Review: Revolve 2010 Biblezine

http://harmonywheeler.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-revolve-2010-biblezine.html

I spent my teenage years as the weirdo loner, too mature for her age and never fitting in. Thus, I can't speak with complete authority when I review and criticize Revolve 2010 for its focus on teenage issues that I never fully dealt with: boys, boys, and more boys.... and little bit of looks. Really, that's all Revolve 2010 looks at, and while I can't completely relate to all of its contents, I can certainly tell that its "sharp look and relevant articles" for teen girls doesn't go nearly as deep or be quite as honest as it could.

This "Biblezine" does include the New Testament with colorful headers and interesting asides, but, unfortunately, most of the "articles" included are mindless dribble, content any Christian girl should find obvious, and content that doesn't fit the Bible verses that parallel them.

On the bright side (and the colors in this magazine are bright), the general design and content probably do appeal to most teenage girls. A few elements similar to blogs and Facebook give the magazine a touch of creativity. Most of the content, however, would be better off in its own book, rather than next to New Testament text. The magazine promises to reveal the relevance of God’s Word to teens, but the majority of articles do not come straight out of Scripture, and, remembering the mature teenager I was, I would prefer a magazine that delves deeper into the text, not one that talks solely on boys.

The magazine also uses a lot of space promoting Revolve books, events, and products instead of focusing on Scripture. Another note: some of the text message passages are more puzzles than they are creative and fun ways to make Scripture relevant.

I received a free copy of this book from http://booksneeze.com/ in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: "Called to Worship" by Vernon M. Whaley

http://harmonywheeler.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-called-to-worship-by-vernon-m.html

An insightful look at the Biblical view of worship, Vernon M. Whaley’s “Called to Worship” makes for a compelling read... if you don’t mind the length. Though repetitious and long-winded, the book provides principles of worship based on the various people, events, and books of the Bible.

Whaley spends well over half of the book discussing concepts from the Old Testament, recounting well-rehearsed stories from the Bible and drawing applications for worship. His complete recounting of these stories, however, adds an unneeded length to the book and often makes for a tedious read, giving “Called to Worship” the unpleasant feel of a textbook.

Perhaps Whaley could have saved some extra space (and some of his readers) if he had organized his book by theme instead of by book. Some of the most important principals, found in the New Testament portion of Whaley’s book, are not given enough pages, and many of Whaley’s points are lost in confusion due to what seems like contradictions that may be explained in the latter half of his book if only he would put half and half, one and one together.

Whaley does call attention to one of the most important and compelling aspects of worship: putting God first in our lives (in other words, dedicating our lives to Him in full obedience). Whaley reminds his readers that Christians should not allow idols to replace God. Some of his points on this topic are confusing and contradictory (at least they seem that way - he doesn’t account for the difference in covenants when he writes about the consequences of sin), but for the most part, Whaley gives a strong, scripturally-based argument that makes the reader think.

“Called to Worship,” overall, does make the reader think... that is, if the reader has enough patience to finish the book. God designed man to worship Him, but man often tries to fill the God-shaped hole in his life with worldly idols. Whaley brings readers back to God’s “call to worship,” the kind of worship man is meant to act out.


This book was reviewed in exchange for a free copy of the book for BookSneeze.com.

A Realization

I realized something last night. I've realized it several times before. It always seems to disappear and reappear. The realization was this: death. It's coming. It's going to take my parents away and it's going to take me away. I've posted before on how I can't let go of my faith no matter how often I sin. However, I also can't seem to shake this constant fear of death, and, on top of that, this fear of being alone.

Even more so, I have a feeling some of my dreams have meaning - even if only subconscious meaning. Dreams of coming disasters (i.e. volcano eruptions and, more recently, enemy attacks) - of trying to run away but always taking too long to pack or having some sort of trouble that gets me in trouble or scares me. I always wake up before the disaster hits, though.

Then there are dreams where I'm trying to get to classes and either miss them or can't find them. I wander around knowing where I need to go, but not knowing how to get there.

All these things scare me, and I don't know what to think of them or what to do with them.

The Constant Pull

I find it so sad and discouraging that so many Christians lose their faith, even Christians who I thought were so very strong and confident in their faith.

Then there's me. One of many sinners. A girl who considers herself unworthy. A girl who has often doubted her faith and has often turned her back on God. Yet a girl who can not let go of God. A girl who has to believe there is a God who loves her no matter what she does.

I can't let go of God. Or maybe it's God who won't let go of me.

Strange, how the "greater" sinners are the ones who hold on while the ones we view as the strongest are the ones who fall. How does that happen? It certainly gives me a greater appreciation for my own faith.

Sabbathing: What Blocks Your Way

I went Sabbathing today. It was something they offered at my school where we are given an hour and a half to spend time a lone with God (and get chapel credit for it :) ). They also provided handouts for us on various topics - guidelines. I did the one on feeling disconnected from God. The passage given was Romans 8:35, 37-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Strangely enough, what I got out of my time with God was fairly simple: God loves His children. His love is unending. He is always with us, even when we don't feel like He's there. So the question is, what are we allowing in our lives that keeps us from experiencing His love? Since we are more than conquerors in Christ, why aren't we conquering the things in our lives that keep us from Christ? If we live in the Spirit, we, too, will not be able to be separated from God's love.

