At His Table

Review: J.R.R. Tolkein by Mark Horne

2011-10-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

Summary: Mark Horne takes readers from the beginnings to the end of the famous author J.R.R. Tolkein's life, giving particular emphasis to Tolkein's inspirations for Lord of the Rings and Tokein's interaction with other key authors including C.S. Lewis. Horne also emphasizes Tolkein's commitment to his Catholic faith.

Review: This is part of the "Christian Encounters" biography series, so, naturally, there are more references to faith than there might be in other biographies of Tolkein. But the religious elements are not prevalent, so non Christians could easily enjoy this book, especially Tolkein fans. And the book offers a lot of tid bits about where Lord of the Rings characters and locations came from, which followers of the books and movies are bound to enjoy. An easy read (aside from a few parts that are hard to follow, as is typical of a biography), and an enjoyable read, this biography is a good read even for the person who doesn't typically enjoy biographies.

On a Personal Note: I was sad to learn that Tolkein was a strong Catholic. The fact may be obvious to most, but I had no idea, and learning this fact made me lose some of my admiration for the author. In my opinion, Catholicism and Christianity are not the same, and if Tolkein believed in certain things like Purgatory, praying to Mary, and confession to the priest, I'm afraid... well... you can defer the rest.

* Disclaimer: I received this book from BookSneeze in return for my honest review of it.

Review: Stained Glass Hearts by Patsy Clairmont

2011-10-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

Review: I don't even know how to summarize the point of this book — that's how bad it is in my mind. Unless you learn from stories, and stories, and lots more stories... in fact, nothing but stories, then maybe you'll get something out of Clairmont's cluttered, unorganized life stories. And maybe you enjoy the two (rather pointless) chapters on how great poetry and reading books are. But I don't see what any of these things have to do with stained glass hearts (aside from the end of chapter reflections and suggestions and maybe one chapter or two).

I expected a book on redemption and finding beauty in the broken pieces, but the majority of the book didn't really deal with that. I was left so bored that when I got to the chapter on books (where Clairmont gave the reader permission to stop reading a book that didn't catch the reader's attention in the first 50 pages), I stopped reading and started skimming... which quickly led to reading the first and last sentence of paragraphs... which led to skipping to the end of chapters... which led to being glad I was finally done with this book.

Maybe if you're a Patsy Clairmont fan or a Women of Faith attendee you'll enjoy this book. But I consider it shallow spiritual growth if this is all you can learn from. My advice: Read a book that gets deeper into Scripture, or read Scripture, and skip this book entirely.

Summary (from Book Sneeze): Much like stained glass, life's broken pieces become the prism through which God's grace shines most brightly and beautifully.

"Life is no doubt full of difficulties, but it is also filled with promise and possibility," says best-selling author and WOF speaker Patsy Clairmont. In Stained Glass Hearts Clairmont guides readers to view the difficult experiences of life through the lens of God's grace. Using art as a theme, and likening people to stained glass windows, she shares that it's when we're surrounded by darkness that His healing light shines most brightly within us. Encouraging women to step back and see life from this new perspective, Patsy offers help and hope for the dark places of life.

Along with character studies of women in Scripture, and modern-day, relatable stories, each chapter includes:

Chalice—memorable quotes
Mosaic—recommended music
Spires—scriptures and readings
Litany—sample prayers

Review: Ascent from Darkness by Michael Leehan

2011-10-10T03:21:00.000-07:00

Summary: "Ascent from Darkness" by Michael Leehan is a very dark, very deep, yet very enlightening account of Leehan's "ascent" from his practice of Satanism to his embrace of God and Christ's sacrifice. The majority of the book follows the darker parts of his lives, but testifies to the power of prayer as various Christians enter Leehan's life and pray for him and encourage him. Leehan's experience included death, suicide, demons, sacrifice, cutting, rituals, and much more. But a fight within him eventually led him to the Lord and freed him from the weight of darkness.

Review: This book was an extremely intense read, like reading a mystery suspense thriller. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next. While I have always been critical of "spiritual experiences," this book convinced me of something I've always known: demons and spirits are out there, and they're battling for our souls, influencing people like Leehan was to manipulate believers for the worse. Leehan's writing isn't too explicit, but it's enough to emphasize just how real the spiritual battle is and just how prepared we need to be. It has certainly motivated me to surrender more to God and His Word in obedience and love. Leehan's testimony may be difficult for some to read. Aside from Satanism, Leehan slept around and treated people poorly. He even ended up in jail for several months, and almost committed suicide. There's a lot to relate to in his story, and it may bring up unpleasant memories or temptations. But it also ends with a wonderful admonition to follow Christ through all the ups and downs. It's a powerful read.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

* Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Heroes and Villains of the Bible

2011-10-09T03:42:00.000-07:00

Review: This book is a refreshing way to make the Bible exciting for Children to read. It uses actual Bible text (International Children's Bible) and teaches children that being a hero comes from choosing to follow God. I was disappointed that there were few illustrations (maybe one per chapter, and they're all an awkward 3D), especially since the cover was so colorful. Basically, this book takes certain passages from the Bible, organizes them by characters (thus, heroes and villains), and provides reflections at the end of each chapter. The way it organizes them by heroes and villains is what makes this book such a good read for parents and their children. It makes discussion easy by doing all the hard work for you.

Summary (from Book Sneeze): 50 true-life adventures of real people from the Bible—stories of good versus evil, right versus wrong, and heroes versus villains—and their life-shaping lessons that point children to God—the greatest hero of all! The Bible is packed with stories of courageous people who loved and served God, and how He used them to do great things in the world. It is also filled with villainous people who disobeyed God and did horrible things. Heroes and Villains of the Bible encourages its readers to aspire to become great, courageous, and heroic servants of God, and reject all that is evil in the world. With Heroes and Villains of the Bible, children will realize some of their favorite heroes aren’t from the movies, but are real people from the Bible.

* Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Thank You God for Blessing Me by Max Lucado

2011-10-09T03:25:00.000-07:00

Summary (from Thomas Nelson): Meet Little Hermie—the cutest baby caterpillar in the garden! Little Hermie’s thankful heart shows toddlers how to be thankful for God’s blessings. Little Hermie is thankful for everything God has given him. He goes through his day thanking God for his many blessings in this adorable board book with flocking on the cover! With over 5.5 million brands units sold, the new Little Hermie books open the wonderful world of the Hermie & Friends garden to an entirely new audience.

Review: This is a VERY short children's book, but it's very sweet. It includes colorful, enjoyable pictures. Hermie thanks God for lots of things like nature, a place to sleep, health, friends and family, but you'll be thankful for the beautiful illustrations and the lessons this book will teach your young one. It encourages children to pray for guidance in doing the right thing and to thank God for the blessings in their lives. It's definitely meant for pre-school and younger, but it's adorable. I just wish it were longer.

* Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Just in Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado

2011-10-09T03:14:00.000-07:00

Summary: "Just in Case you Ever Wonder" by Mac Lucado is short children's book written from a loving parent's perspective. The parent reassures the child that he or she is loved by God and by his or her parents, tells the child the parent will always be there for them, and reminds the child of the glories of heaven that await.

Review: As sweet as this book is, I miss Lucado's children's books that had more intriguing illustrations and deeper morals behind them. This book is a great book for a parent to read to a child. It teaches that God created each person, just as he created the entire universe. It teaches a proper parenting model of love, teaching, and bringing a child up in the Lord. It's sweet. I just pity the child who won't be able to relate because they aren't in a positive family.

* Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Abby God's Little Angel by Sheila Walsh

2011-10-09T03:01:00.000-07:00

Summary: Written for young girls, probably pre-school, kindergarten age, "Abby, God's Little Angel" follows the guardian angel, Abby, on her new assignment to take care of a girl named Sophie. Sophie loves to climb trees and play on the playground, and Abby has her work cut out for her, but they both will learn just how much God loves them and wants to protect them.

Review: I love Sheila Walsh. I've been a fan of her books, her music, and her speaking. Now we have lovely children's books from the humble, insightful writer. "Abby, God's Little Angel" is filled with charming humor, colored illustrations, and lessons for parents to share with their children. The short story teaches that God cares for every person. Gabby tells a horse that God loves Sophie very, very much. The book also shows that God chooses the smallest for the biggest, most important tasks. Every person has a part in God's will. And it teaches children to thank God in prayer. It's such a lovely tale, it will even leave adults with a heart-felt lesson and a big sigh and long "awe."

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com for

Review: The Christian Zombie Killers Handbook by Jeff Kinley

2011-10-09T02:24:00.000-07:00

Summary: Sin is like a virus that festers within us, ready to take over and turn us into full zombies. So goes the premise of Jeff Kinley's book, "The Christian Zombie Killers Handbook." Alternating between a fictional story and nonfiction commentary, Kinley explores what it means to have a zombie monster within us, hungry for sin (or brains, as the case may be) and battling the Holy Spirit within us.

Kinley writes that, when we become Christians, we are freed from sin. Sin is evicted from our house, but waits for its chance to move back in. It's a constant battle that can only be won if we renew the way we think and give everything up to God.

The fictional part of Kinley's book follows Ben, who lives in a zombie infested version of our world. Each person has the virus within them, but when infected by a full zombie, the infection spreads and eventually leads a person to become a full zombie hungry for flesh. Ben goes through several encounters with various zombies, leading up to the end times of this fictional world.

Review: Although it can be a bit graphic, "The Christian Zombie Killers Handbook" is an addicting read because the fictional story is very suspenseful and emotional, and the nonfictional chapters are great food for thought. Kinley goes in depth, explaining why we have a battle within ourselves, why we sin, and how we can "kill" our inner "zombies." On the journey, he covers all the usual grounds. Don't be a pharisee. You can't change on your own. But Kinley also comes out with new, enlightening thoughts, like the fact that you can't replace a bad habit with a good habit. You have to look to God. It is a choice, and it's a hard choice. You may fall several times. But what baby doesn't fall while learning to walk?

My only complaint is that the book felt incomplete. The fictional story came to an end too quickly, and left me wanting to know more — left me asking, "That's it? What happens next? You can't leave it there!" To feel like the nonfiction parts lack nothing, you must read all the nonfiction chapters and make the connections between them. Personally, I would have liked Kinley to expand more on the sinner who know's he's sinful and stuck in something like an addiction, who doesn't try to cover it up with good works, and who feels like he lacks the will power to say no to sin. While Kinley is correct when he writes that it is a choice, he's also correct when he says it isn't an easy choice. Many people will be left wondering, "If I can never seem to make the right choice, am I still a Christian?" This is something that I've been exploring myself a lot lately, and that I hope to write a book on eventually, as it seems that there are no books out there that fully answer this question.

All in all, Kinley delivers big time. His zombie analogy really brings his points home.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

* Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Billy Graham in Quotes

2011-10-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

Summary: Franklin Graham and Donna Lee Toney have put together a book of quotes from the famous reverend Billy Graham. The quotes are about 3-8 sentences long and are organized by topic. And there are a lot of topics (this a long list, you might want to skip ahead to the review): Abortion, Addiction, Age, America, Angels, Anger, Anxiety, the Bible, the Blood, Character, Children, Choice, Christianity, Church, Comfort, Commitment, Compromise, Conforming, Conscience, Conversion, Convictions, Creation, the Cross, Death, Deception, Decision, Satan, Disappointment, Discipleship, Discipline, Encouragement, End Times, Eternity, Evangelism, Evil, Faith, Family, Followers, Forgiveness, Glorifying God, God, God's Will, the Gospel, Grace, Greed, Grief, Happiness, the Heart, Heaven, Hell, Holiness, the Holy Spirit, Home, Hope, Human Nature, Imagination, Entertainment, Fun, Influence, Integrity, Jesus, Joy, Judgment, Knowledge, Life, Living the Christian Life, Loneliness, Love, Lust, Marriage, Money, Morals, Parents, Patience, Peace, People, Persecution, Pleasure, Prayer, Preaching, Pride, Race, Religion, Repentence, Resurrection, Right and Wrong, Salvation, Service, Sin, Society, Soul, Speech, Strength, Success, Suffering, Surrender, Temptation, Testimony, Thankfulness, Time, Truth, War, Witnessing, the Word of God, Work, the World, World Evangelism, Worry, Worship, and Young People.

Review: The thing I like about Billy Graham is that he is both popular and convicting. Like "feel good" pastors such as Joel Osteen, he inspires (and has a HUGE following), but unlike Joel Osteen, he preaches the hard truths. He's not all about making you feel good, but he is about making you live good. I do miss the full sermons, and feel like I could get more out of full books and sermons, but a book of quotes preserves Graham's legacy. And this book of quotes contains quotes well chosen that both inspire and convict. It's a long book, so it's best read a little bit at a time or used as a reference book. But its length is what allows it to address so many important issues. There's something for everyone to relate to.

* Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Captured by Grace by Dr. David Jeremiah

2011-10-07T02:36:00.000-07:00

Summary: In "Captured By Grace," Dr. David Jeremiah goes beyond the typical idea of "grace" and uses Scripture and the stories of Paul and John Newton (author of the hymn Amazing Grace) to explore in depth how to define grace and how to live by grace. A good third of the book could be considered a minnie biography of Newton and Paul. God pursued Newton and Paul, and he pursues you. He offers you the gift of grace through the sacrifice Christ made on the cross. It's not something you can earn. Yet, God also expects you to live differently once saved. He expects you to live through the eyes of grace. That means performing the works God has planned for you and living with an attitude of gratitude.

Review: This is the second book by Jeremiah that I have read, and I've gotten a lot out of both of them. Jeremiah never fails to combine practical advice with deep explorations of Scripture. I would have liked to have read more about how grace affects sin and the sinner. Jeremiah spends one chapter talking about maturing in the faith through trial and through transformation. He writes that Christians should not return to their former sinful lifestyles. That is a truth that many will struggle with. Jeremiah could have expanded on this. I would like to know his take on whether you can continue in sin (think repetition of the same sin - i.e. addiction) and still be a Christian. Nevertheless, Jeremiah still delivers in all other areas, making grace more than a concept, but, rather, a reality for Christians to live by.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Lee (The Generals) by John Perry

2011-10-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

Summary: Biographer John Perry writes about the virtue of General Robert E. Lee, who fought during the Civil War for the Confederates. While Lee gets a bad rap as a traitor to the Union, Perry lays out Lee's life in a way that makes Lee look like the most godly man (aside from Christ) who ever lived. Starting with Lee's childhood and building up to Lee's peaceful death, Perry explores what made the general so legendary.

Review: I'm not a huge fan of biographies, and this biography is your typical biography. While it has a nice flow to it, it reads like your typical autobiography. It's well written, but the battles and names within the book are sometimes hard to follow. I enjoyed the book because I am related to Lee, and I am intrigued by the principles Lee lived by. If you, too, are intrigued by Lee's life, or if you just plain like reading biographies, then Perry's book is worth the read.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

2011-10-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

Summary: In "Outlive Your Life," Max Lucado attempts to show the reader how he or she can make a difference in this world — through prayer, through love, through small actions, through breaking down walls and seeing people rather than judging people. He ends with the passage about seeing Jesus in other - helping Jesus when we feed the hungry and take care of the sick.

Review: Unfortunately, I did not get much out of this book. As much as I love Max Lucado, this book came across as another "missionary" book — that is, be a missionary by recognizing and meeting the needs of those around you. Witness through action. Show Christ's love to others. That's all right and true, but its also been written about before and really didn't leave me with anything I didn't already know, nor did it really give me any solid way to make a difference.

I'm also left wondering about the other side of making a difference. What about preaching? What about standing up for what you believe in? What about fighting for the moral truths we find in the Bible? I feel like there is so much more that Lucado could have covered in this book.

On the bright side, it's a very fast, very easy read.

Rating: 2/5 Stars

* Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews

2011-10-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

Genre: Children's Book
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Summary: The book takes the reader back in time one person at a time, revealing how each person made a small difference that eventually changed the world.

Review: This is a great children's book. It has beautiful illustrations, and it teaches a good moral that every person can make a huge difference, even if they don't realize the small things they do are making that difference.

* Disclaimer: I received this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Jesus Calling

2010-07-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

"Jesus Calling" by missionary Sarah Young is a compilation of devotionals for every day of the year, written to every Christian from Jesus, himself.

I've never been one to get much out of super-short devotional books, but if I did start using a devotional book, "Jesus Calling" would be on the top of my list. I thought the fact that the devotionals are written from Jesus' perspective would bother me, but it didn't. The devotionals are taken straight out of Scripture and include Scripture references at their end. I've always felt that when God speaks to a person, it's through His Word (and hardly ever through physical speech). "Jesus Calling" seems like a great example of what this looks like.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Plan B

2010-06-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

In "Plan B," Pete Wilson attempts to provide new answers to the questions readers have when life gets difficult, when Plan As don't work out and people are forced to consider Plan Bs.

According to Wilson, most answers, or at least the kind of answers Christians are looking for, can't be found. Instead, Christians must wait on God's timing and anchor themselves in God and the hope He provides. Christians should not run from hard times, but should try to look for ways to grow and be transformed through difficult circumstances, whether it be sin or the loss of a job. Wilson tells his readers to hope Someone rather than hope for something because God's plan is much better than the plans of man.

Wilson starts off with originality and depth, but soon loses the qualities that make "Plan B" a worth-while read. The first few chapters take Biblical examples and provide new light that makes readers think. The latter half of the book, however, gives the same old, cliche answers that most readers will have heard a million times. Some messages need repeating, though, and many readers will find new hope through "Plan B." If nothing else, the book is worth buying or checking out to read the first few chapters.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Wonders Never Cease

2010-06-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

I'm a skeptic when it comes to extraordinary claims of angel sightings in the modern world, but if a person somehow did see angels, Tim Downs' "Wonders Never Cease" provides an interesting scenario of what could happen.

When his girlfriend's daughter starts seeings angels, nurse Kemp McAvoy decides to take on some wings and become an angel himself to scam the movie star who comes under his supervision at the hospital. Kemp aligns himself with a failing book publisher and the movie star's agent, but as debt collectors, a janitor, and real angels get into the mix, things won't turn out the way Kemp expects.

Downs well-crafted story will intrigue the reader. The story, itself, pulls the reader in. Characters get less credit. The characters are predictable and echo similar characters in other books and movies, especially Downs' aging movie star. The moral themes don't satisfy, either. While Kemp's girlfriend and her daughter manage to get out of a bad situation and away from Kemp, Kemp and his partners find themselves in a get-what-you-deserve ending. Kemp never realizes how selfish and wrong he is, and he never makes up with his overbearing father.

Unfortunately, wonders do cease in this book, but Downs still manages to keep the readers' attention in his less than original but still captivating book.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in return for my honest review.

Review: "Searching for God Knows What"

2010-05-26T13:11:00.001-07:00

I've been interested in Donald Miller since his book "Blue Like Jazz" first stimulated a lot of hype. My first adventure reading his material came with "Searching for God Knows What," however, and I was pleasantly surprised. While the book title doesn't match up with the content, and while Miller gets a bit far into politics with his reasoning (taking a more liberal view), he gives more reason to think than to fight. I'm not quite sure how yet, but I'm certain this book has changed me in some way, maybe even for life.

Miller's book talks about the survival instinct all humans have, causing them to take on a right vs. wrong perspective that would get the "lesser person" thrown off the lifeboat. According to Miller, Jesus saw all people as equal and loved all people, which we should see and do, as well. Too much of Christianity focuses on declaring war and making Christians look good and better, which Miller says does not match up with what Christ modeled.

Miller's thoughts on the subjects of selfishness, spiritual war, and the hole inside all men are intriguing and provoking. I couldn't put his book down because it never allowed me to stop thinking. Miller didn't give me much to act on, in the end, however. What he writes is true, but Miller doesn't give any way to reconcile it with still being able to stand up for what you believe in. Therefore, I'm left more confused than inspired. I suppose that can be a good thing, because it keeps me thinking.

"Searching for God Knows What" has other faults. It lacks Biblical support and tends to take the form of personal essays, giving it a more subjective feel. Much of the content is repetitive. That does not take away from the thought-provoking nature of the book, however. It certainly got me thinking about my motives and my deep need that only God can fill, something that I've been struggling with (confidence, self-appreciation, selfishness, etc) for a long time. "Searching for God Knows What" is a must read for any Christian.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in return for my honest review.

Review: Friendship for Grownups

2010-04-29T11:41:00.000-07:00

http://harmonywheeler.blogspot.com/2010/04/review-friendship-for-grownups.html

We're grownups aren't we? But sometimes we don't act like grownups, especially when it comes to how we manage our friendships. In her latest book, "Friendship for Grownups," Facts of Life star and Women of Faith speaker Lisa Whelchel helps readers grow up a little in their friendships. Using her own personal experience, Whelchel opens up about the importance of both finding and becoming a safe friend. She teaches readers to find friends they can be open with and grow with. In such friendships, people can feel free to be themselves and to act human. Whelchel also discusses how grace in friendships can point toward the true grace of God.

With a beautiful heart for women and a wonderful humility, Whelchel has written a book that will hit a core with any reader. It certainly hit a core with me. I've always been a loner, but I've also always desired deep friendships. While I still have no idea where to start finding such friendships and while my desire to be a part of a team of women (like Women of Faith) has only deepened, Whelchel's story has given me courage. I recommend this book for anyone and everyone with the same deep desires for open friendship.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Bibleman Combating the Commandant of Confusion

2010-04-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Call me a sucker, but I love kid's movies and shows. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I love watching Barbie movies, and when "BibleMan" comes around, I'm not afraid to embrace the lovable cheesiness. Thus, I decided to review "Bibleman: Combating the Commandant of Confusion."

As bad as the acting is, and as cheesy as the premise is, I've always loved Bibleman. Even as an adult, I'm encouraged by the series to put on the armor of God (the theme of "Combating"). "Combating the Commandant of Confusion" is a filmed version of the live production currently touring the U.S. It draws me back to my good old Vacation Bible School days. While the film quality is less than perfect, and the script, as always, is cheesy, the costumes are wonderful, the villains wonderfully melodramatic, and the plot inspiring. "BibleMan" makes the perfect adventure for any child, or child at heart. Simplicity never hurt anyone.

I received a free copy of this product from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Essentials for Life

2010-04-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Billed as "Your Back-to-Basics Guide to What Matters Most," "Essentials for Life" by Marcia Ford falls short of the expectations its title sets up. The book does cover the basics of Christianity, as described, but with so many basic to cover there's little room for expanding and explaining. Unfortunately, this effort to include all the basics left the book lacking in depth. New Christians may find this book informative, but for the rest of Ford's readers, this book will be a mere refresher on what is already obvious to most Christians. And sometimes we need those refreshers. Despite its lack of depth, I still found myself extremely interested in the book and unable to put it down (or perhaps that was because of my desire to find something deeper and more profound buried in the book). Still, the book poses more questions than answers. Its short chapters and interesting sidebars (that include quotes from well-known authors, Bible verses, and interesting facts) make it an easy read, but easy does not equal greatness. In this case, "Essentials for Life" misses some essential facts and explanations, leaving the reader wanting more.

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

Review: Hand of Fate

2010-04-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

Charged with the controversial language and topics of political debate, Lis Wiehl’s “Hand of Fate” never stops building tension. As new plot twists reveal themselves, and as characters’ personal lives intertwine with the mystery, readers find themselves in the middle of a wonderfully pieced together mystery.

After talk radio show host Jim Fate dies from a mysterious gas release in his studio, the Triple Threat Club sort through the chaotic mess left behind to find the murderer behind the crime. The club includes federal prosecutor Allison Pierce, who's pregnant; FBI special agent Nicole “Nic” Hedges; and Cassidy Shaw, a TV crime reporter, who formed the “Triple Threat Club” after a high school reunion. Together, they piece the clues together. But when one of them reveals a secret pertinent to the case, things begin to change. A public suicide sets things on a path even further away from the one the club has been on, and the three women must reconsider the evidence to find the real criminal.

