I would like to thank all of you for your faithful readership. I would also like to thank those of you who occasionally check me out. You are priceless to me.
Faith, Worship, and Life is moving. My new home is http://faithworshiplife.wordpress.com/. I will retain this site for quite some time, but any new items will be posted at my new home.
Again thank you for your faithful readership. I look forward to further interactions with you. May God richly bless you and keep you.
William Daniel
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Memorable Quote
"You can purchase anything off the Internet except common sense."
Jim Harrison of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade, KY, commenting on the exotic animal trade, some of which are used by "snake-handling" churches for feats of you fill in the blank.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25651899/>1=43001
We Will Miss You, Tony Snow
Tony Snow passed away early this morning, following a long fight with colon cancer. He was the public image standard for Conservatism. While he certainly held to his Conservative convictions, to my knowledge he never vilified his opponents, nor did he break out in anger. He was more than likely to make you laugh with his extremely intelligent wit. He was his own thinking man, as I remember President George W. Bush commenting on how Tony called "Dubya" on the proverbial carpet for some of his ideas. In watching some clips run, one thing that comes to mind is his love for family and life in general. I do believe he loved Jesus too. Extremely recent Tim Russert, now Tony Snow ... our American media is sorely worse off now for the loss of both of these icons of integrity.Picture from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/images/20060516-4_p051606pm-0531-1-515h.html
Friday, July 11, 2008
Quote for the Week
I was playing with my oldest baby girl, who is 2. I said, "You're beautiful."
She replied, "I not boot-ee-fool."
I asked wondering, "You're not? What are you, then?"
Smiling, she replied with certain confidence, "I Annesley ... and I a princess."
She replied, "I not boot-ee-fool."
I asked wondering, "You're not? What are you, then?"
Smiling, she replied with certain confidence, "I Annesley ... and I a princess."
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Good Works that Actually Work for the Good
"And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" (Titus 3:14; ESV).
It was interesting in reading through Titus and Philemon together today. Philemon is the abolitionists' Bible book. Titus teaches us to be devoted to good works and Philemon teaches us that there is a disconnect between Christianity and slavery ... all the while Paul teaches in other places that Christian slaves and Christian masters have Christian duties to each other.
Why did Paul not call for the abolition of slavery ... outright? This question is easy for us to ask, living in the "free" world in the 21st Century. Yet Paul wrote from 1st Century Roman society that was already quite suspicious of this new sect. Paul, himself was executed by Nero. Perhaps he knew such a proclamation was tantamount to the execution of the whole new Christian movement all together. And perhaps ... just perhaps ... Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit preached, taught, and wrote Scriptural principles he knew would one day undermine the whole enterprise ... without undermining Christianity itself.
In this patriotic season, we might be tempted to castigate the Founders and Framers of our beloved Republic for their failure to implement Abolition to Slavery. However, in the vein above, we must take great pause to avoid the same short-sighted mistakes that are often committed in comfy-Monday-morning-quarterback-chairs. Thomas Jefferson actually levelled the introduction of the slave trade as one of the offenses committed by King George III in the Declaration of Independence. However, the colonies of Georgia and South Carolina refused to participate if it was included. Many of the Founders and Framers, including George Washington, eventually acquired a severe distaste for Slavery, but it did not happen overnight. But it did happen as they came to realize that Slavery was inconsistent with the Republican principles in the Declaration. Needless to say that did not have the luxury of the comfy-Monday-morning-quarterback-chair. They were charged with holding together the fledgling colonial (and then state) alliances to fight Great Britain and then build a new country.
They believed that Abolition's day was coming, but in their prudence did not believe it was their own day. Two generations later the country would deal with the question of slavery ... but be able to do so with greater internal cohesion and strength.
While it might feel good to proclaim with bravado that such and such ought to be done, let's remember that being devoted to good works ... means being devoted to their "good" implementation ... which means good for the long haul. Jesus calls us to wisdom (Matthew 10:16) and promises us the Holy Spirit's teaching and comforting and providing fellowship (John 14).
