting Nouwen’s book tonight. Many do not like him (much like those people who do not like Rob Bell and call him a flaming liberal when he tends to be a very conservative Christian). I have heard the rumors about Nouwen being a homosexual. I have not confirmed that, but if you know me, I won’t believe until I see the proof. This will be more than just someone telling me they read it somewhere (”I read somewhere…” is one intro to myths that I hate and I usually have trouble having respect for those people). And such an argument does not ruin the truth found in writings. One mishap of one’s life only shows humanity. Look at Ray Bolts. His life has taken turns for the gay persuasion, yet none can challenge the fact that his music has touched the lives of many Christians and have encouraged them to continue on there path.

All that is to say that I will read his book with an open mind and heart. I hope others will consider the same.

Grace and Peace.

 

More on the reading

I am still reading Bolton’s book and I am almost done. I am very appreciative of comments that he has made concerning companies and buyers in the western world. He mention how it is peculiar how we blame the companies for dealing with evil intentions concerning the poor of the world. He mentions that it is only logical that the companies act in ways that save and make money, with no real knowledge of the oppression or with the knowledge that other companies are going to do it too. His other observations is that the consumers are just as evil in these acts since they buy the cheap products that are obtained through oppressive dealings. If we make it worth the companies time and money to obtain good, ethically obtained products, they will go after it, since that is where the money making market will be, but it is a long term process that most of us think is unfair and unworthy of our attention. I tend to call this apathy, because that is what it is. If you aren’t able to put all your funds towards the better products, then put aside some money somewhere and when you have enough to spare, purchase the items that have been deemed ethical.

Grace and peace to you all.

 

More on the book

Just a small update on my reading in Africa Doesn’t Matter. Bolton seems to be painting the picture that some countries are not doing enough to fund the erasing of poverty (or at least halving it). Now, we must remember that America is one of lowest in funding. By the lowest, I do not mean the gross amount of funding itself, but the general income percentage put towards. America is one of the highest in the world, especially under the President George W. Bush, but it still stands that the percentage of the American income struggles constantly to hover around .2% according to the Center for Global Development’s analysis of “real aid.” It’s nice to know even questionable presidents can show some decency. Maybe we should pay attention to this. From a Christian point of view, the intent of the giving is found in how much you are willing to give, and with the common opinion that 10% is a good way to keep up with giving to the Kingdom, it might make some sense for Christians to advise politicians to give to those in need (and to advise taxpayers to sacrifice their funds to do so).

Keep giving folks. To your churches and other organizations that help others. And let’s see if we can get our country to do the same. And remember, we have to teach these people to take care themselves also. This book supports the giving a man a fish idea, but also wants us to start pushing harder on the teaching a man to fish. It’s important to teach people to take care of themselves and pave the road so that they can.

Grace and Peace.