Disciplines: Simplicity

Preconceptions

I didn’t have many preconceptions about this discipline; it was more a matter of my not knowing anything about simplicity. My thoughts were that the discipline was what it sounds like: simple living. What that looked like, I really had no idea. I supposed it meant living without stress or being content with what you have and not letting anything keep you from peace.

Summary

Foster opens with Ecclesiastes 7:30. “God made man simple; man’s complex problems are of his own devising.” We make life hectic, but God made life simple. The question becomes, how do we return to the simple life God meant for us?

Foster proposes that living simply involves both inward reality and outward practice. We must know and believe simplicity in our hearts and practice it outwardly. Instead of living for wealth or status, we live on ground principles. We do not conform to a sick society and become sick ourselves. Instead, we stand out as Christians.

Foster writes that attachment to this world is evil. Materials are not evil themselves, but what man can do with them is evil. To support this, Foster points to the Bible’s frequent mentions of the evil idolatrous attachment can bring. “Jesus declared war on the materialism of his day” (p. 82). In Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus taught that we must be willing to give up everything for the ultimate reward that awaits us in heaven.

Foster reminds us that no matter what we do to live simply, we must always keep the kingdom of God first in mind and not allow the discipline of simplicity to become legalism. Foster also reminds us that all things good come from God, and God wants us to be content with what He gives us. “Simplicity sets us free to receive the provision of God as a gift that is not ours to keep and can be freely shared with others” (p. 85). Through simplicity, we develop a spirit of trust that God will provide. Thus, we are free to care for others, give of ourselves, and care less about our possessions.

How do we practice simplicity? Foster gives ten suggestions: 1) Buy things for their usefulness. 2) Reject anything that is producing an addiction. 3) Develop a habit of giving things away. 4) Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry. 5) Learn to enjoy things without owning them. 6) Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation. 7) Be skeptical of buy now pay later schemes. 8) Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech. 9) Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others. 10) Sun anything that disracts you from seeking the kingdom of God.

Practice

I chose to focus on the materialistic element of simplicity this past week. I knew I needed new pants, but I didn’t need new shirts or higher-quality pants. So, I decided to buy two pairs of pants at Walmart for $40 rather than one pair at Lane Bryant for $40. I also made a decision to stop eating out. I can make due with what I have at the Caf, and I don’t have to have midnight snacks every night. While at the mall (and Walmart), I did not even look at the book store or at the electronics section of Walmart (both are weaknesses of mine). I made the decision that I won’t get a new cell phone this year, because I don’t need a new one, even if I want a new one. I committed to using my own money only, instead of credit cards.

Reflection

I am addicted to movies and movie scores. I like to eat out. I like to spend money. I like possessions. Once I started reflecting on the discipline of simplicity, the reality of how much I need simplicity in my own life hit me. How easy is it to put aside God when I think watching a movie during my free time would be more relaxing than reading my Bible? Very easy. How easy is it for me to build up my DVD collection? Very easy. I see a five dollar movie at Walmart, and I say to myself, “It’s only five dollars. I’ll get it.” I spend money on fast food, and then, when I really need something like new shoes, I say to myself, “But I don’t have the money for that.” My priorities are messed up. How much more do I need God than all these possessions? A lot more. Yet, I still put him aside. I say to myself, “I have no other God.” Yet, at the same time, I make possessions the gods of my life. I think I can do without for a while, at least until I re-prioritize and build my finances back up. But even then, I’ll still need to practice simplicity.

Biblical Interpretation Paper #2 - 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Observations and Questions