One of the many challenges of Christianity is living in the world ... as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We have been given no option in that regard, but we have been given a God who is promised to come along side us ... the Paraclete, aka the Holy Spirit. Not only are we to live in the world as faithful disciples, we are to be devoted to good works.
That precisely is the challenge of a faithful Christianity ... to be a "thinking" Christianity, using wisdom to produce the good works that actually work for the Good.
It was interesting in reading through Titus and Philemon together today. Philemon is the abolitionists' Bible book. Titus teaches us to be devoted to good works and Philemon teaches us that there is a disconnect between Christianity and slavery ... all the while Paul teaches in other places that Christian slaves and Christian masters have Christian duties to each other.
Why did Paul not call for the abolition of slavery ... outright? This question is easy for us to ask, living in the "free" world in the 21st Century. Yet Paul wrote from 1st Century Roman society that was already quite suspicious of this new sect. Paul, himself was executed by Nero. Perhaps he knew such a proclamation was tantamount to the execution of the whole new Christian movement all together. And perhaps ... just perhaps ... Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit preached, taught, and wrote Scriptural principles he knew would one day undermine the whole enterprise ... without undermining Christianity itself.
In this patriotic season, we might be tempted to castigate the Founders and Framers of our beloved Republic for their failure to implement Abolition to Slavery. However, in the vein above, we must take great pause to avoid the same short-sighted mistakes that are often committed in comfy-Monday-morning-quarterback-chairs. Thomas Jefferson actually levelled the introduction of the slave trade as one of the offenses committed by King George III in the Declaration of Independence. However, the colonies of Georgia and South Carolina refused to participate if it was included. Many of the Founders and Framers, including George Washington, eventually acquired a severe distaste for Slavery, but it did not happen overnight. But it did happen as they came to realize that Slavery was inconsistent with the Republican principles in the Declaration. Needless to say that did not have the luxury of the comfy-Monday-morning-quarterback-chair. They were charged with holding together the fledgling colonial (and then state) alliances to fight Great Britain and then build a new country.
They believed that Abolition's day was coming, but in their prudence did not believe it was their own day. Two generations later the country would deal with the question of slavery ... but be able to do so with greater internal cohesion and strength.
While it might feel good to proclaim with bravado that such and such ought to be done, let's remember that being devoted to good works ... means being devoted to their "good" implementation ... which means good for the long haul. Jesus calls us to wisdom (Matthew 10:16) and promises us the Holy Spirit's teaching and comforting and providing fellowship (John 14).
One of the many challenges of Christianity is living in the world ... as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We have been given no option in that regard, but we have been given a God who is promised to come along side us ... the Paraclete, aka the Holy Spirit. Not only are we to live in the world as faithful disciples, we are to be devoted to good works.
That precisely is the challenge of a faithful Christianity ... to be a "thinking" Christianity, using wisdom to produce the good works that actually work for the Good.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
A Missing Link
When reading the Gospels, one of the objections to the authenticity of Jesus and his messages and deeds is their supposedly being pulled out of thin air. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls we can see that much of what Jesus taught actually fits in quite well with the Jewish culture of his day. Much of what he said can be shone to be in line with the development of Jewish rabbinical thought and not simply importations from later Christian enthusiasts.
One such piece is a tablet, apparently recently discovered, which contains a resurrection story. Gabriel tells a dude named Simon that he would be resurrected in three days. The tablet has been dated to the 1st Century BC.
Here is a link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4295804.ece.
Notice that the title of the article interprets the finding as "casting doubt" on Jesus's Resurrection. While some might be disturbed to hear of this tablet or other pre-Jesus Jesus-like-teachings ... because in their eyes they might take away from the uniqueness of Jesus ... this tablet actually becomes a part of a larger stream of confirmation of the authenticity of Jesus. It confirms that Jewish thought prior to Jesus did think about resurrection ... and that resurrection was not simply a Greek-Christian importation into Jewish thought.
Be encouraged: John 11:25.
One such piece is a tablet, apparently recently discovered, which contains a resurrection story. Gabriel tells a dude named Simon that he would be resurrected in three days. The tablet has been dated to the 1st Century BC.