“Hand of Fate” leaves readers confused or shocked at several points throughout the book. Some content may be too graphic for certain readers, and the political background of the book may charge emotions of politically active readers. Overall, however, “Hand of Fate” covers all bases. An intriguing Christian mystery that doesn’t over-push its Christian background, “Hand of Fate” will delight most readers.

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

A Prayer

2010-03-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

Dear God,

I've had a lot going on in my life lately. As much as I want to, it seems like I can't slow down or pace myself. Things keep coming up, and my busy life (and necessary sleep) keep me from spending time with You. Yet I'm at a point where I need You more than ever.

My parents have now officially moved, and I must leave a part of myself behind forever. At school, I deal with feelings of inadequacy, especially at my internship where I know I need to become a better communicator. Everything seems to force me out of my comfort zone and increase my stress levels. I know I thrive under pressure, but I wish I could thrive under a little less pressure. It's not so much school, or even the Chimes (except for one article that was poorly written and needed major revision, which I worked on and bettered myself through), but life in general.

Lord, HELP! Reveal to me what I'm really feeling and show me the right way to deal with it. Help me to not make such a big deal out of little things. Help me to have more confidence. Help me to focus on You. Help me to make time for what's important. Help me to take care of myself. Make me a better communicator. Help me to relax. Clear my vision.

But thank You for keep me healthy this long. Thank You for the relaxation You do bring. Thank You for giving me friends and family to encourage me. Thank You for my talents, even though I'm unsure of them, unsure of my passions and what paths to follow. Thank You for giving me paths to choose from. Thank You for helping me along.

Amen

Review: Buried Alive

2010-03-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

I dreaded reading “Buried Alive” by Roy Hallums. Nonfiction of this type (especially involving politics and war) usually doesn’t float my boat or keep my interest. But once I started reading Hallums’ captivating story of his hostage situation, I instead dreaded having to put the book down. Even with all its technical language referring to guns and helicopters, and even with its not necessarily graphic, but detailed descriptions of Hallums’ surroundings and treatment, my interest never faded.

A contractor in Iraq, Hallums spent ten months in captivity after he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and was kidnapped by a group of Muslim extremists raiding his office for information. The extremists held him for ransom, all the while beating him, barely feeding or bathing him, and forcing him to sleep blindfolded and handcuffed on hard surfaces. At one point, Hallums and others were kept in an underground cell, the entrance to which was covered with cement every few days after captors gave them food. Hallums was literally “buried alive.”

Hallums tells the story from his perspective, but takes breaks from the intense moments he spent in captivity to tell the story from the home-front, quoting American officials who worked to rescue him and focusing on his own family’s efforts to keep his name in the media - to keep his case urgent.

“Buried Alive” reminds me of how lucky I am to live in America. I don’t know what I would do under the circumstances Hallums was subjected to. I certainly don’t think I’d come out as healthy as he did, or alive as he did. Hallums’ testimony of how he kept faith, hope, and prayer alive during his captivity will inspire readers as it inspired me. I fully recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Sweet By and By

2010-03-05T23:26:00.000-08:00

I love reading books that are almost impossible to put down. Every night I read “The Sweet By and By” by country singer Sara Evans and writer Rachel Hauck, I waited until my eyes were red to stop reading.

Evans and Hauck provide lovable, realistic characters readers can easily related to. As the main character, Jade, slowly reveals her past, the reader learns along with her that, which people can forgive and forget, they can’t hide their past forever. The past affects the present; it makes us who we are. Engaged to a wonderful man, Jade must face her past in order to fully commit to a future. Along the way, she heals broken relationships with her mother, her ex, and, most importantly, God.

The book does not come without its faults, however. The writing can be hard to follow at times, and some things don’t fit. Jade’s encounter with her ex doesn’t have enough purpose, and one scene that switches to her father’s viewpoint is the only scene of its kind. Evans and Hauck tell the rest of the book from Jade’s and her hippie mother’s points of view, so the father’s viewpoint doesn’t fit. Jade’s conversion is also unrealistic, too quick, and too emotionally charged.

But even with its faults, and its title that doesn’t completely fit the book, “The Sweet By and By” makes a good edition to any woman’s book shelf. I certainly couldn’t put it down. It’s told at the perfect pace and reveals each new twist just when the stakes need to be heightened to keep the reader’s attention. Most importantly of all, the characters speak to the reader’s heart, something every good book needs.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Beautiful Mess

2010-03-03T22:01:00.000-08:00

I like country music. It’s OK. And I like a good story about someone conquering life’s challenges. So, Diamond Rio’s “Beautiful Mess” seemed like a choice read for me, even though I’d never heard of the country group before. The title captured my attention, along with the interesting cover. However, once I began reading, the my attention span was cut short and it took me several months to finish reading the book. It was not the choice read I expected.

“Beautiful Mess” tells Diamond Rio’s story, starting with the band as a whole, going into chapters about individual members of the band and their histories, and ending with the band as a whole. While the band’s stories do sometimes contain touching, beautiful messes, some chapters are beautiful messes in themselves. The beginning and end are the most interesting parts of the book, especially the ending, which turns a beautiful mess into a beautiful whole.

Getting to the end was difficult for me, though. Maybe it’s just because I don’t normally read or enjoy biographies. Maybe it’s because I’m not a fan of the book. Or maybe it’s because the book was poorly written. The point is, while fans may enjoy this book, I did not. “Beautiful Mess” is a mess. It fails to connect, and it’s focus could easily be narrowed down to a book on the band alone without any histories of band members.

On the bright side, the photos are nice, and the audio version that comes with the book (downloadable online) was the only reason I was able to finish the book.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: "Kaleidoscope" by Patsy Clairmont

2010-02-28T11:32:00.000-08:00

Leave it to Patsy Clairmont to create a book with a cover as cute as she is, a length as tiny as she is, and chapters as short as she is.

Beautiful cover and all, Kaleidoscope fails to connect. Chapters, each based on a single verse from Proverbs, come across as devotional stories. While one or two chapters may hit individual readers hard, most readers will have to either dig deep or read only one chapter per day/week and truly commit to thinking as hard as Winnie the Pooh to get something out of this book.

Mind you, the stories Clairmont tells are delightfully funny, but that doesn’t compensate for lack of depth in the Word. I have yet to read a book by a Women of Faith Speaker that truly dives into God’s Word. Some pointless questions and a few verses to reflect on after each chapter are the closest Clairmont comes to covering readers with the water of the Word of God.

On the bright side, she does bring some clear understanding to a few confusing proverbs, but, as lovely as its cover is, Kaleidoscope does not “find inspiring reflections of the divine that bring clarity to our world.”

*Quote from the book jacket’s description.

Book Summary:

Acclaimed author and Women of Faith speaker Patsy Clairmont causes womens' hearts to leap and their hopes to lift in this quirky, straight-to-the point look at the Proverbs.
Understanding the Christian life and the Bible can be a daunting task. But maybe God didn't mean it to be so hard. In Kaleidoscope of Proverbs, Patsy Clairmont pieces together some powerful messages from God and reveals new facets of beauty, inspiration, and instruction. Written for busy women, Patsy offers brief, powerful chapters that address the key aspects of their lives, hearts, and relationships.
In the Proverbs, God gives us small gems of hope and truth, and in Kaleidoscope of Proverbs, Patsy Clairmont unveils them for readers with her trademark humor and insightful teaching.

* I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: “Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God.”

2010-02-24T23:15:00.001-08:00

Sheila Walsh is an incredible speaker and writer who never fails to give her audience a glimpse of her heart and a glimpse of the heart of God. Sometimes, however, a glimpse is all you get.

Readers will catch several glimpse of both Sheila’s and God’s heart in Walsh’s latest book, “Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God.” While the book contains plenty of deep, Biblical insights, it doesn’t flow well, and readers can find much of its content in Walsh’s previous books.

Walsh uses her own testimony and the stories of several people in the Bible to teach readers about courage, beauty, waiting on God, crying out to God, trusting God, and realizing God has a plan for your life. Her words don’t really begin to resonate until half way through the book, however, and even then, the lessons don’t stick unless you make an effort to study a chapter a day and put the chapters into practice. All the lessons she teaches have deep truths, but don’t seem to connect to one another.

Walsh begins and closes with the example of how much more fun swinging can be when someone you trust is pushing you, but she doesn’t fully utilize the metaphor throughout the book, and some of her best content does not come until the end.

Walsh’s best content, like her closing chapter on the parts of life that will unexpectedly transform into jewels and gold in heaven, doesn’t entirely fit into the book’s theme and would better suit a book of its own. Walsh’s testimonies seem scarce and scattered, as well, and would resonate more if gathered into one book.

Overall, however, “Beautiful Things” is beautiful. Despite its flaws, the book offers plenty of wisdom if one makes an effort to digest and apply the trust in God that Walsh encourages.

P.S. This book is aimed at women, but would have just as much applicability to men.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion review for BookSneeze.com.

Defining God

2010-02-22T11:43:00.000-08:00

In response to USA Today blog on Elton John's definition of Jesus as gay.

I think we all tend to want God to be a certain way - to cater to our needs or to our vision of what is right. A lot of people live a works-based faith because they feel they must earn their salvation and are unwilling to accept that Christ's sacrifice was enough. Others say god must be all loving, so he must accept all people no matter what path / religion they take to get to him / heaven. Then there is the classic bumper sticker that states god is coming and she is mad. The examples are endless. As a Christian, I've learned that I need to stop putting God in my own box and to accept what He defines as truth in His revelation to us: the Bible.

Marriage and Jesus

2010-02-21T14:55:00.000-08:00

Response to USA Today Blog Article and NPR Article.

I do not have a problem with arranged marriage (unless it is forced) or with the concept of a strong family relationship - a supposed "blessed" union (and perhaps this part of the Moon message is not a negative and has had its positive results despite the focus the media has on the failed "blessed" marriages and resulting children - if we're going to get into the negatives, one might ask how we define failure and sin as a culture vs. Biblical definition of sin). What I do have a problem with is this church's doctrinal statements. I am curious what they believe about Jesus as Messiah if they believe this Moon guy is the Messiah. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the Messiah (and if you don't consider the Bible reliable I suggest you read Lee Strobel's books). Besides that, if Jesus was meant to do something and he didn't do that, wouldn't it make him imperfect, yet another thing that contradicts the Bible. Moon says he had a revelation. So have many others who have been proven to be false for the most part. And the Bible clearly warns that any teacher who contradicts the Word is a "false prophet."

Hagerty says they believe children born out of these "blessed" marriages do not have original sin. This clearly contradicts the Biblical principle that Adam brought sin into the world, and, as Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We cannot earn our salvation, nor can we be blessed and suddenly live without sin or give birth to children without original sin. Rather, Jesus Christ intervenes for those who choose to accept His gift of salvation. It doesn't mean that we stop sinning, but that whatever sins we do commit are forgiven. "For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!" (Romans 5:15).

As far as answering your question of whether you can be sure your children will inherit your faith, yes, I do care, and, as a Christian, I believe the answer is no. Only God knows everything, and it is in God whom we must place our trust. But we can't know for sure what path our children will take because God has given all men the freedom to choose. The Bible does tell us, however, to bring our children up in the faith to the best of our abilities. In the Old Testament, there are constant instances in which people are told to teach their children about God and to create reminders for the people as reminders and as ways to initiate conversation with children about God.

Concerning how to win people back to the church, or in this case this Moon "cult," I do not believe serving the mainstream preferences will do any long term good. Many churches commercialize themselves, selling feel good messages and not really doing anything good or getting into God's Word. Many people will come expecting their life to echo the feel good messages and promises and will leave when they realize Christianity (or any church for that matter) does not guarantee a perfect, sinless, problem lacking life. And as far as bringing in rock concert style worship, I believe that it can do some good, but when taken too far and can take the focus off of God and put it on things such as self and emotions. I've witnessed this far too many times at "Christian" rock concerts, Billy Graham Crusades, and my own church.

Pray for the Hinns, but Do You Believe in the Speaking of Tongues? And Do You Have to Speak Tongues to be a True Christian?

2010-02-20T11:31:00.001-08:00

A conversation on Facebook regarding the article here on Benny Hinn's divorce. It led to a discussion on if the speaking of tongues exists, whether tongues is a necessary part of a full relationship with God, and whether Hinn is a true "prophet" of God. Especially see my last two comments.

Harmony Wheeler

The Hinns have had it wrong for as long as I can remember.... So I can say Amen to that.

Person 1

Harmony -- can't say I agree with that statement, but I know they need prayer NOW, that we can agree on :D

Harmony Wheeler

As someone who does not believe in the modern day speaking of tongues (and please, I don't want to get into a theological argument and I realize you will have to agree to disagree on this) I've always thought of Hinn as a hoax. And I've heard that he believes the Bible teaches you can do anything, or at least go back to the state of Eden and be able to fly - something I don't completely believe is true but something that still affects my opinion of him.

Person 1

Harmony - you're right, we will have to agree to disagree on tongues & Benny Hinn being a hoax. The issue at hand is really that they are hurting right now & need us to pray for them. Im going to do that, hope you will too! :D

Harmony Wheeler

Of course! I believe prayer for everyone, especially leaders and influencers of society, is extremely important, whether I like the person or not.

Person 2

It's harder to take Hinn on TV than in person. Been to a few of his meetings and they are awesome. Had people in my family healed at the meetings too. My husband really thought he might be a hoax when watching on TV too, but changed his mind when at the meetings. So surprised to hear about the divorce, it was in today's paper. I agree they do need prayer!

Person 1

You're right Cheryl....I've always told his critics "go to a live crusade...you will have a different opinion" its hard to walk away from that environment and still believe its fake when you see wheelchairs stacked on the side of the stage, hearing and seeing the healings, seeing so many get saved....its so sad that this is happening....the world NEEDS people like Benny. we need to pray their marriage will be healed and their ministry grow to even greater influence! :D

Person 3 Harmony, you should realize the bible also states do not touch his anointing. People with opinions like I don’t like is why there is so many fighting as so called Christians, where does the bible say that is ok?

If you take the stance of "he is a hoax" this is the result, James 3:6.... Eph 4:29, James 3:10

On a side note speaking in tongues never changed, it came from the trinity, the one you call God and he is the same yesterday, today and forever. It is written in the New Testament too. Relationship without it is very shallow, which is indicative of your comments...... See More

I wish you well and hope you will take the time to study all of this in detail and realize that speaking in tongues is only a deeping of your relationship with the Father, the Son and yes the third person of the God head the Holy Spirit.

Person 4 The bible also says beware of false prophets and that many will be fooled..

Person 1

Thanks Chris that is good solid truth....and for the record, I know there are those who deny Benny's authenticity...but the Bible says in 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every ... See Morespirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world."
BENNY HINN has been tested in this way and PASSED!! No one to this day has been able to discredit him. His ministry has been around for 30 years and made a HUGE impact for the kingdom of God. He has hit a pothole in the road...granted a huge pothole, but that does not discredit his ministry in any way....I see the enemy at work here...through this he would try to discredit all of Christianity...we can't let that happen. We must raise the standard right now, stay on the wall with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other and STAND up against the opposition...Satan himself! LOve you all....though we differ doctrinally we can agree to pray....thats what really counts!

Harmony Wheeler

Mr Raynor. You see this is where I take a stance. We can agree to disagree on the belief of tongues, but when it comes to saying that a real or non-"shallow" relationship with God cannot exist without tongues, now that is highly insulting, non Biblical, and wrong. The Bible says that some have different gifts, and each gift has a different ... See Morepurpose. The speaking of tongues had a historical significance (to prove to the Jews that the Gentiles were Christians and also to indicate the time of Pentecost, or the time in which the Spirit had now come) in the NT, too, not a significance indicating that every person who ever truly knew Christ could speak in tongues.

Harmony Wheeler

I would also venture to say that this is why a very good friend of mine left the AOG church in the first place. Not initially because she stopped believing in the speaking of tongues, but because the church told her she could lose her salvation and because the church told her she could not be full saved until she could speak tongues and fall back ... See Morewhen touched (or whatever that's called). I think that even if the speaking of tongues existed, it would not be necessary for a good relationship with God, and I believe that if it existed people would still need to learn to stop focusing solely on emotions as so many do (and I'm not saying this is you. I don't know you well enough to judge, and I do know some AOG people who are very focused on practicing the mind and the study of Scripture and who don't focus on solely emotions).

Review: Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts

2010-02-17T22:42:00.001-08:00

"Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts" makes a great resource for any person with a desire for a deeper study of God's Word. The book, complete with maps, photos, and outlines, would make a great textbook for most Bible courses, especially classes that overview either the Old Testament or Old Testament or classes that focus on the geography of the Bible.

While the reference book doesn't include as much geological background as it could, it does exactly what it's title promise: It delivers easy-to-understand maps and charts. Each chapter covers a specific book of the Bible and includes resources such as outlines of the book, maps of geographical locations in the book, and information on the author, date, themes, and literary structure of the book. Depending on the book being covered, the chapter may include more details on the book, as well.

The majority of the material appears in the Old Testament sections, so, the book could use some more extensive coverage on New Testament books. Then again, the shorter the book covered, the shorter the coverage. That makes enough sense. Still, while "Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts" provides plenty of simple material that lays the Bible out clearly, it's not a deep theological explanation of books. It's book introductions could come right out of a teen's study Bible. Ultimately, the books makes a great companion for a Bible class or the study of the Bible, but doesn't stand completely on its own. It has its use, but its much like a lot of other sources on the market.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Revolve 2010 Biblezine

2010-02-02T16:54:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-24T22:56:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-30T20:24:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-09T23:31:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

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.

Biblical Interpretation Paper #1 - Romans 12:1-2

2009-10-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

Observations and Questions

“Therefore” refers back to previous verses. Passage is a continuation of previous chapter/s, which discusses what happens to the remnant of Israel.
How does the historical background of Jews vs. Gentiles (discussed in Romans 11) affect the meaning of Romans 12?
What does Paul mean by “living sacrifice”?
What does Paul mean by “world”?
“Do not be conformed” is a command. “Be transformed” is a command.
Paul contrasts the conforming to this world with transforming of the mind.
Contrasts the world with God’s will and with man’s spiritual worship.
Do this... So that.... Be transformed so that... Be tested so that... “You may discern what is the will of God.”
“Good, acceptable, and perfect” could be counted as a list or repetition for emphasis.
Roles - God: merciful, has a good and perfect will - Man: living sacrifice, spiritual worship, renewed mind, test, discern God’s will, please God
NKJV says “so that you may prove.” What does “prove” mean as apposed to “discern”?
NKJV says “reasonable service” instead of “spiritual worship.” What do these phrases mean?
“Present,” “do not be conformed,” “transformed,” and “testing” are progressive.
What does Paul mean by testing? Does it mean living life and seeing what works? Or does it mean testing the world to determine what fits with God’s will and what doesn’t? Is testing part of transformation or a result of transformation?
What does Paul mean by “mind”? Does it imply mere intellectual renewal?

Presuppositions
My mind automatically strays from the straight path with random ideas of what I assume “world” refers to. I impose my own values and “rules” on this passage. For example, a part of me has a hard time accepting contemporary Christian music and might want to say that such upbeat music conforms to the world. As a modest person, I also automatically think of the way Christian women often dress, especially at Biola. If I think about these assumptions, I begin to catch myself in a lot of hidden judgments.

There are several meanings I would like to give to “worship,” as well. In the modern world, worship often implies singing and dancing in church, but I tend to think of worship as something that varies from person to person as each person acts in his or her own way to please God and follow His will.

I also make automatic assumptions about what it means to “transform” and “renew your mind.” I’ve always believed these words referred to reading the Bible and keeping God’s Word fresh on my mind, which may be part of the equation, but as I look deeper, I think there’s more to the passage than what I automatically assume.

Research

What does Paul mean by “mind”?

The mind takes center stage in both verses. Therefore, to have a full understanding of what Paul means when he tells Christians to renew their minds, Christians need to take a closer look at the context of verse 2. Romans 12 marks a transition in Paul’s content and intended meaning, one that takes the previously stated theological matters and shows his audience that such knowledge is not meant for knowledge alone, but also for application. “Theology in isolation promotes a barren intellectualism” (Black, 230).

The mind is not only for knowledge, but also for the ability to choose to act. The “body” Paul refers to represents the whole of man, including his mind. “The idea is... that the sacrifice we render is intelligent and deliberate” (Expositor’s, 127). Rather than being a sacrifice of dead animals, the Christian sacrifice lives as a voluntary act of worship, as a willful sacrifice of giving one’s life to God instead of taking lives away.

Paul’s reference to “spiritual worship” enforces the idea of voluntary worship. The NCB defines spiritual worship as “the worship offered by mind and heart” (Black, 151), and the KJV indicates “spiritual worship” can mean “‘reasonable’ in the sense of ‘in accordance with reason’” (Sampley, 705). Thus, worship (and action), should be the natural response to God’s mercies (which Paul uses in his appeal in verse 1).

Paul continues to explain what “reasonable worship” means in verse 2. Transformation comes after salvation. “It is the mind in which this inner ‘transformation’ takes place; and this is in keeping with the rational or ‘spiritual’ nature of our service” (Black, 151). The mind, able to think for itself, chooses to accept Christ and, consequently, chooses to live as Christ. The transformation that comes after salvation is a continual process in which the Christian chooses to follow Christ instead of “the world.” This process includes ongoing trial and errors, renewing the mind, and testing what surrounds us or discovering God’s will and putting aside what isn’t God’s will. “Our pattern here is Christ, who refused Satan’s solicitations in the temptation and was transfigured... in his acceptance of the path that led to calvary... He had come to do the Father’s will” (Expositor’s, 128).

Big Idea
You should live in the “life” Christ gives and allow Him to transform you into His image as one who discerns and acts upon God’s will.

Application
First, I want to address my own personal biases. Romans 12 talks about the “body.” Romans 11 talks about God’s acceptance of Jews and Gentiles alike. One of the toughest issues I have in applying God’s acceptance of a unified body worshipping Him is that I have my own personal biases against certain stereotypes. These biases affect how I live for Christ, because, with them, I hold back on showing God’s love to all people and, consequently, am not able to fully offer my body or whole being as a living sacrifice. I need to willingly sacrifice my presuppositions and biases and lay them at the cross in an effort to cooperate with the transformation that the Holy Spirit is working within me.

Second, it would be easy for any person to mistranslate this passage and automatically assume that whatever they test and “feel” is God’s will is actually God’s will. I won’t always be able to know God’s will, and sometimes, I think He presents me with choices that He could use in my life for good no matter what choice I make. Also, when it comes to making moral choices, I have to have something with which to test the world’s standards: the Bible. That said, the Bible isn’t going to tell me what to do in every specific situation, but it does provide the grounds on which I make decisions.

I can’t take this passage too literally. The point isn’t that God will give me the means to know His will in every situation. Even if I knew His will, I probably wouldn’t always go along with it (as evidenced by the Israelite’s response to God in the Old Testament). The point is that I need to follow Christ’s example and grow in Him. I need to read my Bible and strive to know God on a personal level. I need to put aside my biases. I need to seek to glorify God in all I do.

Spongebob

2009-09-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

"Nothing makes God laugh more than our plans - except Spongebob. He cracks God up."

From Fresh Start by Doug Fields, page 110.

I love Spongebob, so I couldn't resist posting this.

Jesus Politics

2009-09-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

If Jesus lived in today's society, which side do you think He would endorse? The Republicans or the Democrats?