• Contrasts “uncertain riches” of the rich man with “riches” God provides and the “treasure” that he may store up.
• Previous and following verses tie the “pride” and “riches” of the world to false knowledge and false teachings.
• Rich people in verses 17-19 tie back to verse 5, “They think that serving God is a way to get rich.”
• Verse 17’s reference to God giving richly and verse 19’s reference to storing up treasure tie back to verse 6, “Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have.”
• Verse 9 does not point at those who are rich, but at those who “want to become rich” as the ones who bring temptation. Therefore, it seems that Paul is saying that those who God blesses with riches in this life should be just as content as the poor, and should not greedily desire more, and, as verse 17 says, should not be proud. Being rich is not necessarily a bad thing. It is the love of money that so often makes rich people bad (v. 10).
• Even the earlier verses of chapter 6 (and parts of chapter 5) appear to be connected to the message of contentment in later verses since Paul says to honor widows and elders and tells slaves to honor their masters.
• “Pride” appears in verse 4 as well as verse 17.
• Conditional clause: Store up treasures... then “they will be able to have the life that is true life.”
• Why the difference between NKJV and NCV and ESV: “they will be able to have the life that is true life” vs. “they may lay hold on eternal life” vs. “they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Are we talking about earthly life or eternal life?
• “Command” is imperative.
• What does “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come” mean? Does it refer to planning for this life (which seems unlikely considering the context)? Or does it refer to planning for the next life - planning for God?
• If salvation is free, why do the rich have to store up treasures so “that they may lay hold on eternal life”?
• Commands: charge the rich, do not be haughty, do not place hope in riches, place hope in God, do good, be rich in good works, be generous, be ready to share, store up treasures
• List of things rich should do (above) more of a repetition/comparison for emphasis
• Do good and thus store treasures
• Repetition of “rich” and “good”
• Instructional, but loving tone
• Roles: man - good works and contentment in God’s providence - God - provide
• What does “in this present age” mean? Are we talking about rich people involved in the way of the world? Or are we talking about all rich people?
• “Charge” progressive - “they are (not) to” future - “storing” progressive - “take hold” present - “are” “to be” passive commands
• In what way does Paul expect the rich to be “good”?
• Are we to command others (as commanded) or to take the commandment and apply it ourselves?
• Are “all things” rightly enjoyable”?

Presuppositions

I usually automatically write this passage off, assuming that I am not rich and that this passage does not apply to me in the same way it would to a billionaire. However, I realize that I am rich compared to people in third-world countries, just not rich on an American standard. Sometimes I think the “rich” and “proud” person addressed could not possibly me because I’m a good Christian girl... supposedly (I realize that’s not really the case. We are all sinners, and I have been known to allow pride to take over my life.). I also automatically assume that “be generous and ready to share” refers to charity and that “store up treasure” refers to heavenly rewards.

Research

What do “they will be able to have the life that is true life,” or “they may lay hold on eternal life,” and “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come” mean?

Verse 19 presents the result of and motivation for the rich man’s good works. By doing good, man stores up treasures, or riches, for himself where it matters: in God’s eyes - or, in other words, in heaven. We see this when Paul says, “for the coming age.” This coming age refers to the age when Christ returns, as opposed to the current worldly age we live in, which Paul refers to earlier. “While doing good for others, they are simultaneously ‘storing up’ or ‘laying up’... ‘for themselves’... literally ‘a good foundation’... ‘for the future,’ indicating for what time the foundation is being laid up” (Knight, 274).

Some scholars have suggested the storing of treasure is really an “amassing” of treasures that are right and good, but, according to the Tyndale Commentary, this rendering is not supported by the MS and involves bad Greek construction. Instead, the point seems to be that Christians should have an indestructible “foundation” in God. Such a “foundation” refers back to the foundations of buildings, the foundation of the church, and the foundation of the Gospel in a person’s life (that allows him to speak the truth without fear). In a more figurative use, the Anchor Bible suggest “foundation” can mean “that which is laid so that something else can be accomplished” (Johnson ,311).

As a result of building a foundation of treasures in heaven, man can “take hold of that which is truly life.” This “true life” functions next to the “coming age” and the treasures in heaven that matter most. For we, as Christians, are storing up treasures for the future, or “eternal life”. Here, we have a direct contrast with “life propped up by so uncertain a support as [earthly] riches” (Guthrie, 118). We also have a reason for action, for doing good: “to grasp true, eschatological, eternal life” (Mounce, 365). Yes, we live in the present and Christ lives in us. We have God’s blessings and providence in this life, and we do partially store up treasures for this life, but mostly we store up treasures for what is to come.

Big Idea

Do not put possessions above God, but delight and be content in what God does give you, and use it for His glory.

Application

There are many ways I can apply this principle to my life because there are many things I tend to give precedence to over God. My studies, for example, always come first. If I don’t have time to read my Bible, I won’t, and when I do have free time, I watch movies or go to Disneyland because I’ve done enough reading for classes. In another clear example of this, I put food above God. I tell myself I can’t get through a day without food (specifically without food I like, which is why I eat french fries and pizza so often). I tend to put technology above God. I love my Ipod, my phone, and my laptop. Would I save them from a fire before my Bible? Probably. I also put my worries above God, casting off God’s peace and not trusting Him to work things out for the good. What I need to do is set aside specific times for God and His Word. I also plan on doing the fasting discipline in order to try to think of God before my appetite.

When applying this passage to the rich, specifically, I think of my Aunt’s brother-in-law, who is very rich. He has several homes, all very large. He’s also a new Christian. He’s the perfect example of what Paul is saying to Timothy, however. He’s bought a mansion and uses it as a community place for unfortunate children. He also ministers to my uncle a lot through fellowship and work. All this to say, I find myself relating more to the person desiring riches than the person with riches. I see this rich man and think about what I would do with money. I have a hard time with my desires because they make me think that I can only serve God with riches. According to 1 Timothy 6, however, I can serve God with whatever I have because God provides for me for His own glory and pleasure. I need to stop focusing on what I don’t have and start focusing on how I can use what I do have for God’s glory.