Here is a link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4295804.ece.
Notice that the title of the article interprets the finding as "casting doubt" on Jesus's Resurrection. While some might be disturbed to hear of this tablet or other pre-Jesus Jesus-like-teachings ... because in their eyes they might take away from the uniqueness of Jesus ... this tablet actually becomes a part of a larger stream of confirmation of the authenticity of Jesus. It confirms that Jewish thought prior to Jesus did think about resurrection ... and that resurrection was not simply a Greek-Christian importation into Jewish thought.
Be encouraged: John 11:25.
Self-Consumptive Patriotism and American Global Leadership
Perhaps questioning calling attention to a common type of patriotism ... which I dub "Self-Consumptive" ... can be a cause for concern. Typically, there are two voices in this topic, which scream the loudest, drowning out all other voices. Voice one is from the fringe-left ... and at times from the moderate-left ... denouncing all forms of patriotism. Voice two is from the fringe right which only allows gushing sentiment over our country and way of life.
While it is certainly understandable that these two voices exist (they are reactionary to the perceived dangers of each other), it is unfortunate. Patriotism certainly does not need to be deported, as C.S. Lewis once quipped that we deride patriotism and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. On the other hand we blindly give absolute allegiance to anyone to our peril.
The point I have been attempting to make over the past couple of posts is that the version of patriotism ... that I find as appetizing as vomit ... is an unthinking, blind, and often reactionary patriotism of self-consumption. This type of patriotism is love because someone or something gives me something ... or makes me feel a certain way.
While any love will exact a certain amount of good feelings in anyone from time to time, unfortunately in our day, love is almost solely defined by what someone does for me or how someone makes me feel.
What happens, then, when those feelings run dry ... or out all together?
True love from my standpoint, while certainly containing good and positive feeling caused by someone or something else, is more properly defined by what I do and and give to someone or something else.
In short love is primarily a verb ... not primarily a feeling.
The Rand Corporation has produced very welcome findings that we Americans are still heavy-weight competitors on the global scene in Science and Technology.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG674/
Scroll down the page to download the Online PDF of their document.
What will be the results of raising generations of Americans to be primarily self-consumptive? Only time will tell. My prediction is that self-consumption can in no way aid our efforts in producing global leadership in various important areas ... such as science and technology.
And certainly self-consumption will not grow dynamic churches, whose Lord calls us to die to self. Self-sacrifice for God and neighbor is ironically the older, supposedly outdated form of patriotism that calls one to self-sacrifice for God and country, as taught by the Boy Scouts.
While it is certainly understandable that these two voices exist (they are reactionary to the perceived dangers of each other), it is unfortunate. Patriotism certainly does not need to be deported, as C.S. Lewis once quipped that we deride patriotism and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. On the other hand we blindly give absolute allegiance to anyone to our peril.
The point I have been attempting to make over the past couple of posts is that the version of patriotism ... that I find as appetizing as vomit ... is an unthinking, blind, and often reactionary patriotism of self-consumption. This type of patriotism is love because someone or something gives me something ... or makes me feel a certain way.
While any love will exact a certain amount of good feelings in anyone from time to time, unfortunately in our day, love is almost solely defined by what someone does for me or how someone makes me feel.
What happens, then, when those feelings run dry ... or out all together?
True love from my standpoint, while certainly containing good and positive feeling caused by someone or something else, is more properly defined by what I do and and give to someone or something else.
In short love is primarily a verb ... not primarily a feeling.
The Rand Corporation has produced very welcome findings that we Americans are still heavy-weight competitors on the global scene in Science and Technology.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG674/
Scroll down the page to download the Online PDF of their document.
What will be the results of raising generations of Americans to be primarily self-consumptive? Only time will tell. My prediction is that self-consumption can in no way aid our efforts in producing global leadership in various important areas ... such as science and technology.
And certainly self-consumption will not grow dynamic churches, whose Lord calls us to die to self. Self-sacrifice for God and neighbor is ironically the older, supposedly outdated form of patriotism that calls one to self-sacrifice for God and country, as taught by the Boy Scouts.
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