Or would He just say, when asked about such things, "Render to Caesar what is Caesars"?

What do you think? How much involvement should faith have in politics?

A Quick Note on Peace

2009-09-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

I've found God's peace to be amazing. When my nerves flare, when I spend too much time and effort studying, when I think I haven't studied enough, when I have an interview for an internship... He is there. He's always there. If we are willing to stop and let Him control our lives. If we are willing to trust Him. If we choose to believe in Him. All is well. God's peace amazes me.

Review: Max Lucado's Fearless

2009-09-08T21:42:00.000-07:00

Fear. That word strikes terror (and fear) into my heart. It is something I have had to deal with a lot lately in my move to a new college, and it is something I'm facing right now as my nerves flare over an interview for an internship I have tomorrow.

Max Lucado does not say fears such as these make us pathetic. They don't. It's when we let them overrun us and the peace God gives us that we become, in a sense, pathetic. Life, we know, is miserable without God. In his newest book (which came out today), Lucado shows us that one healthy fear exists: the fear of the Lord. If we practice that fear, it can help us overcome all our other fears.

In a casual and conversational style, Lucado lays out many of the fears that plague us: fear of not mattering, of disappointing God, of running out, of not protecting our children, of overwhelming challenges, of violence, of worst-case scenarios, of coming winter, of death, of what's next, of losing faith, and of global calamity. Readers will find a bit of themselves somewhere in this wonderful book full of the kind of knowledge that seems obvious, yet the knowledge we tend to forget.

Remember, storms will come. God gives peace. You are God's child, and He will take care of you. "Whether or not storms come, we cannot choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can" (p. 72). Things will get worse. The Bible tells us so. But "it's not the absence of storms that sets us apart. It's whom we discover in the storm: an unstirred Christ."

Review: The Complete Guide to Bible Translations

2009-09-02T09:21:00.001-07:00

http://www.christianbookpreviews.com/christian-book-detail.php?isbn=0736925465

The Bible tells Christians to “as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2), but it also warns against false teachers who will wrongly interpret or add to God’s Word. So, what is a Christian to do in a modern world abounding in Bible versions? In his book The Complete Guide to Bible Translations, Ron Rhodes attempts to help Christians pick the right version for them. He gives Christians basic overviews of the various versions available in most Christian bookstores, including the King James Version, the Amplified Bible, the New International Version, the New King James Version, the New Living Translation, the English Standard Version, the Message, and two Catholic Bible versions.

Rhodes, president of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries, spends three chapters introducing the general theories of and controversies over Biblical translations and paraphrases. Translators, he explains, cannot create a perfect, word-for-word translation. Due to language differences, no version exists without some amount of interpretations. Some translators do their best, however, to adhere to the formal equivalence (or word-for-word) method as much as possible. Others, however, seek to create versions that modern readers can thoroughly understand (especially modern readers with lower reading levels), adhering to a dynamic equivalence (or thought-for-thought) method. Some versions take a middle-of-the-road approach, but the fact remains, differing opinions on translation methods have led to debate and controversy, including the debate over gender-inclusive language. Rhodes notes that most versions are not meant to stand alone, and that despite certain negatives, each version has positives that, when put side-by-side with other versions, make for great Bible studies.

Rhodes also includes helpful appendices at the end of his book on the textual basis of translations, how divine names are translated, whether the Apocrypha (which Catholic Bibles include) belongs in the Bible, whether the King James Version is the only reliable version, and whether cultic (Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness) versions of the Bible are accurate. The section on textual basis may confuse some readers because Rhodes spends such a short time on it. The information he presents would have been more helpful incorporated into the rest of the book. In the area of textual basis, Rhodes also misses some key arguments for certain texts, and he makes his own opinion well known.

Rhodes does a good job of covering each version without inserting personal biases, however. While he often leaves behind hints of which versions he “is proud to have on his shelf,” Rhodes manages to objectively discuss each version’s history, translation philosophy, content, pros, and cons. His observations open the eyes of readers to whether most modern versions are as bad as they seem The Complete Guide to Bible Translations, a great summary for any Christian interested in deeper study of God’s Word, will help most readers decide which Bible version best suits them.

Step by step... to where?

2009-08-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

How do I tell the difference between when the practical thing to do is the right thing to do and when the heart-tugging, down deep in my gut feeling is the right thing to follow?

So here's the thing that's been on my mind as I have started my journalism classes this week: Do I really want to be a journalist? Or even a Public Relations writer? Public relations is my emphasis. I know that I'm where God wants me. But.... there's always a but. I have a gut feeling that while journalism and PR are the practical career choices, they aren't where my heart lies and they aren't what God ultimately wants for me.

I'm in a media career readiness class right now, and that class is all about planning your career, but I don't know how to plan a career when I don't know what career I should aim toward. Once again, How do I tell the difference between when the practical thing to do is the right thing to do and when the heart-tugging, down deep in my gut feeling is the right thing to follow? PR is practical, but I ever since I went to a Beth Moore Conference this past summer, I've felt God aiming my life in a different direction, a ministerial, inspirational speaker and writer type of job. My dream job for a while now has been to work as a Women of Faith type of writer/speaker.

So, how do I get to that type of career? It's too late to switch majors. It's practical to stay in PR and get a job in that area when I graduate. But my heart would not be in it.

And I don't even feel equipped, or like I'm on my way to being equipped, to write about God for a living. Funny, I've always disliked church, but now that's what I want to be a part of.

Review: The Expanded Bible

2009-08-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

I began reading the new Expanded Bible with critical eyes. Although put together by accomplished scholars, these scholars base this version on the New Century Version, which tends to make more liberal translations, especially when it comes to gender related terms. As I skimmed through The [expanded] Bible, however, I learned that you can’t judge a book by your presumptions; at least not this book. Although this version follows the more liberal New Century Version, it also includes more traditional wordings in brackets from versions such as the King James Version. The version does not leave the liberal wordings to stand by themselves, either. This version includes numerous notes, “expansions,” alternate wordings, literal wordings, references, and textual variants that allow readers to explore deeper meanings of the text.

All these notes are included within the text, however, and can get a little annoying after a while. It becomes easy to skip over the “expanded” parts and just read the regular wording of the New Century Version, which is in bold print. The version also lacks introductions to books, and it only covers the New Testament.

Overall, The [expanded] Bible accomplishes its goal of enabling the reader to study while he reads, but the version does not stand on its own. Readers should not rely on this version alone for their Bible studies.

Written for Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers

Homesick for God?

2009-08-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder if God gets homesick for us? He's the One constantly living at Home, yet He must, and the Bible tells us He does, long for more to come to Him.

Even more so, how much do we, as Christians, long for the eternal Home that awaits us at the end of our earthly lives. I know I've been homesick for God more than once.

I've been moving into college this week, my third college, which is why I have not been posting. My mom left yesterday, and I already miss her. I miss my dad. I miss my best friend who goes to school in Virginia while I'm stuck far away from her in California. If I long to be with the people I love so much, how much more must God long for us to be with Him, to come to Him?

A Few AMAZING Observsations

2009-08-20T09:52:00.001-07:00

It's amazing how a bunch of flies can cause a total meltdown. No, seriously, that really happened to me... twice.

On a more serious note (and now to the points):

It's amazing how easy it is to notice the "unfair" things in life, things that you normally wouldn't notice, when you're in a bad mood.

It's amazing how much better you feel and how much clearer things seem after a day of crying.

It's amazing how terrible you feel after a day of venting and taking things out on others.

It's amazing how one person can have so much love and be loved by so many (including God), and yet not love himself.

It's amazing how you can tell yourself to trust in the Lord, how your mind can say I trust in the Lord, and yet the rest of your body still tears you apart with fear and anxiety.

It's amazing how a person can know all the facts and still make decisions on faith instead.

It's amazing how we can know we need help, yet not know how to help ourselves due to money problems, denial, and sheer will against too many meds.

Examine Your Heart and Watch What You Say

2009-08-18T00:16:00.000-07:00

Luke 6:45

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, or it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

I was reading Thelma Well’s God Wants You to Win recently, a book which focuses on the armor of the Lord (Ephesians 6:13-15) Thelma style. I have yet to finish the book, but as I read the other night, one thing stood out to me: I am to pursue a heart of righteousness (protect my heart with the breastplate of righteousness). I can easily let the world and my circumstance pollute my heart. I look at many of the people around me who swear and take God’s name in vain, and I wonder what the conditions of their hearts are, but I often forget to look at the condition of my own heart. More specifically, I forget to check my emotions and the things I let into my heart; I forget to check my heart and the things my heart lets my mind think about.

There have been so many times when I’ve spoken without thinking. I can recall specific actions and words that I regret, things I never would do or say if I checked myself with God’s Word and guidance. And I usually do regret my words immediately after I speak, but I still have to deal with the consequences. Perhaps I can grow out of these moments. I know I can grow out of these moments. I’m a sinful, fallen human being, and I will never completely stop sinning (saying things I shouldn’t). I can, however, check my heart in these circumstances. I can examine what I say and do and what causes me to say and do those things. I can examine my heart and seek to renew with God’s guidance. I follow the example of Psalm 26:2: “Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.”

Review: A Man of His Word

2009-08-17T00:48:00.001-07:00

http://harmonywheeler.blogspot.com/2009/08/review-man-of-his-word.html

Description of Book:
Betrayed by the one man Moriah Miller thought she could trust for the rest of her life, she must face a future of loneliness. Her husband, Levi, has left her for the Yankees (non-Amish), and when he refuses to return despite knowledge of Moriah’s pregnancy, she can only wonder what might have motivated him to stay away. Will she ever trust anyone again? Especially Levi’s brother, Gabriel, who has secretly loved Moriah for years. Moriah's heart will only be safe with A Man of His Word. Meanwhile, Moriah’s brother, Tobias, struggles with his feelings for local tomboy, Rachel. Do opposites really attract?

Review:
You know that feeling you get when you know two characters would get together or when characters could solve a problem if only they were honest with each other, if only one person knew what the other knew? Well, that's how I felt as I read Kathleen Fuller's Christian romance A Man of His Word. I suppose that's the deal with most romances. You could just "kill" the characters for not doing or understanding what seems so obvious to you. You scream and shout out of frustration, but you put up with it because you know everything will comes together in the end; and you actually get enjoyment from the suspense. Who knew frustration could be a good thing?

And that frustration gets even better with detailed descriptions, lovable characters, and clever plots. Fuller successfully weaves two beautifully written story lines together, switching between plots to add to the suspense. As characters grow through their hard circumstances, readers become attached to them and the lovely world of the Amish, one not too different from the readers’ own world. I’ve often wondered why Amish novels are so “hot” on the market right now, but if all Amish novels are this lovely (and I’ve read a few that aren’t), it’s no wonder they’re popular. I can only complain about the ugly cover of A Man of His Word. It cannot reflect the beautiful, addicting, and wonderfully written contents that await every reader that picks up A Man of His Word.

Written for Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers

Gone For the Weekend

2009-08-14T09:55:00.001-07:00

I'm going camping this weekend with my dad, so I'll write to you again Monday if everything goes well.

Bible Versions Part 1: Why I Like the King James Version

2009-08-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

It's ironic that just a few weeks after I began planning to post about why I like the King James Version, I received a copy of Ron Rhodes' The Complete Guide For Bible Translations. Halfway through the book, I've already begun to find some of my opinions about Bible versions opened up or changed. I'm going to start, now, with my original view of Bible translations: The King James Version is the most reliable and most beautiful of Bible versions and I am highly against most of the modern versions that exist today. Let's see how this statement changes as I read Ron Rhodes' book. For now, I want to explore my reasons for mainly relying on the King James Version for study.

1) The KJV is one of the most accurate versions available for study. Many scholars deny the KJV's accuracy because it is not based on the oldest manuscripts which have been discovered since its original release. These new-found manuscripts, however, are in much better condition than the later-dated manuscripts which the KJV bases itself on, implying that the older manuscripts may be older, but they're not as well used and thus, very likely not as accurate. I do have to mention, though, something I read in Ron Rhodes' books: some scholars believe that the Greek manuscript the KJV based itself on was sloppily put together in a hurry due to outside circumstances. I have not done any research on this, but Rhodes' failure to address my above argument for the KJV's accuracy makes me question whether the "hurried" Greek text gives enough reason to consider the KJV not accurate.

2) The KJV does not try to interpret God's Word as much as some other versions do. It does its best to create a word-for-word account of the original manuscripts it's based on. When it comes to deeper study of God's Word, I go to the KJV because I want to explore and interpret for myself. I want to be able to gain all layers of meaning from the text, not just the layer an interpreter of the manuscripts might give me.

3) The KJV makes you look for meaning. It may not be as easy to understand as many of the modern versions of the Bible, but it does allow the reader to search for background and meaning for himself. It reminds me of the parables in that, while it is still in understandable language, it forces the reader to look for meaning and allows the Holy Spirit to work within those who have open hearts. (Note: the unsaved may need more than the Holy Spirit, they may need a teacher.)

4) The KJV uses beautiful language. I miss the "thee's" and "thou's" that do not appear in newer versions. I know many complain that the "fancy" "old" language makes it more difficult to read, but I've never understood their complaints. Why is it so hard to understand that "thee" and "thou" mean "you"?

5) The KJV is not a paraphrase or expanded interpretation, and it does not utilize gender-inclusive language.

Just Asking For Trouble

2009-08-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

God has continually amazed me of late. I witnessed millions of jellyfish in Monterey Bay recently, and last night I stargazed with my dad and saw many meteors/shooting stars. God never ceases to bless or amaze. I have been so lucky (or I should say blessed) of late as I have read several Christian nonfiction books and have grown in the Lord. In fact, for a while I was in a bit of a dry period because I ceased learning when everything got so good.

So here's the thing: I want trouble. I want God to rock my life. I want Him to teach me through experience. And I want Him to use me. I feel like I can't really grow as long as I'm not experiencing something that forces me to put my trust and faith in Him. It gives a new meaning to "you're just asking for trouble," because, in a way, I am asking for trouble.

A few Sundays ago I sat in church listening to a sermon on the valleys of life, the kind of valley mentioned in Psalm 23.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

The pastor talked about what it means to go through a valley (a shepherd would lead his sheep through a very tiny, deep, dark valley where thieves and animals hunting prey lurked). He also talked about the rod and staff of a shepherd, and how a shepherd used his rod and staff to protect and herd his sheep. In the same way, we walk through dark valleys where Satan waits to attack us and take advantage of our weaknesses and where the world tries to bring us down or cause us to go astray (the ultimate action being our own choice), but God, our shepherd, watches over us and sheds light on our path.

Toward the end of the sermon, one point stood out to me: we cannot grow in Christ without these valleys; the valleys are what often force us to put complete faith and trust in God. At the time I listened to this sermon, I was on a spiritual high. I knew God had helped me let go of my past and helped me move forward. I had been reading several books, including the Bible, that taught me many things. But as I sat listening to this sermon, I couldn't help but think to myself I'm ready. I'm on a spiritual high, but I've reached the peak and I can't go up the next peak without descending this one first. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually want God to bring troubles into my life, to test me, so that I can grow in Him.

I didn't want my parents to die or something bad to happen, but I wanted to grow spiritually. I was spiritually bored and no matter how much I learned and no matter how excited I got, I wanted to experience life and apply what I learned to my circumstances so I could keep learning and growing. I wanted God to point out my flaws and to search me, which could involve hard times.

Plus, I was on a spiritual high, and we all know that Satan attacks us most when we are on spiritual highs. But I was determined not to let him win this time. And, so far, he hasn't. Since that Sunday, Satan has attacked me in several ways. Each time, I've cried to the Lord and (literally) cried in front of my parents, venting how I felt. Each time, I felt so much better after crying. It's amazing how God's peace and clarity of mind can come after a good cry. And God does want us to cry out to Him in hard times.

To tell the truth, I'm still crying out to Him about one particular issue: my weight. I have a very negative self image right now, and I need a lot of prayer. I can only hope that God will help me through this crisis as he did in my previous crises.

Review: Sheila Walsh's Let Go

2009-08-11T00:16:00.001-07:00

“Let go. Let God.” The famous saying populates the church, but what does it really mean? Sheila Walsh attempts to answer this question in her new book Let Go. She covers the various things in life we need to let go of in order to embrace God’s grace and blessings: prejudice, anxiety, forgiveness of self and others, self-hatred, past wounds, fear, and lack of purpose. Walsh leads readers into a deeper understanding of key issues including trust in God, finding deliverance, accepting yourself and others, hope, and realizing you are loved.

This book could go by several different names. True, Walsh covers deep issues, but her points are varied and unorganized. Her book does not flow as well as her previous books. Chapters cover intriguing topics that Walsh manages to slap together with the “let go” theme at the end of every chapter. These topics are certainly applicable to every woman’s life, but they are also issues that have been covered in plenty of other books. The themes of Let Go do not coincide with the typical meaning of “let go, let God” saying, either. Walsh’s book has no real focus. She could have pulled things together much better if she had just focused on how to let go in hard circumstances and trials, and let God take control.

Let Go does include reader’s materials such as quotes at the beginning of chapters and prayers and questions at the end of chapters. Walsh also starts each chapter off with an applicable story. Her chapters, although lacking in organization and unity, do touch hearts with their touching stories and Biblical examples. Let Go could let go of some of its contents and add more contents that would unify the book, but, in the end, it manages to make itself a worthwhile read.

Written for Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers

Review: What's He Really Thinking? How to be a Relational Genius with the Man in Your Life

2009-08-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

I can’t help but wonder what a man would think of Paula Rinehart’s What’s He Really Thinking? How to be a Relational Genius with the Man in Your Life. After all, a woman did write the book. What would the book be like if a man had written it? And if a man had written it, would women really read it?

Considering Rinehart’s counseling experience and extensive research for her book, I trust that she writes truthfully. And she does provide plenty of insight into the male psyche. Whether men would agree with her verdicts, I do not know, but I do know that Rinehart fills What’s He Really Thinking with what men are really thinking. Even better, she discusses the roles of both males and females as found in the Bible. Although she uses very few Biblical examples or Biblical verses for support, everything she says has a firm Biblical foundation. Rinehart’s ultimate point focuses on the fact that God made man and woman to fulfill different roles and have different types of emotions and abilities. Thus, to woman, man seems like a creature from another planet, but man and woman are actually meant as counterparts that can fit together under God’s supervision.

Rinhart also covers the male urge to “do,” why sexual identity is so important to men, the male’s need to feel adequate and needed, the female’s need to understand the background of the men in her life and how their backgrounds affect who they are, how men handle change, why men do not show emotion as much or pick up on female emotions, and how women fit into male lives.

I read Rinehart’s with my father in mind, since I have yet to date or marry a man. Rinehart makes it clear that her book is applicable to all kinds of relationships with men, but she does refer to “sex” quite often, something that may make parts of her book an awkward read for singles. We all know there’s no way avoiding the topic. My dad, himself, made a joke about how a woman took an entire book to explain a topic that men could explain in one word.

Overall, Rinehart succeeds in giving her readers just enough information to help them in their relationships with men. She could have used more facts, more research, more details (and there were certain parts she should have expanded on), but Rinehart chose to appeal to the common person with stories and examples. She hits core issues that most women deal with, and she addresses the female role and how it fits in with the male role. What’s He Really Thinking provides a short, easy read for any woman wanting an inside look at the male psyche... or for any man curious enough about the female perspective on men.

Written for Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers

Called Like Sheep

2009-08-09T16:41:00.001-07:00

A thought from church today:

Sheep do not choose their shepherd. The shepherd calls and chooses his sheep. He takes care of them and watches over them.

Read John 10:1-10

Paul's Apologetic Method

2009-08-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

There is only one gospel that leads to Christ and salvation, but there are many apologetic paths to present the gospel. Christian apologetics is about the defense of the Christian faith to the end that nonbelievers come to know Christ, but how Christians come to this ultimate end varies from situation to situation. It is up to us to decide what method best accomplishes this end. No matter what methods are used, standard principles do exist. We must avoid arrogance and pride and treat nonbelievers as equal human beings who deserve their respect. As part of having such respect, we should act in a godly manner on a daily basis, always ready to share our faith at a moment’s notice. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Paul used these standards when he addressed the Athenians in Acts 17:16-34:

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

‘Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Paul’s address to the Athenians clearly represents the practice of apologetics, but before we can go into detailed discussion of Paul’s methodology, we must examine the context of the passage. For, what use would the passage have if we could not learn from it and apply it to our own apologetic practices? Thus, we must first establish the passage’s relevance to the modern world.

Paul starts his argument by commenting on the religious nature of the Athenians. Thus, we know that most Greek people did believe in some sort of divine reality, but then how can we relate Acts 17 to our own modern culture? It seems that the major difference between modern American and ancient Greece is that many Americans do not believe in any god at all while most ancient Greeks believed in one or many gods. How can we compare the two cultures? There are many similarities to be found if one looks hard enough. While Athens was a cultural center filled with many foreign deities, it held a basic view that many modern Americans share: all religions may lead to god. Luke remarks that the Athenians were always looking for new gods and new religions. This was because they accepted all views as equally valid.

The Hellenistic religious world Paul encountered was very pluralistic; in fact, it makes the multicultural religious stew of our time seem rather bland. In something of an antiquarian precursor to globalization, the Hellenistic world had been unified by the expansive conquests of Alexander the Great, and as a result, cultural habits and assumptions and beliefs began to flow in two directions.… The cultural flow evidently included a steady procession of foreign deities, for by the time Paul stood in the markets of Athens, a great many religions were co-existent at the center of the Hellenistic world. Tolerance of foreign divinities was apparently quite remarkable. As people moved to Greece, they brought their gods with them, and they were welcomed. (Dunham, 2006)

The Athenians had altars and statues for everything. Like many modernists, they allowed all gods and rejected exclusivists. In fact, many Athenians were similar to modern agnostics; they thought the absolute truth was unknowable and thus agreed to worship all gods, even the unknown god, to make sure they were not left unaccountable.

Thus, Pausanias (in Attic. 1Co_1:24) says, “The Athenians greatly surpassed others in their zeal for religion.” Lucian (t. i. Prometh. p. 180) says of the city of Athens, “On every side there are altars, victims, temples, and festivals.” Livy (45, 27) says that Athens “was full of the images of gods and men, adorned with every variety of material, and with all the skill of art.” And Petronius (Sat. xvii.) says humorously of the city, that “it was easier to find a god than a man there.” (Barnes, 1981)

Varieties of belief did exist with the Athenians. Luke specifically mentions Jews, pagan philosophers, Epicureans, and Stoics. Like today, a variety of beliefs existed underneath the general acceptance of all gods. Epicureans were a cross between modern day atheists and deists. While they admitted the possibility of a god, they denied such a god’s interaction with the world. They preferred to believe that the universe “came into its being and form, through a fortuitous concourse of atoms, of various sizes and magnitude, which met, and jumbled, and cemented together, and so formed the world” (Gill, 1954). Like materialists, Epicureans cared only about material happiness and found such happiness in the satisfaction of the flesh. In contrast, the Stoics did believe in a creator god and in the survival of the soul after death. They asserted that the world is governed by fate and that the best a person can do is strive for goodness and wisdom, found even in a lack of passion and an uneasiness of mind.

We also find similarities between ancient Athens and modern America in their common reactions to the truth of Christianity. Several philosophers called Paul a babbler, implying that his many words were pointless and without substance. Some thought he was advocating new gods. Some wanted to hear more, but still rejected Christ. Others sneered at Paul’s preaching. A few chose to believe and follow Christ (specifically Dionysius and Damaris). Such reactions still abound today.

