31 October 2009

Two of My Favorites

Last year, while in Iraq, I was preparing a sermon out of Lamentations. In my exegesis, I discovered that the Revised Standard Version and English Standard Version were the exact same, for the passage in question. I found that a little odd, so I did some research online when I had a chance.

My Google search led me to Michael Marlowe's excellent site. I read his extensive write-up on the ESV and was impressed, both with Michael's thoroughness and, incidentally the ESV.

As I read more about this translation, I started reading it more on my computer. When I came home on mid-tour leave, I purchased a printed copy and have used it exclusively since.

I have also read quite a bit more of Michael's site. These is a lot of good stuff there. I would encourage you to check it out.

25 October 2009

J. Gresham Machen

Finishing up Christianity & Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen. It was given to me by a good friend of mine. Written in the early 20th century, he clearly spells out how the liberal movement in Christianity misses it.

For being almost a hundred years old, it reads like it was written yesterday in so many ways. A quote sums up the spirit of the book.

"Christ died"--that is history; "Christ died for our sins"--that is doctrine. Without these two elements, joined in an absolutely indissoluble union, there is no Christianity." (p.23) He explains well what he means by this, and the implications are far-reaching.

Considered on of the top 100 books of the millennium by World magazine. I can see why.

24 October 2009

Professor Horner's Bible Reading System

I ran across this Bible reading plan about a month ago. I had been using my own system of 5 chapters a day for well over a year and was looking to modify it. I came across this 10 chapter a day plan and decided it was pretty close to what was considering going to anyway.

The idea is you read a chapter each out of ten different sections. Some sections will repeat faster than others. I really like it so far. I thought it might be too much at first, but I find that it seems to really go quickly--it doesn't feel like I'm slogging through.

23 October 2009

The Day That Preaching Died

Great presentation by Calvin Pearson at the Southwestern Baptist Seminary 2009 Expository Preaching Conference.

Click here to download through iTunes U.

Very good job of differentiating expository preaching from everything else.

No Dogs Allowed

Andree Seu with an insightful commentary. (Click the title to read it.)

I admit I'm guilty. In the bureaucracy that is the Army, it is a survival mechanism to ignore things until they are raised in volume or frequency. But it is dangerous behavior to generalize.

Death Is Over-Rated

It is not uncommon to hear discussions about how one wishes to die.
"Quickly and in my sleep," is the usual consensus.

Augustine of Hippo redirects us from this distraction to what really
matters in this event we call death.

"That death is not to be judged as evil which is the end of a good
life; for death becomes evil only in the retribution which follows it.
They, then, who are destined to die, need not be careful to inquire
what death they are to die, but into what place death will usher
them." (City of God, Chapter 11)

It is not the door we walk through, but the place we arrive at through
the door, that should concern us. "For to me to live is Christ, to die
is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

This is Totally Self-Serving

You've been warned.

This blog exist as a way for me to collect, and express thoughts on the Bible and theology. I'm really not anticipating a whole lot of discussion, or even readership for that matter. If you find it, and want to read it, great. If you want to argue, go away. If you have a genuine insight you want to share, feel free. If something I post here is used by God to bless you, I'd like to know. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine too.