How should we respond to these sneering, ignorant, and confused reactions? We find one answer in Acts 17 when Paul, himself, appeals to the Athenians and preaches the good news. Paul had not come to Athens to preach – he was waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him (Acts 17: 15-16) – but as he walked the streets of Athens “he was distressed to see that the city was full of idols” (v. 16).

Athens contained over three thousand public statues, besides a countless number of lesser images within the walls of private houses. Of this number the great majority were statues of gods, demi-gods, or heroes. In one street there stood before every house a square pillar carrying upon it a bust of the god Hermes. Another street, named the Street of the Tripods, was lined with tripods, dedicated by winners in the Greek national games, and carrying each one an inscription to a deity. Every gateway and porch carried its protecting god. Every street, every square, nay, every purlieu, had its sanctuaries….” (Davies, 1900)

In such an environment, Paul felt compelled to share his faith, but he did not yell in anger at the Athenians, nor did he rebuke them. He calmly and respectfully preached on a daily basis, and reasoned (evidential apologetics) with the Jews at the Synagogue. When the philosophers began to dispute with him, he countered their arguments (negative apologetics). He debated at Aeropagus, or the Hill of Mars, a place of judgment and examination of new religious beliefs. He did not need to start by proving God’s existence (classical apologetics) because most of his audience already believed in some sort of Supreme Being. Instead, Paul based his arguments on the common ground he held with the Athenians. He says, “I see that in every way you are very religious” (v. 22), and he mentions an altar dedicated to an unknown god. Paul even quoted the Greek poet Aratus as saying, “We are his offspring” (v. 28). Once he had set the ground work, he began to build. Paul told the Athenians that what they have searched for does exist, that God no longer has to be unknown to them, and that he will proclaim the true God to them.

Paul began the second part of his argument presupposing the truth of the gospel message (thus using Presuppositional apologetics only after having already reasoned and established some truths). He addressed the misconceptions of the Athenians by confronting their worship of idols. “The God who made the world and everything in it… does not live in temples built by hands,” he said. “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (vv. 24-25). There is a God; He is infinite and unlimited, unlike us; and He gives us our being. Paul goes on to expand on our role as the created. He points to the innate sense of God’s existence that we have built into us (and, in some sense, used the reformed epistemology apologetic method). “He [God] determined the times set for them [man] and the exact places where they should live,” Paul stated. “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though He is not far from each one of us” (vv. 26-28).

Paul concluded with a call to repentance. He said that, as God’s offspring, man should not make the divine into handmade idols, and he pointed to the coming judgment day. God cannot overlook ignorance. “He commands all people everywhere to repent” (v. 30) because all people will be judged by “the man He has appointed” (v. 31), the man whose death and resurrection serve as proof for God’s existence and the coming judgment. (Thus, Paul ends with an evidentialist argument, but uses it mainly as a tool for leading the Athenians to repentance).

We learn four things from Paul’s interaction with the Athenians. First, Paul’s situation was similar to our own. Like Paul, we are surrounded by hundreds of religions that contradict our beliefs, and like Paul, we do not expect to share our faith in every situation, but we must be ready when the situation does call for it. Paul did not go to Athens to preach, but, once there, he became distressed at the presence of so many idols in Athens. He could not sit still when surrounded by so many nonbelievers. Modern Christians should share this uneasiness and share God’s desire for all to be saved. We cannot leave ourselves unprepared to “give an answer” (1 Peter 3:15), to share our faith and the reason for our faith. When Paul saw the many Greek idols, he began reasoning with the Jews and Greeks on a daily basis, openly declaring Jesus’ sacrifice and the way to salvation. He debated privately with philosophers and he debated publicly in the marketplace; and he accepted the Athenians’ invitation to debate at Aeropagus.

Second, only some, not all, believed and chose to follow Paul’s example. Paul debated, preached, and engaged the Athenian culture in discussion, but words were not enough to bring the Athenians to the point of conversion. That role was left, and still is left, to the Holy Spirit. We cannot expect our opponents to be overwhelmed by the evidence, experiences, or testimonies we present. Even Paul could not convince all people to follow Christ.

Some of them asked, ‘What is this babbler trying to say?’ Others remarked, ‘He seems to be advocating foreign gods.’… When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, ‘We want to hear you again on this subject.’ At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. (vv. 18, 32-34)

Third, no matter how much we disagree with our opponents or hate their beliefs, we cannot attack other religions violently, nor can we expect them to agree with all of our Christian presuppositions at the start of our conversation. Similar to hating the sin and loving the sinner, we must respect the nonbeliever even though we do not agree with the nonbeliever’s religion. Paul illustrated this when he established a common ground with the Athenians. He was not proud or arrogant, but composed and respectful. He met the Athenians where they were, beginning with their belief in some sort of god, quoting a Greek poet, and logically moving from the foundational beliefs of the Athenians to his main points. In the process, Paul drew from a variety of apologetic methods. Like Evidentialists, he used reason and evidence, pointing to the resurrection as proof of God’s existence; like Presuppositionalists, he assumed the gospel’s truth when he proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection; and like Reformed Epistemologists, he referred to the inborn sense in all people that testifies to God’s existence.

Fourth, Paul ended where all Christian apologists should end: with Christ. All apologetic arguments should lead to an invitation to repentance. The summum bonum, the ultimate point of apologetics, is to bring others to Christ. It serves as a defense of the Christian faith, useful to both believers and nonbelievers alike. In verse 27, Paul says, “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.” This is the point of apologetics: to reach out like a man in the dark searching for a light switch. We are “to search diligently, so that we may know distinctly and certainly…. [We are] to search diligently and accurately for God, to learn his existence and perfections” (Barnes, 1981). Then we can, as 1 Peter 3:15 says, “…in [our] hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always… prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [us] to give the reason for the hope that [we] have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Isaiah Part 5: Book Review of Brueggemann’s The Prophetic Imagination

2009-08-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

The “prophetic imagination” in the title of Walter Brueggemann’s book refers to the ability of a Christian to imagine or hope in a possible counter-community that veers away from dominant culture of the modern age. Christians must follow the example of the Old Testament prophets, establishing Christianity as a community of its own -- one that does not conform to its surroundings. We are to make the imagined counter-community a reality -- God’s reality.

Brueggemann warns, however, that Christianity can easily become a counter-culture to the counter-culture if Christians do not watch out. Thus, we are to criticize our surrounding cultures, societies, and environments, and we are to energize the church as a whole. Criticizing the present, we energize toward the future of the Kingdom of God.

The overall structure and organization of Brueggemann’s book flows well. For the reader’s information, Brueggeman includes two prefaces at the beginning of the book and a list of abbreviations, notes, a selected bibliography, and a scripture index at the end of the book. Brueggemann’s grammar and sentence structure are not always reader friendly, but overall Brueggemann manages to please the reader. He transitions from topic to topic, making his general points easy to understand.

In his first chapter, Brueggemann introduces the concept of the Christian counter-culture, a concept based on the original counter-culture that Moses established when he led the Israelites out of and away from the dominant culture of Egypt. Moses reminded God’s people of their past and of God’s promises to them -- the covenant God had established with them. Based on Moses’ example, Brueggemann writes, “The task of the prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture” (p. 3).

People do not always keep their promises, however, and the Israelites did not always keep their side of the covenant. The Israelites (and many Christians today) did not create or encourage a counter-culture. They put God in a box. Brueggemann counters this “boxed” mindset, pointing to God’s freedom, instead. The “false claims to authority and power,” Brueggemann says, “cannot keep their promises, which they could not face in the face of a free God” (p. 11).

Chapter 2 discusses what can happen when people counter God’s counter-culture. Brueggemann uses Solomon, the many kings following Solomon, and the periods of Israel’s exile as examples of what he calls the “royal consciousness.” The dominating cultures of the time influenced Israel. Affluence ruled over equality, oppressive social policy over justice, controlled static religion (used to sanction the kingdom’s actions and beliefs) over the true religion, and God’s accessibility over God’s freedom.

Some good came out of the “royal consciousness,” however. Brueggemann points to the emergence of messianic hopes of a Davidic king, which evolved as prophets tried to reestablish the counter-culture. In chapter 3, Brueggemann expands on the role of the prophet. The prophetic imagination, he writes, is the ability to veer away from the royal consciousness, to imagine futures and methods other than the accepted “one” way of society.

According to Brueggemann, society (the royal consciousness) is numb to the reality of death. In other words, society puts up a wall and claims nothing can hurt it. Society suppresses fear and terror, mourning and death. The prophet must discourage this numbness, offering symbols to confront the denial of death, bringing to public expression the fears suppressed, and speaking metaphorically but concretely about the real death that surrounds us -- the death that is sin (we are dead without Christ).

In the middle of this death, hope exists. Society denies the possibility of new life and new beginnings, but Brueggemann reminds his readers that comfort comes out of mourning. By embracing death and accepting Christ, we embrace the new life that God provides.

Brueggemann expands on the concept of this new hope in chapter 4. The task of the prophet, he says, is to engage the promise of newness at work in history. The prophet must engage memories (reminding Christians of the doctrines and history they are founded on -- similar to the way the prophets in the Old Testament reminded the Israelites of their covenant with God and of their redemptive history). Engaging memories, the prophet brings hopes and yearnings to public expression, embraces the newness of God (the only real source of energy), and discerning the worldly situation surrounding him.

Brueggemann concludes (in chapter 7 and in a postcript): “Prophetic ministry consists of offering an alternative perception of reality and in letting people see their own history in the light of God’s freedom and his will for justice” (p. 116). “All functions of the church can and should be prophetic voices that serve to criticize the dominant culture around us while energizing the faithful” (p. 125).

The latter sentence provides the reader with a fitting conclusion, but it also serves as a summary of the problems/inconsistencies that exist in Brueggemann’s book. Brueggemann talks about the role of the prophet as if it is the same today as it always has been. He fails to make the distinction between the prophetic gift and role that the prophets of the Old Testament possessed and the “prophetic imagination” or voice that Christians can enact today. Prophets no longer exist. However, Christians can follow the example set by the prophets in creating a counter-culture, interpreting and teaching God’s Word (as opposed to the direct revelation of God that the prophets of the Old Testament had and revealed to Israel).

Brueggemann fails to emphasize God’s role in revelation. For this reason, “prophetic imagination” may not be the best term for the role of the prophet. We can imagine a better life, a better culture, but the revelation of a prophet comes from God, not from his imagination. Brueggemann leaves out the simple spokesperson role (activated by God). It is God Who enables us to criticize and energize. Furthermore, the mere criticizing and energizing Brueggemann points to as the prophet’s task are not enough by themselves. Criticism and energizing serve to promote action, to promote the edification of the church as well as the adding of new Christians to the church’s number. Brueggemann makes energizing and action out to be the same things, but they are two totally different things. Prophets are more than “voices,” they are actors in God’s plan.

Despite Brueggeman’s weaknesses, his main points still stand. God does call His people to establish a counter-culture. It does not have to become a Utopia separated from society, but it does need to stand out from society. Our difference, our energizing, acting, and criticizing, makes us stand out -- establishes us as more than a religion, but rather a lifestyle, a culture with a hope.

Sensitivity to Weaknesses

2009-08-06T00:28:00.000-07:00

I’ve always been a firm believer in being careful around non or new believers. In my recent Harry Potter debates, I always supported Harry Potter, but stated that I would not talk about it around someone who might be weakened by it. I would not support anybody vulnerable to it in their involvement - reading the books, watching the movies. The Bible says we must be careful because some things that may be OK for us may be weaknesses for others.

1 Corinthians 8:8-10

But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?

I never fully understood the meaning of this verse until yesterday -- at least not in an applicable way. Yesterday, my best friend told me she likes horror and scary movies. I’ve always had a hard time understanding how someone can like that sort of movie -- can enjoy watching demonic things happen, enjoy watching people get tortured. I don’t care if the horror has a point, and I don’t care if you get a good high or thrill out of being scared. If something is wrong, something is wrong.

Horror movies always seemed wrong to me because I’m vulnerable to them. Images get stuck in my mind. I feel a dark presence surrounding me. The Devil plays with my mind. He can’t get inside me, so he uses external circumstances to manipulate me, and he can easily get at me and give me nightmares using just one scary movie.

My friend surprised me when she told me she could watch these movies and not be affected. She seems changed, and this is one change I cannot understand.

What would happen if you told an ex-gambling addict that you gamble, or that you like the show Guys and Dolls? What would happen if you put on a TV show abounding in sexual content when you’re at your friend’s house and that friend used to be addicted to pornography? What would happen if you told a new believer who used to be addicted to sex that you love to watch movies even if they have sex scenes? What would happen if you told someone who grew up in an unloving home full of bad language that R rated movies so rated because of language don’t bother you? I could go on and on.

I understand that at some point these new, non, or weak believers will have to realize that everyone has a right to opinion and that Christians have certain liberties or freedoms, but there are also times when we need to be careful around these people. There are times when we need to put aside our own likes so as not to tempt or weaken these people, as we would expect them not to put themselves into vulnerable circumstances.

And then there is the question, my question. The fantastical elements of Harry Potter are completely fictional, and the story is based on the Bible, but horror movies and scary movies seem real. They’re fictional, but they have real life things in them. Torture and demonic influence aren’t good things. I can’t see how someone can enjoy them, even in fictional movies. Where do I draw the line?

At any rate, I expect my friends to be sensitive to my weaknesses as I am sensitive to theirs.

Rantings About Me

2009-08-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed roller coasters. I just don't fit on them any more. I told you I was fat. I've been fat all my life, and it's getting worse. It's hard to deal with. I want to lose weight, but I also love food. It'll be the death of me. :) I'm not very confident of myself. I know I'm pretty, but I'm fat and the fat makes me ugly. People called me fat when I was young. I was never popular because of it. I never had friends because I was quiet. People took advantage of me.

I've always wondered what it would be like to have a heart for missions, or at least a heart for others. I'm working on having a heart for others, at least. I care about people, but sometimes I can be very selfish and lazy. It's one of the areas in my life that I am asking God to work on. I do love the US, though. I love to travel, but it's nice to be home every once in a while, and I'm a momma's girl. I get homesick easily. I've gotten better at being away from the small family I have in my parents, but I still am most happy when I'm with them.

I do have a small family, at least the part of my family that I know. All of my grandparents are dead except for my great grandma who lives in South Dakota with my aunt an uncle. I have a ton of cousins I don't really know. And I've met my dad's half-brother once. I'm an only child, thus the spoiled selfish part of me (that I'm working on).

I can be very possessive of my friends, another thing I'm working on. I've been hurt so many times that I don't like to lose my friends, and I've had such a lonely life without friends that when I have a friend I tend to want to spend a lot of time with that friend. My dream perfect world would be one where I'm friends with all my friends' friends. lol. I was never popular in school. Never had any friends until college. My one friend moved to Louisiana with her mom to be near family, and she now goes to Liberty University. I never felt like I was a part of a community until I went to Taylor - not even at church.

About that... I grew up behind the scenes. My mom was the music secretary at BVG in Modesto, and I saw a lot of negative things happen. I witnessed the politics that ultimately led to my mom quitting her job. To make a long story short, I have a hard time finding a church I fit in at. I never fit in at youth group when I was younger. That was for popular kids. I've witnessed all the politics, and I've always seen so much of the charisma and "Feeling" worship was just so fake. I have a hard time comprehending it because I have more of an intellectual mind. I can be emotional, but emotions at church just don't fit. Worship usually ends up being devotional time for me. I can't "get into it" the way so many others do. And basically, I become bitter in church very easily. I never went to church or chapel when I was at Taylor. I've gone to church this summer because I managed to find a church where I really felt God's presence, but I have no idea what Biola will be like. People have a hard time understanding why I skip chapel and church, I hope you'll be more understanding. I try, and I think I'll try even harder at Biola because I love the Lord and I have to go to chapels and all, but I do expect it to be a difficult process.

And all this leads back to how I feel about my gifts. I'm a talented writer, so I have to find my niche there in service to God, because I feel like I don't fit in anywhere else.

Defeating the Demons of Life

2009-08-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

*Names changed for privacy

“You’re not my husband,” Rebecca Stuart recalls saying to her husband one night. “Who are you?”

“I am Viper,” he answered, suddenly becoming violent and biting her. A victim of anoxic brain damage, he had little control over his mind. The drugs he took caused him to hallucinate and become violent.

“When he was so violent, a demon manifested itself,” Rebecca says. She commanded the demon to leave in the name of the Lord, but it often returned in the evenings to plague her sleep. In the early hours of the morning, friends prayed for her safety and rest. With a full time job, she needed that rest. But Rebecca says that she ultimately did not find the rest she needed in sleep; rather, she rested in God’s caring arms. With every step she took, God brought her closer to Himself.

The eleven years that have followed Doug’s cardiac arrest have forced Rebecca down many unforeseen paths. She never expected August 10, 1997 to radically change her life, but it did. On that day, Doug’s brain went without oxygen for 19 minutes, and Doug went into a coma that would last another two and a half months. Three days later, doctors told Rebecca that Doug’s brain waves were low. He had a small chance of survival.

After two weeks in the intensive care unit, doctors moved Doug to a local rehab hospital and placed a tube down his throat to help him breathe. He could not talk and needed a feeding tube for nutrition. Once he came out of the coma, Rebecca says doctors had to retrain him to read, write, talk, and walk. “No two people with complete brain damage are alike,” she explains. A stroke damages only one side of the brain, but cardiac arrest damages the entire brain. “There are no rules for therapy, and it’s a very dangerous and slow process.”

As part of his therapy, Doug was regularly strapped in a chair. Doctors gradually increased the time he spent in this “Jerry chair” to help him learn to sit up. “They put mitts on him to keep him from pulling his tube out, and they put him in an ‘Optimum bed’ that had netting all around it to keep him from climbing out of bed. He was like a little baby. Different things stimulated him. It was that kind of a progression, like one of a new born baby.”

A month later, Doug could breathe without the help of a tube. Solid food was no longer a stranger, but doctors had to slowly reintroduce it to him. He spent at least three hours every day in occupational, physical, and speech therapy. “I spent every morning at therapy at the hospital,” Rebecca says. “I’d go to work, go back to the hospital around noon for lunch, go back to work, go back to the hospital again after work, spend the evening with him, go home, spend time with the Lord, and go to bed.”

When Doug finally came home, Rebecca became a bread winner, a nurse, a caregiver, and an employer hiring caregivers. She hoped everything would go back to normal. Instead, she says, “all hell broke loose.”

“All people with brain damage go through a phase where their personalities become the opposite of what they were before,” Rebecca says. “The ugliness that spit out of Doug’s mouth came from the pit of hell. I had to put him in a restraining vest and force him to sleep in the guest bedroom.” The sound of snoring did not keep Rebecca awake at night; instead, it became a loud trumpet signaling peace within the home. “That snoring became one of the greatest blessings to me. I had to force myself to stay awake until he could go to sleep. Once he was snoring, it was safe to go to sleep.”

Rebecca found a cure to the sleepless nights in God’s love and provision. “I came to the conclusion that peace, praise, and worship are the greatest weapons I have against the enemy. I could not fight the enemy in the flesh. I could only fight the enemy with God. I had to cling to God’s promises and stand on His word. I stopped asking God for healing and started praising Him for healing, provision, and sustenance.”

As Doug recovered physically, he also recovered spiritually. He still cannot walk on his own, but relies daily on his walk with Christ for strength. “It is a walk by faith,” Rebecca professes. “Every day, I get him to speak with his mouth. I ask him, ‘do you believe that God is healing you?’ and he replies ‘Yes.’” Although Doug still needs assistance with walking, showering, and sometimes eating, he can now “talk, interact, understand, and perceive. I see him exercising his own faith now.”

Rebecca believes the past eleven years have been a test from God. “I’ve been on a journey. I don’t believe God brought this on us, but I believe that he is using it to test us like Joseph. It’s what we do with our circumstance that counts, we have a choice: We can either be bitter or walk in a spirit of Thanksgiving and praise.” With the right attitude, “our place of pain can become our place of reign.”

The circumstances of life often force believers to wave a flag of surrender. Rebecca says God wants His children to surrender their lives to Him. “I’ve had to surrender more and more to Him. . . . I’m in a place of radical obedience.”

Rebecca left friends behind to answer what she says God has called her to: a pastoral ministry. In a world where most Christians reject female pastors, sixty-four year old Rebecca has become a pastor to a group of six women. They meet every Tuesday night, put aside their agendas, and just worship God. She also preaches at a local church every three months, and writes worship music that she says has brought her to an unimaginable point of intimacy with the Lord. Rebecca says that she questioned this calling, at first. “I said, ‘I’m a woman, people won’t understand that.’ He said, ‘I know that. Leave them to me. I look on the heart, and the heart is either obedient or disobedient.’”

No matter how society reacts, Rebecca says that obeying God matters most and that He has even greater things in store for those who listen to His voice. “God is writing His story in each and every one of our lives,” she says of what her experience with Doug has taught her. “It’s what we do with our circumstances that matter. It’s how we come through the middle hard part of our life that determines our destiny, whether we will end well or end in defeat. We’re never too old to say yes to God, and I believe that the best is yet to come.”

The Free Iccee Man

2009-08-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

I wrote this a few years ago based on a dream I had. Since I don't have time to write something new today, I decided to post this. Try to get something out of it, no matter how cheesy it is. This is somewhat spiritual, considering it's introduction and ending, but if you read the story by itself, it's a short story. And please don't see the contest as a metaphor for salvation through works. It's meant to refer to God's calling of Christians.

The Free Iccee Man

My life is like a bed sheet or blanket. No matter how hard I try to straighten it out, there is always a wrinkle. Sometimes big, sometimes small. Big wrinkles are the worst. They make me feel like God isn't there. I think Satan likes to play with my mind. How do I get rid of Him? How do I resist temptation? Does God still love me even when I do the same wrong thing over and over again? What about when I do it so much I don't even feel guilty any more, I just feel empty? Every time I ask forgiveness, but then I turn around and do it again. I don't want to be a bad person. It's like this:

There once was a young girl. She loved icee cones, but they were never free. Not until this one man came and put on a contest for a free iccee. As it turned out, He was only going to choose a few out of many to get that free iccee. And those few would have to take good care of their iccee. They couldn't spill it, or drop it, lest they should lose the wonderful taste of the iccee.

So, the time came for the man to chose the winners. The young girl wanted an iccee so bad. She just had to get that free iccee. She didn't have enough money to buy one from the other vendors, and even if she did, she knew the other icees were not nearly as tasty as the free ones. They were fake and icky tasting. The young girl knew this very well. Her stomach growled. She was hungry for an iccee all right. But how was she going to get it. Not everyone would get chosen. She had little chance.

Low and behold, her name was the first to be called when it came time to give away the free iccees. She jumped for joy. To think that she had been called, out of everyone in the entire area. And she knew that her iccee would be delicious. She slowly walked up to the man who was giving away the free iccees.

"Why are you giving me a free iccee?" she asked Him.

"Because I love all the children of this playground," he replied. "And I would sacrifice everything to see them all smile. But they had to come to me first. They had to put their name in my box so I would know they sought my free iccees. Then they could win no matter what. You did that. You gave up everything else on that playground and all those other iccee stalls to come and receive my iccees. Now take you iccee and go. Tell the other children about me. But be careful. They may want you to get another vendor's iccees. They may want you to play on the playground when you have not yet finished your iccee. Take care of your iccee. Do as I say until you have eaten all of that iccee and then I will return to give you more when the time comes. That will be your reward."

The little girl went along on her way and sat down on a bench for a bite of her free iccee. It was delicious. She wanted to gobble it down fast, but she knew that would give her a brain freeze. She slowed down a bit. Across the way she saw another child with an iccee from one of the other vendor stalls. The other child called out to her to join him.

"Come and try my iccee, it will be better than yours," he said.

The girl knew better than to listen to the invitation, but the temptation was strong. A bit of another iccee couldn't harm her. She would still have her own iccee if she needed it. So, she went over to the boy. His iccee was good. The boy could tell she liked it, so he let her have some more. The second bite was even better. In a short time the two had devoured the iccee together.

The girl still had her free iccee in her hand. She hadn't eaten any more of it since her first bite. It was starting to melt. Another boy came over and said hi. He asked her if she would play with him on the playground. Well, this did sound tempting. The boy was very cute, and the playground looked like fun. So, she forgot she had the free iccee in her hand and she began to walk over to the playground. On her way over she tripped and the free iccee got all dirty when it hit the ground.

The girl began to cry. She had forgotten how much she had wanted that free iccee. An iccee was starting to sound good again. She picked up the dirty iccee and began to study it. Slowly, but surely, the dirt disappeared as she picked it off with her fingers. Even still, there were some spots on it in the end. She tried her iccee, but it was even more melted now and the dirt had turned the flavor somewhat bitter. Not knowing that she could have just scraped off the top to find a fresh new layer, she sat on the ground, crying.

The two boys from before and a few other kids came over to find out what was wrong. She told them. They tried to comfort her with their smooth voices and funny jokes, but nothing helped. She still felt empty. One child asked her to play on the playground.

"It will make you forget your troubles and burdens," the child said, "you can be a beautiful princess and I'll be your prince charming."

The young girl smiled. Being beautiful did sound nice. Maybe pretending to be a princess would make her forget how ugly she was. So, she went along with all the other children to play with them on the playground. But when the end of the day came, everyone had left and the young girl was all alone again.

The next day came and went with no free iccee. The girl just sat there feeling empty inside. She tried different things in the following days, but none of them made her feel better. Then, one day, she remembered the kind man's words. He said he would come back, and she could have another free iccee. But she couldn't remember where in the park he was located. She searched for days and days until she finally gave up. The children of the playground invited her back. She tried that, but she just knew she would never find happiness in the playground. She had to search again.

It was a big park, but she found that kind man and his iccee machine. He told her he had been wondering where she had gone. She confessed everything. To her surprise, he forgave her and gave her another free iccee. She knew she had to take good care of it this time. But temptation came again and she fell. She went back again and again to the kind man asking his forgiveness.

One day she finally asked him, "Will the iccees ever taste as good as they did the first time?"

"That's up to you," he replied.

"I've been so bad," the young girl said, "and for so long. I'm no longer young, but am a young lady now. Can I ever change myself to be good again?"

"That's up to you," the man said, "You must learn to have faith in me, and to no longer fall to temptation. You must turn from your sins."

"Was I ever saved?" she asked him.

"From the very beginning I chose you," he told her, "So, you figure it out for yourself. Remember, though, I am always here with my free iccees. You just have to come to me. Now go, and tell the others about my gift to them."

Afterword
That's what my life has been like in the past. I knew the truth and the facts that support the truth in my head, but my heart did not feel saved. I believed in my head but I felt like my heart did not believe. I felt empty. I knew I shouldn't rely on my feelings, but what could I do? Even when I searched I had trouble finding the Kind Man (God/Jesus). And did God really forgive me?

I've grown a lot since I wrote this, and am now in a positive season, but who knows what is to come and whether or not these questions will appear in my mind once again. I must look back at what God has done in my life, and put my faith in Him. He will always forgive, and He's always there to sustain me in hard times.

One Small Step for Man, A Huge Step for God

2009-08-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

Today I brought a backpack with me to church. You see, my church is having a backpack drive for the local mission. You choose a certain grouping of grades (I chose K-2), and you buy the supplies that children in those grades would need and put the supplies in a backpack. I chose to have a part in the drive for two reasons: 1) I still remember the excitement I used to have when I went shopping for school supplies. I guess the excitement comes with the territory of being a woman. I love shopping! I still get that excitement right before I start my college classes every semester. I would love to share that joy with someone who wouldn't normally be able to have the school supplies they need. 2) For once, I wanted to take a small step in faith. I could feel God tugging on my heart last weekend as the pastor spoke about the backpack drive, and although the good feeling quickly wore off, I still chose to JUST DO IT, to do what God has put on my heart.

I never used to do this sort of thing. I don't have much money, and what money I do have I like to use for myself. The closest I ever came to really doing something like this was when I was a little girl and gave a few dollars to the Wordsower cause (a missionary who memorized complete books of the Bible and performed them in front of audiences). I proceeded to brag to my parents about how I had bought my own CD recording of the Wordsower and had donated some of my own money to the cause.

My heart has never truly been in missions or in giving. When I was younger I would give generously to others (especially my friends), but today I have a selfish heart and I am ashamed of it. I've never felt like I fit in with the church because of my lack of heart for others and because of my shy personality. In many ways, I still feel that way. I have learned, however, to have faith in God and the way He created me. I found my identity in Christ. I can be confident of myself and grow in my faith. Furthermore, although I may hesitate in my donations or volunteer work, when God puts something on my heart I do it whether I want to or not. There isn't much that God does put on my heart. I still hate volunteering and I'm still not into missions. I've never gone on a mission trip that wasn't a required school activity. But I don't feel so guilty about that, now. I do have a heart for service, just not the service everyone tends to associate with volunteering or missions activities. I have a heart for serving God with the gifts He has given me (writing), and I am able to do small things like buying a backpack for the local mission backpack drive without doing it out of obligation (for the wrong reasons) and without thinking, "What's the point? What is my small contribution worth when outshined by all the volunteering and missions activities of others?"

Every small step, one single backpack, is a HUGE step for the cause of Christ! If the angels rejoice over one single person's salvation, they must rejoice over all the other small things we do in Christ's name. A cosmic battle rages on, and even though Christ has already won the ultimate battle, we are fighting the present battle against darkness. Dear reader, do not be discouraged if you feel like you don't fit in, if you feel like you don't have the heart for others that the Bible tells us to have. Take a step of faith. Start acting, start walking in little steps. God will do the rest.

Isaiah Part 4: Purging Ourselves for Service: A Theme in Isaiah 6

2009-08-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

The majority of scholars and commentators tend to focus on two parts of Isaiah 6: God’s grand appearance to Isaiah and God’s predicted hardening of hearts. Readers of the text are automatically shaken by God’s power and then confused by His professed intentional hardening of hearts to keep Israel from repentance. A third focus exists, however, one that Christians can learn from in several ways. Isaiah served God and delivered God’s message to its intended audience; but before He could truly deliver God’s message (for we assume from Isaiah 1-5 that Isaiah has worked on God’s behalf before his vision), Isaiah needed to realize His part in the sinful nation’s rebellion, and he needed to be purged of his own sins.

Let’s review: God appeared, seated on a high throne and surrounded by Seraphim. The Seraphim praised God’s holiness and presence, and Isaiah realized He could not join in the Seraphim’s praises because he was unclean. Isaiah cries, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (v. 5). Then, one of the Seraphim brings a live coal and touches it to Isaiah’s mouth, cleansing him of his sins. Isaiah had to become clean in order to teach cleansing. By appearing to Isaiah and cleansing him, God gave him the confirmation in faith, the reverence of God, and the purging of sin needed to accomplish his mission. God did not call Isaiah, however, until after Isaiah had been purged and humbled.

Christians can learn from both the Seraphim and from Isaiah. First, we must recognize Isaiah’s loss of pride and follow his example. Isaiah cries, “Woe is me... I am a man of unclean lips!” Uncleanliness was a big deal for Israel. If a person had leprosy or bled (like the woman in Matthew 9), they were cast out from society as “unclean.” Any unclean person had no right to serve as God’s spokesperson. When we recognize uncleanness as something more than a health issue, but, rather, as a sin issue, we realize that we, like Isaiah, are part of the sin problem -- we are unclean, and we cannot become clean except by the sacrificial purging of our sins.

We must examine ourselves and admit that we cannot gain salvation or purity on our own. The Seraphim remind us of the need for cleansing. “Seraph” means “to burn,” a likely reference to the burning coal as well as the cleansing fire that can purge us of our sins as it would cleanse a metal of its impurities. Someone, or something, must come between us and God and act as a sacrifice to save us from our sins. God provides the live coal for Isaiah’s cleansing, a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice that was to come. The coal came from a sacrificial altar; Jesus acted as a sacrifice for our sins.

Once cleansed, we must obey God and continually ask Him to examine our hearts and keep us from sin. When Isaiah replies to God’s question (of whom He should send), Isaiah replies, “Here I am! Send me” (v. 8).

“Here I am” [in Hebrew] is literally, “Behold me!” It is the cry of one who stands open and exposed in the presence of God. He was asking that he might be examined as a forgiven and cleansed sinner who now wished to be of service, any service, to the God who had done this. (Cate, 1991)

Isaiah has examined himself, been cleansed, asked to be examined, and, now, is ready and willing to serve his God.

How should we serve God? As humbles sinners seeking to glorify God through our lives, to fulfill His purpose and will in our lives, and to share His message, love, and salvation with others. The Seraphim give us a good example of righteous service for God. They have six wings. Two wings cover their faces, two wings cover their feet, and two wings are used for flying. They cover themselves in godly fear. The wings covering their faces represent their humility, the wings covering their feet represent their service, and the wings used for flying represent the active operation of their ability to serve. Daniel 9:21 gives us an idea of this active service as God’s angels use their wings to fly swiftly on errands for God. The Seraphim also “burn” with zeal for God, a passion that we, too, should have.

Isaiah’s task was not a pleasant one, and ours may be equally unpleasant. When Jesus told His disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Sower, He reminded them of God’s words in Isaiah 6:9-10. Many Jews (and in Isaiah’s case, pretty much all Jews) would reject their message. But there is hope, for Jesus also recalls the “holy seed” of Isaiah 6:13, a seed that would grow and produce fruit a hundredfold, ultimately defeating the seeds of rebellion and rejection that produce no fruit at all.

Harry Potter.... Again

2009-07-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

I thought I was done with debating about Harry Potter, but I guess not. Someone sent me the following link, and I couldn’t help but reply. http://www.christianministriesintl.org/articles/06.html

Jason Carlson and Ron Carlson argue the same points I’ve heard over and over again. They point to passages in the Bible that clearly prohibit the Christian from any activity or involvement in witchcraft, sorcery, and spiritism. They compare the world of Harry Potter to any violent, sexual, or drug-related activities, and others, that we as Christians should avoid. Lastly, they strongly encourage all Christians, especially parents, to take a stand against Harry Potter and all the wrong things associated with the Harry Potter books.

You already know my stance on Harry Potter. I have no problem with the Harry Potter books. My problem is with the people who distort the magical world of Harry Potter into what they think is reality. My problem is with people who allow their children to believe the world of Harry Potter is real. My problem is with people who focus only on the negative aspects of Harry Potter.

I believe that all Christians are called to have a basic understanding of what they are up against, and thus, to defend themselves against it. I believe that in doing this, Christians have the ability to discern right from wrong in the Harry Potter books. I believe that Christians parents can either make sure their children understand the truth about the world of Harry Potter (that it is fiction, and only the Bible is the real source of truth) and make sure their children understand what the negative and positive aspects of the books are before letting their children read the books or see the movies; or parents should not allow their children to read the books or see the movies until they are old enough to discern right from wrong and truth from fact for themselves. My parents didn’t let me read the books until I was in junior high, and when the movies came out, my parents made sure I understood the truths and falsehoods in the series (my dad made me think about how things that were done with magic could be done in real life, about how working for yourself is much better than doing things by magic).

As for what Jason and Ron say in their article, I have an answer and opinion on that, as well. I have done plenty of my own research, and I continue to read articles like these with an open mind. However, my original opinion still stands. Here’s why:

I can’t see how you can compare Harry Potter’s magical world with real world things like violence, terrorism, and sex. True, there are many real world things in the Harry Potter series, but magic is not one of them. Yes, the Bible tells us to stay away from witchcraft, sorcery, and spiritism, but I am convinced that the imagined and semi-versions of these things that appear in the Harry Potter series are nothing like the real thing.

Harry Potter’s magical world is not what the Bible refers to in Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Galatians 5:19-21, and Revelation 22:15. Harry Potter is pure imagination. To deny a child their ability to have an imagination is wrong. I see no difference between a child pretending to be superman and a child pretending to be Harry Potter. And I find nothing wrong with allowing a child to pretend for a short while, as long as he understands it’s not real. My own high school Bible teacher dressed up as Santa Clause every year when his daughters were young. And I have read at least one account of a young boy reading the Harry Potter books, turning to his father, and saying, “Hey dad, that reminds me of that Bible story.” We recognize the Bible as truth and the Harry Potter series as fiction. That’s enough for me. And I can personally attest to the faith booster the series has been in my life. So, I believe that one can raise her child in the Lord and allow her child to enjoy the Harry Potter series at the same time. I have no problem with the series as long as people choose to put the Bible before the series and to make God their one and only God. My problem comes when people distort the truth and distort the Harry Potter books, taking away false beliefs or making Harry Potter into their own god.

One last thing. Jason and Ron say, “The Harry Potter series is wholly based on the dark arts of witchcraft, sorcery, and spiritism.” I have to disagree. J.K. Rowling, herself, has admitted that the books are mainly based on the Bible, among other things (like alchemy and science). So, to say that the series is based solely on real life witchcraft, sorcery, and spiritism is a lie. The series is above all imagined fiction, just like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, Christians books that also include elements of sorcery and witchcraft. And most Christians don’t hesitate to promote the latter books because they are written by professed and strong Christian authors. The books may be written by stronger Christians, but content-wise they are no different than Harry Potter.

For more reading on what both sides (pro and con) have to say about Harry Potter, check out the following links:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/2009/harrypottergoodorevil.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/lyris/movies/archives/07-24-2009.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/2009/isharrythechosenone.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/lyris/movies/archives/07-24-2009.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/2009/harrypotter6.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/2005/redeemingharrypotter.html

One article points out that there is a

difference between invocational magic (the bad kind, warned against in Scripture) and incantational magic (the good kind, as found in the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien—and, yes, J.K. Rowling ... the kind that Harry and his friends use).

Isaiah Part 3: Isaiah 6 in the New Testament

2009-07-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Despite the Old Testament’s lack of parables, it serves as a foundation for many of the parables in the New Testament. 590 references from 63 chapters of Isaiah are found in 23 New Testament books. Of the four gospel references (and another in Acts) to Isaiah 6, three are found in parables (the same parable told by different people). As you read the three records of the Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:1-15, keep in mind that the parables Jesus tells in the chapters surrounding the Parable of the Sower deal with the Kingdom of God in one way or another. (I won’t quote the passages here, but you can read them for yourself or look at my above observations and comparisons of Isaiah 6 and two of the New Testament passages for an overview of the parable.)

The three passages discuss the sower, his seeds, and the kind of crop that the seeds yield. Readers can easily compare the seeds that do not yield fruit to the Jews who hear Jesus’ words and choose not to follow Him, as well as to the Israelites who rejected God’s message spoken through the prophet Isaiah. We can also compare the remnant or holy seed referred to in Isaiah 6 with those who chose to genuinely listen to Jesus’ words and follow Him. As God revealed Himself to Isaiah and cleansed him with coal from the sacrificial altar, so God revealed Himself to the Jews and all who chose to follow. Jesus’ blood acted as the sacrifice needed to cleanse the sinners who chose to follow Jesus; and as God’s holiness revealed Isaiah’s uncleanness, so Jesus’ perfect example reveals our inability to gain salvation. We are all sinners unworthy to serve God and unworthy of salvation, but God cleanses us and makes us worthy in His eyes.

The Israelites of Isaiah’s day failed to realize their unworthiness. They believed their false sacrifices and religious rituals done in law instead of in faith would keep them safe, and they refused to believe that God would judge His chosen people. Even Uzziah, one of the last good kings, tried to go into God’s temple against God’s will, and, consequently, God gave him leprosy, the ultimate sign of uncleanness and a reflection of a nation’s lack of respect for God. In times of political trouble, the Israelites looked to worldly sources for help, forgetting the God who had promised to provide if only His people would “trust in [Him] and throw [their] ammunition away” (Love, 1957).

Instead of trusting in God and heeding His word, Judah became more and more like its counterpart, Israel, which would soon fall to the Assyrians. Judah became
more of a land of commercial people. Judicial practices were being tarnished by the increasing wealth; bribery and enforced service were on the increase. Formality in worship brought new glory to the ritual but took the heart out of the worshipper. Pretense, falsehood, mockery stalked into Judah’s once pure and simple faith. (Love, 1957)

The nation could not follow God as long as it continued in its sins. Even God’s promises of rewards for repentance could not entice them, for they had seen so much light, so many blessings, that the light had blinded them; and now that God began to reveal the light to them again, the light of His Word, His judgments were too close for comfort.

Isaiah compares Judah to an ox and a donkey: “The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand” (Is. 1:3). Israel was a rebellious child worthy of death (Ex. 21:15,17). “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Isaiah gives a perfect example of Israel’s refusal to repent in the song of the vineyard. God compares His children to the seeds a vineyard owner plants in a choice spot, hoping for a fruitful crop. But despite all the owner’s perfect efforts, the grape vines do not grow. He has no choice but to burn down His field and hope for better results in the future (Isaiah 5:1-7). Here, the seeds represent God’s children. He has planted them on good ground and given them everything they need to grow, but they have refused to produce fruit and to glorify God.

In Isaiah 5, the seed represents the people and the land represents God’s Word and provision. Later in Isaiah, however, Israel and God’s Word swap places. God remains the sower, but now (in Isaiah 55:10-11) the seed becomes God’s Word and the land becomes the heart of God’s people. Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8 record the Parable of the Sower, a parable about parables. Here, the controversy begins. What is God’s purpose for parables? Would He really purposely harden someone’s heart so that he could not repent? We could easily answer yes to the latter question. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to show His glory to the Israelites, He could have hardened the hearts of His people to cause the production of a remnant and in order to ultimately make salvation available to the Gentiles, and He could have hardened the hearts of the Jews in order to bring about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. But is there more to the story?

Perhaps God purposely hardened the hearts of His people, but we know enough about the Israelites to recognize that most of them had already chosen to reject God. “Because Israel’s rejection of Isaiah’s message was foreseen, their hearing of it would be like not hearing at all. And their unwillingness to harken would result in the judicial binding of their hearts” (Harrison, 1962). God did act through His Word, through Isaiah and through Jesus. “A parable is a shell that keeps good fruit for the diligent, but keeps it from the slothful” (Henry, 1983).

God knew that His Word would further harden the hearts of His people, for His word could not be delivered without effect.

In itself the Word is life-giving. When it meets adamant unbelief, however, it leaves the unbelieving hearers in far worse state that it found them. The Word of God... either produces death or life. (Steinmetz, 1982)

J. Vernon McGee gives the perfect metaphor for the effect of God’s Word in his commentary Thru the Bible:

When I was a boy in Oklanhoma, I used to have to milk a stubborn old cow. When it grew dark early in the evenings, I would have to take a lantern out to the barn with me. When I reached the corncrib two things would happen. The rats ran away for cover... and the little birds that were roosting up in the rafters would begin to twitter around and sing. The presence of the light caused one to flee and the other to sing. Now, did that light make the rat a rat? No. He was a rat before the light got there. The light only revealed that the rat was a rat. (McGee, 1981)

The good news is that there are birds and that they do sing. Like a sower, God cast out His seed and waited to see how it would grow. “It was customary that a farmer broadcast seed on an unplowed field--then the seed was planted and the land prepared in one shallow plowing” (Songer, 1962). We should all desire that God plow our land, for we are the land, and when God plows us He teaches us and allows us to grow.

Some of the hearers of Jesus were unresponsive and had hearts harder than packed earth; others heard with unreflective enthusiasm and became shallow, temporary believers; and other heard well, but lived cluttered, divided, unfulfilled lives; and some heard, understood, and became fruitful disciples. This parable faces men with the question, “What kind of hearer am I?” (Songer, 1962)

What kind of a hearer are you? The purpose of all parables is to dry up the hearts of those who won’t believe, but to water the hearts of those who are willing to listen and learn. Jesus wants us to stay away from the self-righteous ways of the pharisees, scribes, and all those who rebel against God. He calls, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15; 13:9, 34; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8; 14:35), beckoning us to examine our own hearts, to inquire as the disciples did in Matthew 13:10 (asking questions and learning), and listening with “attentive hearing” (Heil, 1992) so that we, too, may understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and the deeper meanings of the Word of God. We, too, proclaim Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

While Isaiah 6 and the unfruitful seeds may seem discouraging in our own ministry and service for God, God gives us hope; He gave Isaiah, Jesus, and Jesus’ disciples hope. Those who choose to serve can now understand why many will reject them and their message, but also understand that a remnant does exist, and that remnant will grow and produce much fruit. We all have the opportunity to become a part of that remnant, part of the community of God. And while we can expect failure, we can also expect triumph.

Isaiah Part 2: An Analysis of Isaiah 6

2009-07-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

The first verse of Isaiah 6 notes the time period in which the following passage takes place. Thus, in analyzing this passage, it is important to start with some basic information about the historical context of Isaiah’s call. Who is this King Uzziah (v. 1)? Who are the people Isaiah refers to when he says he lives among a people of unclean lips (v. 5)? Why has God chosen to call Isaiah now, instead of later or earlier? And what is God’s purpose in calling Isaiah? I will address some of these questions in my interpretive discussion later in this paper. For now, I will start with a basic overview of the Israelite people to whom Isaiah refers.

Isaiah 6 opens, “In the year that King Uzziah died....” We know from Isaiah 1 that Isaiah prophesied “in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” (1:1), a progression of kings that will ultimately lead to Judah’s downfall. Uzziah ruled for 52 years, a good king who followed the Lord for most of his reign. Although Hezekiah would harken back to the good days, Uzziah was the last great and good king. We can assume that Isaiah and many others likely looked up to Uzziah; the king’s death would have seemed a bad omen for a nation slowly decaying in its own wickedness. We know from further reading that Judah did eventually fall, sending the Israelites into exile as punishment for their rejection of God. Isaiah 1-5 expands on Israel’s wickedness, and Isaiah 6 points forward to God’s judgment.

Isaiah already realized his nation’s predicament (as evidenced by chapters 1-5) when God appeared to him in a vision. He likely had growing doubts about his place in God’s plan and about Israel’s future. It seems he gave us a stark contrast in his first verse of chapter 6, a contrast between what was -- that is, Uzziah’s good reign -- and what was to come. All his doubts and worries disappeared in light of God’s glory.

While all hope seemed gone because of a wicked nation’s refusal to repent, God still reigned. Isaiah sees the Lord, most likely Jesus, “sitting on a throne, high and lifted up” (v. 1). The picture of the Lord’s throne appears more than once throughout the Bible (Ex. 17:16; 1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chron. 18:18; Psalm 9:7; 45:6; 47:8; 103:19;123:1; Matt. 19:28; 25:31; Rev. 4:2), and it refers to God’s greatness and power over all nations. For He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. Hebrews 1:8 says, “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’”

Our picture of God’s glory increases as Isaiah continues. “[T]he train of His robe filled the temple” (v. 1), Isaiah writes. In verse 3, the Seraphim declare that “the whole earth is full of His glory!” Nothing can contain our God. We know that He is omnipresent, but here, Isaiah gives us a bigger picture of just how BIG God is. 1 Kings 8:27 says, “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”

Not only is God Big, His presence shakes all foundations. “And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke” (v. 4). God’s presence brings so much light that man on earth cannot see Him without dying, thus He masks Himself with smoke, incense, and a cloud of glory. 2 Chronicles 6:1 says, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud.” “Smoke accompanies appearances of God in Exodus 40:34 and 1 Kings 8:10.... Smoke covers God in Leviticus 16, so perhaps smoke protects Isaiah from viewing the Lord, which could cause Isaiah’s death” (House, 1993). Psalm 97:2-3 also says, “Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.”

Fire plays a large role in God’s judgment and purging of Israel. Isaiah writes,

Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” (v. 2-3, 6-7)

These seraphim serve to emphasize God’s holiness, thus the use of repetition in “Holy, holy holy,” which some have interpreted as a reference to the Trinity (which appears in verse 8 when God asks, “And who will go for Us,” a reference either to the Trinity or the royal “We” that was a typical way for kings of the day to speak). Their reference to God as the Lord of hosts also implies God’s ruling power. “Hosts” could refer to all of God’s subjects, or it could refer to those in Heaven with God. Some interpretations change “hosts” to “armies,” implying the angels and all those under God’s rule.

A closer look at what their title means reveals a clearer definition of their purpose. “Seraph” means “to burn.” The seraphim “burn in love to God, and zeal for His glory and against sin, and he makes use of them as instruments of his wrath” (Henry, 1983). God desires that His people have this same “zeal” or “burning,” and He gives it to Isaiah when the Seraphim take a “live” or “burning” coal, so hot that the Seraphim must carry it with a tong, and touch Isaiah’s mouth with it.

Unlike the Israelites, Isaiah has repented. At the sight of God’s glory, Isaiah cries, "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (v. 5). Isaiah heard the Seraphim praising God and realized He could not praise God in the same way because of His “unclean lips.” Like Israel, he was “unclean.” Perhaps he thought himself better than his people because of his role as prophet; maybe he had never fully realized that he was part of the sin problem; or perhaps the reality of God’s complete holiness and man’s complete unworthiness was setting in for the first time. Whichever he thought, Isaiah now became sensitive to his own weaknesses and bowed humbly before the Lord, and, after purification by purifying fire, He could, for the first time, truly praise God and hear His voice.

The Israelites, however, do not hear God. Their stubbornness gives God reason to call Isaiah; for by Isaiah, God will announce a different kind of burning and purging, the kind of fire referred to in Psalm 97:3 (quoted above). Isaiah 6 puts the rest of Isaiah into perspective, summarizing Isaiah’s message of “immediate struggle and long-term hope” (House, 1993). Yes, God still reigns as King, but as part of His righteous judgment He will actively harden the hearts of the people of Israel. Verses 9-10 expand on this:

And He [God] said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes and hear with their heart, and return and be healed.”

These verses imply that God chooses to harden the hearts of His people. Some translators and interpreters have asserted that “lest” could be easily changed to “unless.” Others have softened the meaning of the passage by changing the wording. The Septuagint changes verse 9 to future tense: “When they hear, they won’t listen.” I believe the passage still stands, however. We already know that Israel is a wicked and rebellious nation that has chosen destruction (Isaiah 1:4-9 states that Israel is determined to perish). Numerous passages in Isaiah refer to the choice of the people to harden their hearts (Isaiah 29:9; 42:18-20; 43:8; 44:18; 63:17). We also know that God has repeatedly given Israel the chance to repent (outlined in chapters 1-5), but the nation rejected God’s vision of hope and will now be subject to a “day of reckoning” (Isaiah 2:12). Even Isaiah’s pronouncements of judgment do not cause the people to anguish. “Neither threat nor promise will change the people” (House, 1993).

The people have chosen their fate. God’s further hardening of their hearts through Isaiah’s message merely acts to bring Israel’s rebellion to the surface. God gives the people to their own hearts, “in a way of righteous judgment, [giving] men up to blindness of mind and strong delusions, because they would not receive the truth in the love of it” (Henry, 1983). This act will not be one of predestination, as some scholars suppose. In fact, God seems to counter this very idea when He asks who He should send on His behalf in verse 8, and when Isaiah responds willingly, also in verse 8. God knows Isaiah will respond, but still asks the question. Similarly, God sends His message through Isaiah knowing that it will only further harden the hearts of His children and knowing that this hardening will ultimately lead to the fulfillment of His plan of redemption and restoration in Jesus.

God’s message is ultimately one of hope. The coal that purges Isaiah’s sins represents the purging blood of the coming Messiah; Isaiah’s own choice to repent represents the chance that God always gives His children to turn from their sins; And Isaiah 6 ends with a prophecy of the remnant that will survive God’s wrath. God’s wrath will be terrible. When Isaiah asks how long God’s wrath will last, how long God’s people will rebel, and how long Isaiah must preach God’s message, God replies:

Until the cities are laid waste and without habitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate, the Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. (v. 11-12)

But God’s wrath will not last forever:

But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump. (v. 13)

As God allowed Lot to leave Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction (Isaiah compares Israel to the sinful cities in chapter 1 verse 10), God will allow a portion of Israel to survive in (and after) exile. This “tenth” will “be for consuming.” Scholars debate over the meaning of “consuming.” Some say God refers, here, to another kind of fire, one of difficulties and trials. Others say this “consuming” refers to God’s consuming of the nation, or in other words, the eating of the nation as a “tithe for the faith” (Henry, 1983). The text could indicate any of these proposed meanings. As modern readers of Isaiah and the New Testament, we know that the remnant did endure trials and came under the Roman rule. This remnant also served as a foundation for Christianity, a “tithe for the faith.” In other words, a further remnant or “seed” would be planted by the Word of God on earth, Jesus, and grow into the Christian faith that exists today.

Isaiah Part 1: Creating a Counter Culture

2009-07-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

Something I wrote for my Isaiah class:

Willem VanGemeren and Walter Brueggemann present various points generally differing points regarding the prophetic gift and purpose throughout their books Interpreting the Prophetic Word and The Prophetic Imagination. However, taken together, their points support one conclusion: We, as Christians, are called to follow the example of the prophets of the Old Testament and to create a counter culture within modern society. “The task of prophetic ministry,” Brueggemann writes in chapter 1 of his book, “is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture” (Brueggemann, p. 3). No matter where we are, we should glorify the Lord in all we do, standing out in a world full of “religion” but lacking in truth.

VanGemeren focuses on the historical side of the prophets. In chapter 2 of his book he discusses the roles of the prophets within their societies as well as in God’s redemptive process. God called an Israelite to become a prophet, one who was empowered by the Spirit, who spoke on God’s behalf, who had authority in speaking God’s name, who shepherded God’s people, and who vindicated himself with signs. Prophets were rejected by their people, however, because the Israelites did not like the new revelations the prophets brought from God. They were stuck in their ways. It was through this persecution that a remnant would form, a people who would put their hope in God and ignore the false teachings of the prophets who were only interested in promoting themselves and their employers.

In chapter 3, VanGemeren points to the two parts of the prophet’s message: judgement and salvation. Out of judgment came salvation. Brueggemann also covers this in chapters 3 and 4 of his book when he points out that comfort cannot exist without the existence of mourning. It was the prophet’s job, and it is our job today, to help people face the pains of life and the death that comes with (and is) sin. Through embracing death, we put away our previous denials and fears to embrace the comfort that God can provide. We find more encouragement by looking to history and witnessing God’s redemptive process, of which we are now a part. We, too, can look forward to a new era, and we, too, can proclaim the coming of a new era -- a time of judgment, but also a time of joy for Christians.

Because we are called to proclaim God’s message of both judgment and hope, we must also recognize our job in communicating God’s revelation. God does not talk to us directly the way he did with the prophets, but He has given us the Bible, and it is our job to study, interpret, and teach His Word. Christians must engage in hermeneutics, “seeking the meaning of the prophetic book in its historical situation... and relating it to the unfolding of the plan of God” (VanGemeren, p. 80, ch. 3).

In focusing on God’s role as the revelator and on the prophet’s role as communicator, Vangemeren fills a significant hole found in Brueggemann’s book. Brueggemann fails to discuss the role the prophet had within his society. He looks at the big picture of how the prophets created or encouraged counter cultures, but he fails to look at the smaller details of what a prophet meant to the Israelites. From VanGemeren, the reader learns the specific criteria that prophets had to fulfill, and the reader gets a sense that the prophets no longer exists today (instead, we have teachers and interpreters who help us to understand God’s complete revelation: the Bible). The reader also gains a better understanding of the prophet’s role in relation to God from VanGemeren. Brueggemann hints at God’s involvement, but focuses on the purpose and application of the prophets. VanGemeren, however, makes it clear that God initiated every covenant and every revelation. Without God, there would be no prophets.

Brueggemann has his strengths, however. He gives the reader a thorough understanding of what the prophets were up against, covering Israel’s shift from Moses’ counter culture to a culture that countered the counter culture (which slowly grew in popularity as the Israelites changed kings, went through exilic periods, and transitioned into the post-exilic period). While VanGemeren also writes about the false prophets and their purposes (they aimed to please and to encourage the status quo) as well as realpolitik and vox populi and their place in society (in keeping the leaders pleased and in keeping the status quo), Brueggemann goes into more detail. Christians must establish a counter culture that stands against what Brueggemann calls the “royal consciousness.” The prophets in the Old Testament faced this when kings like Solomon encouraged affluence, oppression, and accessibility of God (they put God in a box).

In chapter 3 of his book, Brueggemann writes that the task of the prophet is to veer away from the royal consciousness, countering the numbness and (as VanGemeren calls it) complacency of society. Prophets are to engage the memories and histories of Christians, to radically criticize society (and Christianity), to engage the newness that can only be found in God, and to imagine methods and hopes other than the “one” accepted way of society-- the methods and hopes of God that point toward the Kingdom of God.

Ultimately, the purpose of the counter culture is to glorify God. The counter culture has a consciousness of its own, one that encourages absolute submission to a completely free God and His will. Brueggemann writes in chapter 7 of his book, “Prophetic ministry consists of offering an alternate perception of reality and in letting people see their own history in light of God’s freedom and his will for justice” (Brueggemann, p. 116).

Brueggemann says that two essential roles exist for the modern “prophet” (as already discussed, the modern prophet is not like the old -- a better word would be “preacher,” “teacher,” or “interpreter” -- things that all Christians must do in one sense or another). In creating a counter culture, Christians must criticize their surroundings (and, Brueggemann leaves out, themselves -- Christians must continually test themselves and their counter cultures/Christian communities in order to both adapt to the new age and to stay true to the doctrines they are founded on). “The Lord calls on his people to serve him alone, to free themselves from the structures of society, to look with suspicion at the institutionalization of religion, and to pray for the continual operation of the Spirit if God in establishing the Kingdom of God” (VanGemeren, p. 383, ch 12).

Christians must also energize their community. In other words, they should reach out to those outside of the Christian counter culture (adding to the counter community’s numbers) and those inside the Christian community. Christians criticize the present and energize toward the future. Their actions seek to create and maintain a counter culture, one like those that existed and were created by the prophets and initiated by God (and for God). “Jesus taught that righteousness and justice are pleasing to God when done for the sake of God (theocentric ethics) and for the sake of establishing his kingdom (eschatological ethics)” (VenGemeren, p. 362, ch. 12).

Choose Your Race Part 4: Training in the Word

2009-07-27T00:27:00.000-07:00

Read Part 1: the Matrix here, Part 2: Recognizing what Hinders Your Race here, and Part 3: Rest Along the Way here.

My mom goes to races and walks for exercise. I’ve watched her improve every time she takes to the road. But I also realize that she couldn’t do any of these races if it weren’t for previous steps that were taken. She had gastric bypass surgery and has committed to a lifestyle change that involves a strict diet and lots of exercise.

Similarly, God wants us to train for the race we are in. Remember the living water that Jesus told the woman at the well about in John 4. How do we obtain this living water? First, we ask for it, accepting it from Christ. Second, we learn from it by studying God’s Word. Accepting God’s grace is enough to get us into Heaven, but if we truly want to experience God’s presence and His blessings, we must choose to develop a relationship with our Personal Trainer. He is our “personal” Trainer, so, make your race personal.

Let’s look at some of the scriptures we have studied so far. Isaiah 29:16 teaches us to recognize God as the Potter that He is, the Creator and Ruler of all. Don’t you think reading His word would help you gain a greater understanding and appreciation of God? Isaiah 30:15-16 tells us to seek God’s rest and trust in God in the quiet. Isaiah 55:2 reminds us that earthly things cannot satisfy the hunger God has given us for God’s truth found in a relationship with Him and in His word. Galatians 5:7-8 encourages us to obey the truth, which we find in the Bible. 1 Peter 2:1-3 commands us to “crave pure spiritual milk” so that we may grow in the Lord. And 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 points to the “strict training” that helps us to reach the finish line.

Many more passages support my message for today and my purpose in creating this blog: God wants us to grow in Him; He wants us to choose the path of salvation and to trust in His provision; He wants us to live for His glory; and He wants us to keep our eyes on the prize that awaits us until the day when He will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25, Luke 19).

Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory

2009-07-26T07:46:00.001-07:00

Choose Your Race Part 3: Rest Along the Way

2009-07-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

Read Part 1: the Matrix here and Part 2: Recognizing what Hinders Your Race here.

We are running a race, and God wants us to keep our eyes on the prize: the glorious kingdom and future He has planned for those who are faithful to Him. God wants us to release all our fears, all our pride, all our insecurities, and give them all to Him. In return, we not only have an eternal future with God to look forward to, we have a loving God who will provide for us on our way to the finish line.

We know that prizes await us at the end of the race in Heaven, but what about the here and now? Let us look now at the sustenance that God provides every moment of our lives.

Go to any race (walking and running) and you’ll see checkpoints where volunteers offer water bottles to the runners or walkers; and after the race, organizations provide free snacks and products. God gives us His own version of water bottles along the way. He gives us spiritual water. Remember the Samaritan woman (hated by the Jews and known for her sins) at the well? Jesus told her,

If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water... Everyone who drinks [from earthly, physical] water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:10,13-14)

Jesus gives us living water (spiritual water), the gift of constantly flowing life, blessings, and redemption that springs only from the divine Source. Through Him, we are satisfied, but through the world, we never stop wanting more of what will never satisfy. God provides all that we need. Maybe not all that we want, but all that we need. I realize that some of you think, “But I don’t have everything I need.” To this I reply, who are you to say what you need? Did you create yourself? God knows far more about us than we know about ourselves. He created us. He knows exactly what we need, even if we don’t always like what we need. God has a good and perfect will for every one of us, and He will work all things to accomplish His perfect will. He has come through for us in His redemption plan so far. I think we can trust Him to continue to provide and work toward the complete fulfillment of His plan in the Kingdom that is to come.

Furthermore, we can take all our needs to God. He helps us in our race; and when we fall, He carries us to the end.

Look at the following passage.

Isaiah 30:15-16

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee! You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

The Israelites chose the wrong path. They fled God; they ran down the wrong path. Consequently, they ended up in a long exile with little to sustain and provide for them. God secured and provided for a remnant, but most perished in their sins. The Israelites ran away from God, but we can choose to run toward God.

Satan constantly moves the finish line, giving us worldly things to satisfy our needs -- worldly satisfactions that won’t last; but God sets one finish line: Believe in the resurrected Christ and trust in His infinite grace. Satan tires us down, adding baggage to the loads we carry, but God offers to carry our loads for us. Unlike Satan, God will give us living water. If we repent and let Him handle our troubles, He will give us “rest,” “quiet,” and “strength.”

Please don’t let Satan tire you out before you reach the finish line. Give your life to God and run for Him. You won’t be sorry.

Choose Your Race Part 2: Recognizing What Hinders Your Race

2009-07-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Let me remind you of what I posted a few days ago (read part one here). There are two roads you can take. One leads to God and another to guilt and despair. So many take the second road because Satan convinces them the path will satisfy their wants and needs; but Satan lies. Let me encourage you to turn toward or continue down the path God has chosen for you. A huge difference separates the path of darkness from the path of light that leads to God.

Now, please consider the following passages with me:

Galatians 5:7-8 (In reference to salvation through faith vs. the way of works thought up by man)

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the One who calls you.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Life is a race, and we can either race on God’s team or race on Satan’s team. Why should we keep from taking God’s side? Is He not on our side? Does He not desire our salvation and our happiness? Galatians 5:7-8 encourages us not to let Satan distract us.

One of the ways we can choose the wrong path is to get caught up in our works. We think we are so sinful that we cannot get to Heaven without working for it. But the Bible tells us that God provided a way to salvation through faith alone, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let’s not allow works to keep us from resting in God’s grace. We can do good works in gratitude, in Christ’s name; and the Holy Spirit works in us to become more like our Father by following Christ in obedience; but these works do not redeem us.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to shed everything that hinders us. You wouldn’t wear a heavy sweatshirt to a race in 90 degree weather, would you? And you wouldn’t go to a race unprepared unless you plan on dropping out of exhaustion before reaching the finish line. Whatever it is that distracts you from the prize, distracts you from God, distracts you from truly running the race, whether it be belief in redeeming yourself, pride, unbelief, lack of confidence, whatever it is, GET RID OF IT! Take it to God, and let Him become your personal trainer. As 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 tells us, you can’t win a race if you aren’t trained and prepared.

Dear reader, take this to heart. You cannot accomplish anything with true satisfaction in the race of life without God. Let us look forward to the end of the race. God has amazing things in store for us!

Book Review: The Noticer

2009-07-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

Five out of Five Stars Recommended

Quick Review:
Sit down to a relaxing and thought provoking conversation with The Noticer, an old man with much wisdom and a new perspective on your circumstances. Readers never discover who this Christ figure really is, but they observe the seeds of light that he leaves behind in the lives of others, and they are invited to become one of those seeds.

Review:
Based on a true story, Andy Andrews’ The Noticer is a simple, but inspiring story about an old man, the people he notices, and the wisdom he has to offer. Jones, an old, dark-skinned, white-haired, blue-eyed man who wanders from person to person carrying only an old suitcase and who meets each character where they are, under a pier, on a dark road, at a restaurant, under a tree... forget formality, these are not business meetings, although they involve serious business. With a humble attitude, Jones digs into his listeners’ hearts without judging them, and he establishes relationships and helping his new friends to live in hope, peace, gratitude, and grace.

Jones, meets with people of all sorts: a homeless man who thinks he has no hope for a positive future, a couple about to divorce because they don’t speak the same love language, a man with suicidal thoughts, a few teens wondering what positive boyfriend-girlfriend relationships should look like, an old woman who feels useless now that her husband has died and her children have grown, a workaholic so busy that he makes ethically wrong decisions and forgets to see those around him as people, a soon to be father worried he’ll be a bad influence on his child, a rich man gone bankrupt, and a woman facing her husband’s death. Each person learns a valuable lesson, lessons that the reader, too, can learn -- lessons that all lead to one ultimate lesson: The best has yet to come. So take on a new, positive perspective and live life to its fullest.

Jones leaves each character changed, and perhaps the reader, too. But whether you like The Noticer will depend on the one thing Jones seems to focus on: perspective. You can pick this book up as a quick, time-filler read (and it is a quick and easy read) and think of it as a rehashing of books that already exist, or you can sit down and allow its characters and their stories to speak to you. If you take the time to think about the wisdom Jones offers, you’ll find you gain a new perspective, a new wisdom, and a new desire to share that wisdom with others. Andrews provides enough variety in situations and lessons, allowing most readers to relate to at least one of the characters. Weaving historical lessons, real life situations, and Christian advice (without forcing doctrine on the reader) together, Andrews gives the reader a new way of looking at life.

Readers never discover who this amazing old man really is, but the man’s purpose in life gives them more than enough information about him. As Jones visits and revisits characters' lives, teaching them to never give up because the best it yet to come, he takes on the persona of Christ on earth.

Could Jones be Jesus in person? Or an angel in disguise? After all, Jones does seem all knowing, and he often disappears when characters look away. He takes on different names, appearances, and languages depending on who He talks to. His name does start with the letter J, and, like Jesus, he does act as a character that readers will both want to have and reflect in their lives.

How many of us could use a Jones in our lives? And how many of us have the potential to become a Jones in the lives of other? The Noticer opens and ends with Jones‘ invitation to step into the light. We have a light to step into -- God’s light. God has given you a new perspective; now, use it to give new perspectives to others. Show them the way to the light.

Written for Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers
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Book Review: Real Church

2009-07-22T00:17:00.000-07:00

Quick Review: Larry Crabb’s Real Church addresses what a real church should be and compares it with the many reasons people do or do not go to the kinds of churches that exist today. While his writing style and organization do make what should be an easy read a not so pleasant and easy read, readers can find small amounts of deep and touching truths that make the book worth reading.

Review:
Why do you go to church? Or should I ask, why don’t you go to church? After a summer of few church attendances, a college record of skipping chapels, and a life time of witnessing the contradictions and politics of the church, I have a hard time answering these questions. I want to attend church, I want to be a part of a community, but as a loner who knows what goes on behind the scenes I have had a hard time finding any place or meaning in church. Thus, my interest in Larry Crabb’s book Real Church. Crabb addresses why so many Christians go to church with the wrong motives and why so many other Christians feel unfilled and left empty by church, and he attempts to draw light to what the right motives for going to church might be and how the church should act as a vessel of Christ.

Crabb asks, what does God want to do in the depths of our humanity? And how does He want to accomplish it? How should we change our lives and our communities in order to adhere to what God created the church to be? We cannot find the answers in ourselves, for Satan attempts to manipulate our self-centered ideals in ways that make us fill up on the world’s fuel instead of God’s fuel. Our answers only come in God. Therefore, our churches should focus on God as a foundation. Christians should love God for God’s sake, not their own.

We need to focus on edifying ourselves and those around us in the Word. This requires that we be completely honest with each other. We must realize that we are all sinners. Crabb reminds his readers that all people have the same problem: an addiction to self. That addiction takes on various forms, and some forms (i.e. pornography, wealth) may seem worse than other, but they all stem from a deep source within us, one that only God can counter. Thus, we engage in a battle between flesh, an addiction to self, and spirit, an addiction to God.

Crabb counters the popular modern church which focuses on morals (legalistic issues), experience, entertainment, and mission. He says that church isn’t there to make your life better, it isn’t there to make you feel good, it isn’t there to entertain you, and it isn’t there for you to change the world and forget about changing your heart and the hearts of those close to you. Church should be about knowing, not using God. The fact that God often fills us up and allows us to feel His presence is just a perk.

Real Church will especially speak to those who, like me, feel lost in the church, like they don’t fit in -- those who often leave church feeling empty and who often wonder if God is really there for them. Crabb reminds the loners like himself that hope in God comes before experience in God. We can’t expect to “feel” God’s presence all of the time in this life. We only have a taste of what has yet to come. It is here that faith comes into the picture. Our loneliness, our emptiness, all the hard times serve only to give us a gnawing hunger for God, a hunger we should oblige by reading our Bibles and seeking to become like Christ. But only when Christ returns will we join in at the feast and eat our fill of God’s presence. Crabb compares this feast to a party. God has invited us to a party, and we have accepted His invitation, but now we need to learn a few dance moves before the day of the party comes. We need to have hope, realize that our hope is in the Lord, study the story of God’s love, and allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate the deepest parts of our souls and teach us to become more like Christ.

All these tips are geared more toward the individual than the church. Although Crabb speaks over and over again about what he thinks the church should be like, he never defines the term “church.” His book leads us to believe he addresses the congregation and small communities more than an actual church.

That said, dig for gold in Crabb’s book, and you will find it. Crabb’s conclusion, itself, contains a few nuggets found in new themes (ex: the Jonah and Elijah Syndromes versus the Jesus Syndrome) that he could make more interesting by turning them into a book, as well as some outlining of main points -- outlining that could have made his book more captivating had he used it to guide the order of his book.

Crabb’s gold, however, does not fit the whole, nor does it flow together. The many things he covers in his book are deep issues that any reader can relate to, but they don’t necessarily have to do with church; and if they do have to do with the church, Crabb only gives his readers general ideas of how to implement them. It would be interesting to see him take the basic themes explored in Real Church and apply them in specific ways to different people and different roles in the church.

Crabb fails in other areas, as well. Although he continually refers to having a real foundation in Christ, he uses little Scripture to support his points. His writing style, while informal, may annoy some readers with its awkward wordings, contradictions, and interrupting parentheses.

Real Church could have been a lot better. Crabb does, however, speak to the heart. If readers are the truth seeking Christians Crabb tries to revive in His book, they will find the nuggets of gold in his book and will apply them to their own lives. Hopefully, one person changing at a time can ultimately change what Crabb calls “churchianity” into the Real Church.

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Reviewed for Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program

Choose Your Race Part 1: The Matrix

2009-07-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Today, I start a four part devotional/reflection/insight (whatever you want to call it) based on some themes and verses I read about in Beth Moore’s Breaking Free.

P.S. (Pre-Script): Do not be thrown off by the title of this post. The movie The Matrix has only a small part in what I discuss.

Two roads lay ahead of you. Which road you choose to go down is up to you. Down one road lies the way of the proud and stubborn. Down the other road lies the way of salvation and rest, but it requires that the runner (or walker) humble him- or herself before God. You may not consider yourself proud or stubborn, but we have more than one way to proudly refuse God’s path. Some unknowingly choose the way of the proud because they follow false promises that tell them what they want to hear. Others choose the way of the stubborn because they hide from the truth, hide from their guilt, and seek refuge in the wrong places.

Today I focus on those who choose the way of “comforting lies,” but I also look at where the wrong path can take us. Look at the following passage:

Isaiah 29:16

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?

The Israelites rebelled against God, choosing to “run” down the path of the proud. They made themselves their own rulers, believing they could provide everything for themselves. (We will talk more about the race they chose tomorrow.) Beth Moore writes that she found a synonym for “rebellious” in “pigheaded.” What a word! If we choose the wrong path, we end up in the pig pen eating the slop from the pig trough just like the prodigal son! The Israelites could not provide for themselves; they were nothing without God, and because of their rebellion they ended up in the pig pen of exile.

There is good news, however! We can choose to turn away from this road. Like the prodigal son, we can leave the pig pen any time we want and find true sustenance and food in God and His Word. Sure, life will not always be easy, but we will live in the truth, and we will have God’s future glorious kingdom to look forward to.

This is where The Matrix comes in. The film may contain various religious themes, but we can get one thing from it in this lesson: the truth is far better than the lies that false teachers feed us. In the movie, Neo find out the truth about the world He has lived in his entire life: It is all fake. All the comforts, all the buildings, all the people, everything in his life has been controlled and monitored by computers pumping information into his brain and manipulating his thoughts and his version of reality. When a group of truth-seekers awaken him to the real world, he learns he has a larger, more important destiny at hand, and a greater future to look forward to if he takes the right path.

God wants to awaken you to the truth. Stop believing the lies of the enemy. They may seem good at first, but they eventually become slop. Satan has only the worst in mind for you. He may even be feeding you negative thoughts right now that keep you in shame, away from God. Do not believe Satan. God loves you and wants you to come to Him, instead of to the world, for sustenance. It may not be all sweet and gourmet foods at first, but we have a future with the one and only almighty God to look forward to, and we have a relationship we can develop with Him right now. God bless you.

1 Peter 2:1-3

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Isaiah 55:2

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

Harry Potter Debate Concluded

2009-07-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

I recently posted what I thought would be my conclusion to my posts on Harry Potter (Love God, Show Love), and in many ways it's the most fitting conclusion, but I could not help but make one final reply to Tiffany's comment below. The paragraphs that follow summarize my arguments for Harry Potter and counter what Tiffany had to say.

Tiffany writes:

Well I am so so very sorry we are just not going to agree, I think your way young and have no clue what the enemy is doing and hearing her say this is just crazy to my mind, maybe you should ask your mom about Michael Flood and Freedom In Christ and all that goes with that ministry and read the books Victory over the Darkness Bondage Breaker, seduction of our children and have a Freedom Appointment and then talk to me about this. I am just really really sad you don't see the truth in what is taking place. I grew up with your mom in BVG and Freedom N Christ and learning from Neil Anderson and all of them, I way more familiar with the Occult then you most likely are. We are just not going to agree.

My reply:

You're right. We're probably not ever going to agree on this subject, and that's OK. I don't think it's something that determines whether or not we go to heaven; it's just something serious that we can debate about in a friendly way. I respect your opinions and I respect you as my elder. I realize that you have more experience than me in life, and that gives you more knowledge in some areas. However...

1 Timothy 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Do not put me down for my youth. You may have more knowledge of the occult than me, but I have done plenty of research on the occult on on the subject of Harry Potter. Do not think that I would go into this blindly. As I think I have proved, I have plenty of reasons for supporting Harry Potter (and have listed sources and support) and you have listed only one reason against Him with little or no sources/support. I have heard and read nothing that points to specific and real occult things in the HP books, and you have given me no specific examples. That said, you may not think defending Harry Potter counts or comes under this "example" in this verse, but I do believe it does in some ways qualify. I am young, and I am seeking to set an example and learn from the example of others (in all matters, including Harry Potter).

If you think that by reading the Harry Potter books you will become susceptible to certain things then I fully support you. I've said before and I've said again that we should avoid things that could take advantage of our weaknesses. If I thought reading Harry Potter would make me believe in witchcraft or make me susceptible to the devil, I would throw it in my own garbage can and never look back. I am firm in my faith, however, and I know that these books will not alter or hurt my faith. In truth, they have strengthened my faith and reminded me of certain passages and stories in the Bible that have encouraged me in life and told me things I needed to hear.

I am not against Harry Potter for a few simple reasons: 1) Rowling is a Christian (I realize that she is not a strong Christian and that she does not utilize her fame for God's glory, but I will not judge whether she is saved or not). 2) Whether or not she is a true Christian, Rowling does admit that she based the books on the Bible and did not reveal this at first because she thought it would give away the ending to her books. 3) There are many Christian themes in the books (to those who complain that these themes and morals are not sound or perfect [similar to the author], I say, are we perfect? Can we expect a book to have perfect characters? The characters do learn from their mistakes, and even the wrong decisions they make that are not blatantly said to be wrong in the books are decisions that we also might make under certain circumstances). 4) The fantasy magical witchcraft elements of the books are fantasy. They are based on fantasy and legend just like certain mythical characters and creatures that appear in The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings. 5) It is not the author or her books that is evil, but the people who take them the wrong way. Thus, we should preach against the falsely assumed parallels between the world of HP and real Satanism and witchcraft, and we should stand up for the good things and the Christian themes that appear in the books. We should not blame the books or protest the books, but rather the way that they are wrongly used. To be against the HP books for the way people wrongly pervert their meaning and then join the real witch and Satanic occults is the same as being against the Bible because of the way Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses wrongly use and apply the Bible.

In many ways, you and I might agree. I'm not ignorant of the possibility that a child might take Harry Potter's world as the real thing and try to become involved in real witchcraft (which I discussed above). But there are ways to keep this from happening to our children, and certainly I might approve of protesting children reading the books (I was in my teens when I started reading them). My parents did not allow me to read the HP books or watch the movies until I was old enough to discern right from wrong in them. My parents even discussed these things with me before I ever read a HP book or saw a HP movie. I fully support and encourage that all Christian parents do the same. I do not support children running around pretending to be witches or wizards. I do not support parents allowing their children to believe the world of HP is real. I do not support parents allowing their kids to view these things without first setting them down and establishing the difference between the magical fantasy world of HP that makes fantasy magic look good and the real magic that is out there that is known as Satanism. With these boundaries established, I believe it is up to the mature person to decide whether HP would affect his or her faith in a negative way or not and to then discern whether it is right personally for him or her to read the books or watch the movies (based on whether he/she thinks he/she is susceptible to the devil's schemes through HP and on whether he/she think he/she can discern the Christian themes in HP and leave all negative elements of the books in the trash).

By the way, do not think that I do not have an open mind in all this. I have checked out and am going to read Neil T. Anderson's books that you recommended, and I'm going to ask my mom about Michael Flood and Freedom In Christ. So, I think now is a good time for us to stop debating and go our separate ways, agreeing to disagree, but I promise that as I go my way I will consider what you have said and I will read the books you have told me about.

Anyone know who Michael Flood is? My mom didn't know.

God's Rainbow

2009-07-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Despite the distortion of the meaning of a rainbow, I choose to remember what God originally made the rainbow for. I went on a drive with my dad on Friday, and God blessed us immensely. We stopped at Leavitt Meadows (in the Sonora Pass) to have a picnic, even though it looked like rain. The meadows were below us (we had stopped at a lookout), and we could see a beautiful waterfall in the distance. I never would have expected what happened next: a beautiful double rainbow appeared. I'd never seen a rainbow this beautiful, this full. I couldn't help but stand in awe at God's glory, God's covenant displayed in His glorious, amazing, beautiful creation.

Genesis 9:12-16

And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Ezekial 1:28

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Revelation 4:3

And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

Revelation 10:1

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.

Love God, Show His Love

2009-07-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

I love Harry Potter. There are a lot of things I love to talk about because I love them. What do you love? Do you love God? How much do you love the things of this world compared to God? How much more should we love God? Do you love to talk about Him? Or are you afraid to talk about Him?

As I’ve talked about the Christian themes in Harry Potter this past week, I’ve really gotten into my arguments. Today, however, I am reminded that no matter how much I love Harry Potter, I should love God more. I feel like I love God more, but do I show it?

I recently finished reading Beth Moore’s book Breaking Free. At one point, toward the end of the book, she talks about our purpose in life: to glorify God. We are to seek God’s renown, and we are to yearn for His presence. When we go through trials and difficult times, we can let them defeat us, or we can defeat them for God’s glory. The Bible tells us that God gives us the spoils of the wars; we have the opportunity to plunder the enemy; All for God’s glory. When we study God’s word, we do it for His glory; we do it to grow closer in our relationship to God.

It is not enough to study God’s word and to fight back the demons of this world, however. Here, I get to the point I introduced at the beginning of this post: We must show our fight, we must show our love for God, we must make a public display of God’s glory. Moore talks about several ways we can reflect God’s glory to the nations (to those around us), but she makes one particular point that hits me hard after a week of going on and on about Harry Potter: If we love God, we will want to share His love and our love for Him with others. We will want others to have the same love for God that we have.

I love Harry Potter, so, when I get started in an argument for his honor I can’t stop. When I start talking about the Harry Potter books with friends who like the books and movies just as much as I do, I can’t stop talking. I’m this way when I talk about Broadway shows or operas, too. Anyone who’s been around me long enough will know that once you get me started talking about why a show is good or bad or about why I love opera so much, you can’t get me to shut up. I wish I wouldn’t shut up about God. It’s easy to talk about God around fellow Christians, but it’s even easier to keep quiet around nonbelievers out of fear of debate or embarrassment.

Let me ask you something right now. Is Jesus someone to be embarrassed of? Do we have reason to be afraid to talk about our salvation? Why are we so ready to talk about the worldly things we love, but so timid when it comes to talking about the hope we have in Jesus Christ?

Beth Moore writes,

Do you see what has happened in my heart as a result of changing to a God-centered motivation for study and prayer? It is not enough for me to know Him and believe Him. I want everyone else to know Him, too!... Once you really know His name, you’ll want His fame! What He has made known to you, you will want to make re-known to everyone else. That’s the heart’s desire of seeking God’s renown!

Do you desire God’s renown? Even more so, do you desire God’s renown and fame to shine in your life? Let me encourage you, as I daily encourage myself, to not be afraid. God will provide the ultimate plunders and rewards, it’s your job and it’s my job to fight the good fight.

Dear God,
Help me to have more of a desire for You and more of a desire for Your glory. I am weak, but You are strong. I’m afraid, but You can give me courage. Help me to stand up for You and to share what You have done in my life with others. Take my life, mold me, and make me an example. Put me through hard times so that I can triumph for Your glory. Give me a heart for You and a heart for others. Don’t let me be a selfish pig who only talks about things in this world she loves. I want to talk about You.
Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:7,10

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Satanism in Harry Potter?

2009-07-17T08:51:00.001-07:00

Posting two posts today because I don't think I'll be able to post tomorrow.

Here's what my Christian friend who used to practice witchcraft had to say about Harry Potter:

Wow...ugh, ok. I HATE it when people get all weirded out over Harry Potter. In my personal background with over ten years in practicing Wicca, there is nothing remotely realistic about the magic they use in the books. They do not even spell it the same way. Real witchcraft is spelled magick, not magic. This is nothing more than Halloween, make-believe stuff. I would personally feel like an idiot trying to hold a wand and act serious. I personally do not feel that they lead people away from Christ. As a ministry major, I see nothing evil or satanic in them. They never mention a thing about demons, devils, or the like let alone Satan. Besides, the overall goal of all of the books is to overcome evil, Voldemort. Harry exhibits all good qualities and is forced to vanquish the ultimate evil. What is wrong in that? Soooo, yeah, that is my take on it. If you would like a very real example of what witchcraft is like in real life, I would suggest you watch the movie, The Craft.

Quick Review: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2009-07-17T08:12:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince the movie may stray from its book counterpart in plot and structure, but in one way it is much like the book: slow, full of character development, and, sometimes, boring. My mom thought most of the movie was boring. On the other hand, my dad considers it the best of the Harry Potter films because of its lack of action and emphasis on character. I suppose I'm somewhere in between. The film goes at a slow pace, but contains plenty of humor to keep its viewers entertained. The magic serves as a prop to characters, for once, instead of the character serving as props to the magic and special effects. The ending does not follow the book's dramatic and suspenseful ending (not as much action/fighting), but it stays true enough and will satisfy most Potter fans. It fits. Viewers will find the majority of the film anti-climatic and somewhat predictable (especially after all that graffiti -- that revealed the book's ending -- that appeared after the book version came out). Overall, the film satisfies and leaves the viewer anxious for the next installment in the series (the last book which is being made into two movies). It acts as a necessary bridge between the 5th book and the 7th book, and in many ways is the beginning of the end of the series.

The film is rated PG (a change from the previous films' PG-13 rating), but there are still plenty of dark elements, and many critics and fans have said The Half Blood Prince is the darkest in the series so far. However, for those who find the darker elements as negatives (those who may try to keep the younger ones away, which I could approve of) there are still plenty of positives. There are some typical teenage hormones displayed in this film, but ultimately it becomes less about love and hormones and more about clinging (especially during hard times) to those you love. The friendly family values of friendship, loyalty, courage, and truth continue to find their place in the series, no matter how dark the story gets. Perhaps the dark battle that continues to grow darker in the final book (and has gotten darker since the second book) can remind us of our own battle against Satan and the ultimate battle that is to come. Parents can use this film as an opportunity to talk with their kids about the Christian themes that do appear in the film and about the more negative themes (like witchcraft/wizardry and dark arts) that also appear in the film and books.

Joel's Opinion on Harry Potter

2009-07-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

Written by my friend Joel:

My opinion is, it's stupid to think that Rowling had any sort of intention to put those elements into her books? Is there witchcraft? Not the real kind; only the made-up kind that existed in Rowling's head. She mixed up elements of shamanism, yes, but the witchcraft depicted in her books is entirely original components of something that's fake ... Read Moreanyway. I've heard of people converting before, but it doesn't make them bad. Just abnormally confused. And the Bible says to avoid anything that can harm you mentally, but I think that that's more a warning against falling into traps by converting to paganism (or anything that isn't Christianity). There is a difference in pushing a belief on someone and actually making them believe it and God knows that. Harry Potter is actually incredibly Christian in its themes and anyone who extracts some vague paganistic belief is really digging for SOMETHING to find, I think.

I've had similar discussions and most of the series' detractors haven't read the series and are basing it on the school's name or the inside cover's declaration that it's about wizards. It's uninformed bias, if you ask me, brought about rumors.

Verses

2009-07-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

Someone gave me these verses to defend her position against Harry Potter. She also said she would not have to go into a trash can to know it has trash, and that she believes HP has led people astray, deceiving them and bringing them into witchcraft.

All I can say is that I agree in many ways. I believe that if the trash can affect you or tempt you, you should steer clear of it. I believe that many are led astray. I know of at least one person who broke up with her Christian boyfriend and left her Christian faith because she believed in vampires and wanted to marry a vampire after reading the Twilight books. But there are plenty of good things that are distorted and used for evil, including the Bible. And we should steer clear of those false teachings, steer clear of witchcraft and demonic things. But that does not mean we cannot put out the information about the truth, about the pure version of the good things. We can stand up for the truth of the Bible, and I will defend the good things that can be found in Harry Potter. And just because the books contain witchcraft does not mean that Rowling is a witch. I can see Tiffany's heart, and I too wish for these children of God not be led astray by false teachings, deceiving spirits, and demons. What can I do about that? I can protest the books, yes, but I could also protest the false interpretation of the content of those books. I can stand up for the Christian themes and Scripture that can be found in the books. I can inform people about the truth, and if that means convincing them not to read the books, so be it. But I personally do not see the HP books as false teachings. Rather, I see them as tools that Satan has wrongly used for his purposes -- tools just like many other things that he manipulates (relationships, love, loyalty, ethical things can all be used for wrong if put in the wrong hands). And another thing, the witchcraft and wizardry in the books is not real. It's all fantasy. And the books have only one message: love defeats evil, defeats death. The books are allegory for something greater. And they should not be taken as real. Sure, kids dress up for fun, but we all did that when we were little. This is not the kind of witchcraft that the Bible refers to. It has been distorted to look that way to those who use it as an excuse to get into the real thing, and we can stand up to that, but protesting the books will only make us look ignorant and stuck up and judgmental. So I don't think HP is trash. I think that we get ourselves into the trash when we take it the wrong way like so many have. There are no Satanic rituals or symbols in the books. There are dark elements, but that comes with the territory in a fight of good against evil. It's not meant to be real. It's fantasy. It's about the characters and themes, not the witchcraft. It's not evil. What's evil is what so many have done with it (Although I haven't heard many stories about people going into real Satanism or witchcraft after seeing the movies or reading the books). I see Tiffany's heart, I have the same kind of heart. I don't want people to stray into the real thing. And if protesting and getting rid of these books would help prevent that then I'd be all gung ho for it, but I don't feel like that will do anything. I think informing people of a purer form will have more effect than merely protesting the books.

I actually have a friend who used to be a witch and was into witchcraft but is now a Christian saved in Christ's mercy. Maybe I'm missing something here. I think I'll ask her what she thinks of Harry Potter.

Tiffany says: "1 Tim 4:10 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. I believe that is taking place with Harry Potter."

"Father, In JESUS Name, I break and loose myself from all witchcraft curses and demons being sent to me and my family. As your war club (Jeremiah 51:20-23) I break in pieces the walls of protection that the satanists have put up and I send the curses and demons back to them to do to them what the satanists sent them to do to us. Exodus 22:18 I send judgment, fire, burning, destruction and death to the satanists in JESUS Name. I heap coals from the altar of God upon their foreheads in JESUS Name. I cover me and my family in the Blood of JESUS and ask for warring angels to be placed around us for protection. I break and loose us from psychic power, thoughts and prayers. I break and loose us from words spoken in hurt, anger, sorrow or bitterness. I break and loose us from the power of incense and candles being burned on our behalf. I break and loose us from ungodly intercessory prayers in JESUS Name. Amen."

Tiffany also said Rowling, compared to C.S. Lewis, is not a 100% Christian. Here's what I say:
Oh, and you are right that she is not 100% Christian. I wish I could talk to her about her faith. I wish she was more open about her faith. She has said that she believes in God and an afterlife and that she grew up in the church. I know that does not mean she is saved. She also says she sometimes doubts her faith (but who doesn't at some point?). (and I admit that even the demons believed in God) No one is perfect, and I don't think we can judge anyone on whether or not they're in heaven ultimately. With C.S. Lewis it seems obvious that he's in heaven. And he was more open about his faith. But Rowling has said that she based much of her books on the Bible and her faith. And I'm positive she's not a witch. I don't think you can totally judge the books on the person, though.

Arrogance: Keeping an Open Mind When Reading Harry Potter

2009-07-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

Tiffany said in reply to the links in my previous post:

Hmmm interesting but just cause its written doesnt make it right or what my heart believes. Thanks for this but I would never ever agree with it. Have a great day!

I replied:

True, just because it's written or because she says something doesn't make it true. But I don't think we can always base truth on what our "heart" tells us. I don't know what you meant when you said "my heart believes" and I don't want to offend, but my heart could believe the sky was pink that wouldn't make it true. And in regards to your other... Read More comment, I understand your point of view and blocking out things that you think don't agree with the Bible, but I also know that it's not a good thing to build a wall so that you can't even have a basic understanding of various worldviews. Even some of the most avid Christian critics of Harry Potter have read the books or know the plots and what they are about.

I do have to wonder if Tiffany even bothered to read the articles.

The Israelites hearts were hardened by their ignorance of God's truth. Isaiah 6 says they heard but did not hear. I'm not saying that you're that way, and I know I have no right to judge you, but I do have to say that I believe that all Christians should be aware of what they're up against (the only reason I see to avoid basic knowledge of a ... Read Morething is if it's your weakness). I think it's a good thing to have an open mind. And you don't have to agree with something to read it and at least get a basic understanding of the opposing view. And I've found that with an open mind I learn more.

Like I've said before, in a generation when many kids are going to read the books or watch the movies whether their parents like it or not, it's not so much about saying you disagree with it, it's about saying why you disagree with it. It's about learning and informing.

In the process I have personally grown in my faith from reading the Harry Potter books, and I think if I talk to other Christians or other kids about the Christian themes in HP, maybe I can change their focus from how cool the witchcraft is (the negative) to how cool God's love is and how that shows in the books (the positive).

2 More HP Articles

2009-07-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter vs. Christianity, Friend or Foe?

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1572107/20071017/index.jhtml

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/2009/isharrythechosenone.html

Christian Themes in Harry Potter (some spoilers)

2009-07-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a big paper for a class, so this week I've mainly been posting on Harry Potter (and I'll post a quick review of the 6th movie tomorrow), but I promise next week I'll get back to the basics with my original intent for this blog (devotionals, reflections, etc).

This is a very long post I wrote about a year ago when the 7th Harry Potter book came out, so be warned. I did break it up into sections with headers to you can skip read or pick and choose, but I think it's worth reading and discussing. Most of the parallels presented I thought of on my own, although a few I got off of this site and put them in my own words: http://hogwartsprofessor.com/?p=134#comment-11951

Before I get started, I want to know what you think of the Harry Potter series and other classic books such as “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Do you think they are similar? Do they contain Christian themes? Can a book with occult themes have Christian parallels?

If you have read any of my previous posts on Harry Potter, you know I believe that the series imagined and written by J.K. Rowling is full of Christian symbolism. I do not claim that Rowling inserted Christian meanings in her books on purpose; I only want to bring out the Christian meanings I personally found within the books, specifically “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” I find it wonderful how you do not have to look very far to come across the great story of the Bible showing itself, even in secular media. I do warn that the following review contains major spoilers in the plot. If you have not yet read the seventh book in the series and do not wish to know what happens before you read it yourself, do not read more than the next paragraph.

Introduction
Harry Potter became an instant hit the moment it was published. Ironically, the character of Harry Potter never wants to become famous. Content with becoming an average wizard, greatness is thrust upon him. I’m sure J.K. Rowling never expected a similar greatness to thrust itself upon her name. I wonder if a single person exists in America or Britain who does not know who Harry Potter is. What about this young wizard boy intrigues so many? Perhaps we find comfort in reading about a hero we can relate to. On the other hand, Harry’s popularity may simply come from the wonderful stories that abound in these books. Maybe we enjoy reading about a nobody becoming a somebody. The list goes on and on. I would like to suggest that one reason exists above all others: the stories and characters found in the Harry Potter series echo the greatest true story of them all, the story of Jesus Christ.

You may burst out laughing or completely disagree, but I think Christian themes and morals have a way of making it into literature without anyone realizing it. Everything seems to exist and to have come into being that way. No matter how hard you try to get away from the truth, it will still keep popping up. God created things so that they would point back to His glory. We can even find parallels between the Bible and Harry Potter.

Some Small Pieces
Although Rowling may not have intended the Harry Potter series to be "Christian," it nevertheless contains strong Christian themes. From the many sacrifice characters must make to keep friends safe to small characters such as the snake, Nangini, that follows evil Lord Voldemort around, Christian elements are everywhere in these books. George, trying to protect Harry, loses an ear to a spell cast by Snape, who actually cast it in an effort to protect Harry, but missed. This incident harkens us back to when Peter cut a guard’s ear off to try to defend Jesus. After Dobby the house-elf dies to save Harry and friends, Harry buries him outside Shell Cottage, which belongs to one of Ron’s brothers. Harry watches as Luna Lovegood, one of those saved by the elf, arranges “sea lavender” on Dobby’s grave three days after burial. Although a simple scene, the number of days since burial and the arranging of sea lavender points to an important point in the Gospels: When the women came to Jesus’ grave three days after burial to anoint Him with spices. During Christmas time, Harry and friends visit Godric’s Hallow. People are gathered at the local church and outside the church the graveyard where Harry’s parents are buried lays. On their gravestones are quotes from the Bible. When Harry walks to his death willingly towards the end of the book, spirits of those dead walk with him, including a James (Harry’s father), a Peter (Sirius), and a John (Lupin). Harry pretends to be dead until the right time to fight arrives. As the fight breaks out, he uses the invisibility cloak to disappear. Everyone wonders where his body has gone, a reference to the empty tomb of Jesus. These are just small Christian pieces in “Deathly Hallows,” there are much larger themes yet to explore.

The Theme of Good Versus Evil
When you think of themes in Harry Potter, one of the first topics to hit your mind will most likely be good versus evil. Lord Voldemort wants to rule the wizarding and non-wizarding world. Fate drops the job of destroying Voldemort on the shoulders of Harry Potter. As Harry grows from boyhood to manhood, he must solve the mystery of how to destroy Voldemort’s evil. This battle of good versus evil resembles the battle between God and Satan. Christians realize that God has already won, but Satan will never give up until God does Him in permanently. Satan continues to do his best to keep us from bringing others to Christ and to keep others from coming to Christ. Similarly, Voldemort refuses to accept his probable defeat and does his best to bring as many pure-bloods to his side as possible. He does not understand the meaning of love. In early books, he finds that he cannot harm Harry because Harry’s mother sacrificed herself to save Harry’s life. Satan does not understand the importance of the sacrifice Christ made to save us from the consequence of our sins. Once we accept Christ, he can only harass us; he cannot possess our souls.

Purebloods and Mudbloods - Jews and Gentiles
Voldemort’s agenda in the wizarding world also resembles the way many Jews treated Christians as Christianity began to spread. Some Jews were too proud to admit they were wrong. Others did not want to believe that Gentiles could have equal salvation with the Jews. The Jews were God’s chosen people, but many did not understand that God chose them to act as a light to the nations. Salvation was not just for the Jews. Even James and Peter had trouble understanding this, but God corrected them. Likewise, many of the pure-blood wizards in Harry Potter believe that only they should have magical abilities and the right to rule. They do not want mudbloods (wizards with non-magical parents) and half-bloods (wizards with only one magical parent) to have equal status with them.

In but not of the World - Snape's Example
The character Severus Snape originally pledges his loyalty to the dark lord; but once he experiences love (in this case, he loves Harry’s mother, Lily), he changes sides and risks all for Harry’s sake. We find more than one lesson in Snape’s story. Snape’s work as a reformed death eater parallels the way we as Christians must be in the world, but not of the world. He lives with the death eaters, but works with and for Dumbledore.

In another chain of events, at Dumbledore’s order, Snape kills Dumbledore. Some may think of this as another Judas betrayal, but I prefer to see it as another sacrifice. Voldemort has ordered Draco Malfoy to kill Dumbledore, who sees the damage his murder would cause to Malfoy’s soul. Dumbledore accepts his death willingly, forcing Snape into an unpleasant but necessary role reminiscent of the Old Testament priesthood. The Old Testament priesthood, in turn, should remind us of how God the Father sacrificed his only begotten son, the righteous for the unrighteous.

Dumbledore: God-like figure or Human?
In the first few books, Dumbledore shines as a God-like, father-like figure to Harry. I believe that this impression still exists, even if his character takes on a completely different meaning in the final book. First, in “Deathly Hallows,” rumors circulate about Dumbledore’s past. Is he as wonderful as he seems? Or does he have a dark past that changes everything? As it turns out, Dumbledore is not perfect. He has his faults. Still, not all of the rumors are true. In a similar way, Satan will circulate rumors in our world and put thoughts into our mind that make us question the truth of the Bible.

Second, Harry wonders why Dumbledore never told him the complete truth during their times together and finds that he cannot have a complete understanding of the mysteries until the very end. We can’t expect to understand everything in the Bible, but we can ask God for the ability to discern what we read in the Bible. As Harry learns, we must have patience. There would be little point to the mystery if it were unveiled to us all at once. Sometimes we must discover the truth for ourselves. When we’re ready, we’ll learn what we want to know and will be able to use that knowledge wisely.

Third, because Dumbledore has faults, we see that no one is perfect. The fact that Dumbledore has faults agrees with what the Bible tells us about human nature. All sin and fall short of the glory of God. No one is perfect.

It is worth mentioning that although Dumbledore does not resurrect in the final book, he does return a few times in two forms. His brother, Aberforth, becomes essential to Harry’s survival. Also, Harry meets Dumbledore’s spirit in a place called “King’s Cross.” Only here does Harry learn the complete details of Dumbledore’s past and how to defeat Voldemort permanently. Similarly, only in heaven will we learn the complete details of the mysteries of our roles in God’s grand scheme.

King's Cross and the End of the Story - The Afterlife
There are six (the anti-Christ’s number) main horcruxes, but Harry learns from Snape that he, himself, is a seventh horcrux. Horcruxes are pieces of Voldemort’s soul stored in random items. In order to defeat Voldemort, Harry must willingly allow Voldemort to place the killing curse on him. He faces death bravely, knowing that death is inevitable, and sacrifices his own life for the lives of his friends, reflecting the character and actions of Christ. When Harry dies, he wakes up at King’s Cross railway station, an otherworldly realm where he meets Dumbledore. Dumbledore explains an error by Voldemort that enables Harry to return to life. His sacrifice, however, defeated the piece of soul that attached itself to Harry, leaving him with a clean soul of his own. God attached our sins to Christ as the King of Kings died on the cross --Part of Voldemort’s soul was attached to Harry as he made his journey through death to King’s Cross. This sacrifice parallels the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us when he died on the cross (pun intended). Harry died so his friend could live, but also rose again to defeat Voldemort once and for all.

Voldemort/Satan without Power
For a short period, Voldemort really does believe he’s killed Harry Potter. Satan probably thought he had defeated Christ when Jesus died, but instead, the resurrection defeated Satan. We find another example in this part of the book. At King’s Cross, Dumbledore tells Harry, “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.” This has a two part meaning. First, Dumbledore makes the statement in reply to Harry’s reaction to a crying baby nearby. He tells Harry there’s nothing they can do for the child. The baby represents the soul of the unsaved at death. Those who die unsaved cannot find comfort because they are separated from God forever. Second, we must not let the deaths of those we love keep us from shining as a light for Christ in this dark world. We are needed in the world. Harry must choose whether to heed that call and return to save his friends, or to run away. He chooses to stay. We will always have the comfort of Christ by our side while we go through trials, as Harry has Dumbledore to comfort him at King’s Cross. Second, with Harry as a Christ figure, as Harry comes back for those he loves his sacrifice places protection on his friends. Voldemort can no longer permanently bond any of those Harry died for.

Death and the Theme of Sacrifice
One of the main themes of the seventh book is death. Harry must die to himself in order to live. We must pick up our crosses, dieing to ourselves, and follow Christ. Without Christ, our sins pronounce our death sentence; but with Christ, we no longer need fear death.

The theme of sacrifice recurs throughout the entire Harry Potter series. Lily, Harry’s mother, sacrifices herself to save Harry from Voldemort. This leaves a mark on Harry and keeps him safe from harm for many years. Dumbledore sacrifices himself for the soul of Draco. In the fifth book, “Order of the Phoenix,” Harry saves his cousin Dudley from the Dementors. In the seventh book, Dudley finally pays Harry back for the service. Dudley pronounces he does not think Harry is a waste of space and leaves tea by Harry’s door as a present. At the beginning of “Deathly Hallows,” several of Harry’s friends risk their own lives to keep Harry safe and one of them, Mad Eye Moody, dies. When Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Luna are captured and imprisoned in the Malfoy mansion, Dobby the house-elf rescues them, but dies in the process. Countless others die throughout the book, mainly in the battle for Hogwarts.

The Battle - Community
The battle for Hogwarts reflects a theme that came out full force in the fifth book: community. In most of the book, Harry, Hermione, and Ron are on a secret mission. The three rely on each other; without any one, the other two cannot do well. Harry’s friends provide support and loving care to him, encouraging him in his fight against evil – not to mention his fights against his own hormones. Also, by the end of the book, they find that they still need the help of others to accomplish their goals. Members of the Order of the Phoenix and other good wizards join together to fight the death eaters, giving Harry time to find and destroy the last horcruxes without interference. Likewise, we as Christians have many battles to face. We find support in community. We pray for each other and treat each other as we wish to be treated. We find that we all have a part to play in the building up of the church, and no individual God-given gift can accomplish anything on its own.

The Decision is Yours
In the end, however, we cannot make decisions for one another. We cannot save another person by praying the salvation prayer for them. The individual must make the choice to accept Christ into their heart on their own, and Harry alone can conquer his own arch enemy. He must decide to run and stay safe or to confront death and sacrifice himself for all his friends.

The Deathly Hallows
The choice of the individual becomes important in more than one way. The name of the book is “Deathly Hallows,” but what are deathly hallows? The deathly hallows are three items that, when united, make the possessor a master of death. The items include a resurrection stone, a wand called the Elder Wand that always wins a duel, and an invisibility cloak. Dumbledore attempted to find the three items at a young age, but found that he could not trust himself with such power. The items are tempting and in the wrong hands can create chaos. From Dumbledore’s experience, we learn that gaining items we desire will never fill our empty spots. We cannot find fulfillment in earthly power or possessions. Only Christ can fill the holes in our lives.

The three deathly hallows carry individual significance, as well. Harry finds use for the invisibility cloak throughout all seven books. It serves as a shield that keeps him from the eyes of others. Faith serves as a shield for us. God always protects us, even when it does not seem like it. Harry must choose to put on his invisibility cloak. When he uses it, it protects him. Without it, his presence is discovered and he loses his shield. He must discern when to use it and when not to use it. Similarly, we must choose to act by faith, but we must do so with wisdom, not blindly.

The resurrection stone allows people to talk those they have lost, but users find that those they bring back often do not want to come back. We learn to let go of those we’ve lost. Also, there is always hope. As Harry finds in his short time at King’s Cross, we will one day join those we have lost. Dumbledore hides the resurrection stone from Harry in a snitch that he leaves Harry in his will. Only at death does Harry realize how to take the stone out of the snitch. He whispers, “I am about to die,” and the snitch opens. Now, Harry has become mature enough to use the item properly. He conjures up the spirits of those he has lost to encourage him and walk with him as he faces death.

On a side note, Dumbledore leaves a book that tells the story of the deathly hallows behind for Hermione and a deluminator, a device that controls light, to Ron. The story book resembles the Bible in that it contains the truth and the path to ultimate deliverance. Ron finds that his gift has more significance than he thought. At one point in the book, Ron does not expect the heroic voyage to take so much time and effort, and tires of waiting for the destruction of Voldemort. Realizing things aren’t going to be as easy as he hoped, he decides to leave Harry and Hermione. When he recognizes his error, a light from the deluminator enters his body and leads him back to Harry and Hermione. Similarly, Christians often expect that once they accept Christ, all will go perfectly well for them. They forget that many will persecute them for their faith and that the Bible will not always make sense to them. This misunderstanding often leads us to turn away from God, but God will plant lights and seeds in our lives that will lead us back to Christ. Ron’s journey also resembles Peter’s denial of Christ before returning to Christ and becoming an even stronger witness and missionary for Christ than ever before.

The final deathly hallows item, the Elder wand, has a long and dark past, but finds its ultimate significance in the final battle between Harry and Voldemort. The Dark Lord possesses the wand and believes he has gained its allegiance. As it turns out, the wand really belongs to Harry and will not kill its own master. When Voldemort casts the death spell on Harry, it backfires and kills Voldemort instead. Similarly, according to scripture, Satan attempted to use God’s Word against Christ, but Jesus used scripture to rebut and defeat Satan.

Conclusion
“Deathly Hallows” contains much of the great story found in the Gospels. We have more than enough reason to read and enjoy the Harry Potter books. Many may balk at my statement or laugh at me when I say I am both a Christian and a Harry Potter fan, but I say that this statement is not a contradiction. You may think that many are led astray by these books, but I say Harry Potter is no worse than the Easter Bunny or Santa Clause. We can teach our children what is fact and fiction in these books and discuss the evident themes found within them. By discussing them with an open mind, we can learn from the series. Harry’s story is full of Christian themes and is a great way to introduce others to the greatest story of them all: the story of Christ.

Quick Review: Harry Potter 7 (may contain spoilers on the 6th book)

2009-07-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Written a year ago or so when the 7th book came out:

Rating: four out of five stars

Plot: We discovered in the sixth Harry Potter book that the only way to get rid of Voldemort for good is to destroy the 6 horcruxes Voldemort created. Horcruxes are items containing pieces of a Wizard’s soul. As we enter the seventh book, we find that Voldemort has taken over Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic. Harry must go into hiding to stay safe. Hermione and Ron join him. Before Dumbledore died, he left the three of them the mission of destroying the horcruxes, but how ill they do that if they must stay in hiding? A new mystery complicates things even more. Dumbledore left each of them an item in his will, but not even Hermione can figure out the meaning of these items. On top of this unfolding mystery, Harry deals with unearthed facts about Dumbledore’s past. He struggle with discerning truth from fiction and begins to doubt everything he ever believed about Dumbledore. What’s the truth about Dumbledore? Is Snape evil? Will Harry and friends ever defeat Voldemort? You’ll have to read the 7th book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” to find out (Or you can find spoilers on the Internet).

Analysis: As the series grew closer and closer to its end, you knew it had to get more complicated and darker. From the fifth book on Harry Potter became less of a child and more of an adult. While the fourth book was the first to truly have a darker element to it, it did contain its own plot. The demise of Voldemort was merely a subplot. However, once Voldemort rises again in the fourth book things aren’t so easy for Harry. Individual plots within the books disappear and the main story becomes the story of how “the boy who lived” defeats Lord Voldemort. In the last three books we see Harry developing as a character. We focus in on the connection between Harry and Voldemort. These three books are about the larger story, the ultimate story. Because of this, it takes a lot longer to get hooked on these three books. If you keep reading, however, you find it worth the time and effort. I’ll always be a Harry Potter fan, but just to be truthful for a moment I must criticize “Deathly Hallows” a little bit. The first thing that bothered me about the final installment was the way Rowling had Ron use the word “effin” several times. She uses other foul words in the book, but not very often and she never actually uses the F word. Style and language faults pop up often in the seventh book. “And then this happened” appears continually throughout the book. Also, more than once I found I needed to go back and reread passages several times to make sense of them. However, although Rowling’s grammar and style have worsened, making it harder to read, she is still a master story teller. In this area the seventh book does not fail. So much happens, I have no idea how they’ll choose what to keep and take out in the movie version. In fact, there are already events in the seventh book connected to pieces of the other books in the series that were taken out of their movie counterparts. It’s a long read, but worth the effort.

My Opinion on Harry Potter

2009-07-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

I wrote this long post a year or so ago in reply to a blog post (on another blog) that no longer exists. My comments remain the same, however, so I thought I'd post them in light of the 6th movie's release today. I'll be posting a review of the 6th movie in a day or two.

I'd first like to point out that Rowling herself is a Christian (I believe a Presbyterian) and claims that her faith defined much of what she wrote, specifically the ending. Second, I do believe that one can enjoy the series without knowing that it points to Christianity, but for me the series only adds to how much my faith means to me. I see the series as no worse than The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings. I also see it no worse than letting your kids pretend there is a Santa Clause or Easter Bunny at a young age. I think that allegories are great ways to bring the true story to light for younger children who are not old enough to keep the attention span needed to read or take the Bible seriously or to even understand the Bible's story completely. Even if the series were evil, we should still explore it for the sake of knowing what the other half believes. And who's to say God can't use something bad to bring something good. Why ignore the Christian parallels when professing them could bring more to Christ? I know there is wizardry in the series, but that's where discernment comes in. We as Christians should have the Holy Spirit in us and should pray for the ability to discern fact from fiction. We should be able to discuss the parallels between the Potter series and the Bible, and we should be able to discuss the differences as well. Rowling takes much of her writing from the influence of the writings of Plato and other classics. She also bases the development of the story on the process of alchemy. The spells used in the series are not real; they are made up words that come from Latin roots. I do not think any of the wizardry in the series is real world witch craft and if real world witches choose to take it that way we should rebut them and show them its not. I do not know about you, but I have not heard about any children or teens going into witchcraft because of the books. Even if there are, that does not make the books evil, it makes the interpretation evil. People could interpret the Bible wrongly and use it to promote their own agendas such as the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses, but that does not make them right or righteous and it certainly does not make the Bible evil. I doubt that the many adults today who started out reading the series when they were 10 years old still believe in the truth of these novels the way they did when they were younger. But they do still believe in the magic literature can create in your heart. Not casting spells magic, but the magic that is a special feeling inside of you. The magic that makes you remember how the series encouraged you, got you to start reading, or other things. I know of several books that have done that for me and I certainly don't think that kind of magic is evil. I doubt you do either. Now, I certainly do not approve of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and many of the dark movies that show up today on the big screen and on television, but I think these shows and movies are much closer to real world witch craft than Harry Potter ever will be. There is a strong difference between them. Most of these dark films are meant to entertain and nothing else. They have no morals and no positive elements, even with happy endings. They are just there and they suck you in. These are the films that are not appropriate for your children. But not Harry Potter. While the series does get darker as it goes it never reaches the level of evil, dark, just plain wrong content that other films have. I do not recommend the later books or movies to children. I did not start reading the books until the movies came out. I too thought they were evil until I sat down and realized how much I can learn from them. Even the dark elements, such as the end of the 5th movie, make me cry because I realize how similar my life really is to Harry's and how I too need to make a choice, among other things. The series means more and more to me because it helps make my faith more real. I know I don't need the series to make my faith real. It already is real and I trust in the Bible at the only ultimate truth and absolute truth. Still, that does not mean I cannot enjoy the Potter series and get something out of it. So maybe there are parts of the books that also parallel real witchcraft as you say. You point out that the hand of glory is used. But it is used by those who are evil. Perhaps you could look at it as the good wizard (Christians) versus the bad wizards (those who practice witch craft). That's a real deal in the real world. It's a truth and it's in the books. What's so bad about that? Looking at it that way, Christianity is the only true religion and witch craft is evil and under Satan. We should fight against the evil that presents itself to society. Putting it this way, it seems to be a parallel that we should take to heart. The drinking of blood in the series is also still presented as evil. It is Voldemort who drinks the blood of the unicorn and he is eternally cursed for it. If we view Voldemort as Satan, it seems obvious to me that both are evil and both are afraid of defeat. Both refuse to accept the fact that Christ (or Harry/Dumbledore's side) has already won or is winning. It's only a matter of time before his ultimate doom arrives and until them he scours the earth looking for people to possess and people to make stumble in their faith. Voldemort continually looks for ways to stay alive by feeding on those around him. He makes his followers do his bidding and he often makes his enemies stumble (for example, he uses Harry's weakness to draw him the Ministry of Magic to get the prophecy for him). Besides this, did you ever consider that the fact that Rowling uses binding and possessing curses could be a reference to such things in the Bible? I refuse to believe that these books are evil and that Rowling meant them to draw children to witch craft. I'll listen to further arguments with an open mind, but I do not see why we can't use the series to fight against others who would use them to promote evil ways. Despite all the parallels you draw between the series and real witch craft, I would draw your attention to all the Biblical parallels. The wizards even go to church in the 7th book and Rowling quotes scriptures on the gravestones in the church graveyard. I know that Rowling draws from countless other influences beyond the Bible, but I know that the Bible is one of those influences and there are many parallels to be found and discussed. Parents would not have to worry about their children thinking of the books as real witch craft and going into real witch craft if they would sit down and discuss what is fact and what is fiction, and what we can learn from the series, with their children. I do not think the series teaches children "the fallacy that they can solve their problems and become successful in life by invoking spells and spirits," but rather it truly does "teach the values in life that are important for personal growth and a good grounding in moral values."

Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2009-07-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Since the 6th HP movie comes out tomorrow, I thought I'd post an old review of mine of the 5th movie. The review talks about the movie itself as well as the Christian themes in the movie. Keep in mind that I wrote this two years ago, therefore the writing quality is not as good as it could be and it's written as if I just saw it for the first time (when I've seen it several times now). The first paragraph will only be relevant if you're considering seeing the 6th movie on IMAX.

Review

I only just got to see it last Sunday on IMAX. "The Order of the Phoenix" does not contain very many special sets or scenes that make it worth watching on IMAX, but it's still a great experience. What I did not understand was why the 3-D part of the film lasted for a mere 20 minutes. If the entire film had been in 3-D it would have been more spectacular. I'm glad they did decide to use it at least a little bit, and for the best part of the entire movie: the Ministry of Magic scene where the battle between good and evil hits its peak. Using visions of a tortured Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, Voldemort lures Harry to the Hall of Prophecies at the Ministry of Magic because He desires to possess a prophecy only Harry can take out of its holding place. Harry brings his closest friends with him, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and new to the series Luna Lovegood. Voldemort and Dumbledore have an ultimate dual during this scene and (spoiler alert) Bellatrix Lestrange kills Sirius. Sirius falls back into an archway in the middle of the room and disappears from site. Harry still hears voices coming from the archway, however. This climactic scene is the only real plot point in the entire film. The rest of the film leads up to this moment where Harry must choose good over evil in order to prevent Voldemort from taking over him.

The film has less of a plot to it and very little mystery. The book builds more on Harry's visions that lead him to go to the Hall of Prophecies, but the movie, with very little time, must choose what is most important to the film. I am happy with what writers and directors chose to keep. In this film you see very little of Harry's friends and professors and lots of Harry. You will find that the development of Harry's character in this film will become very important in the sixth movie. While the fifth installment lacks mystery, it lays the foundation for future installments. Harry deals with his dark side and must choose whether to give in or stand up to evil.

Part of Harry learning to stand up for himself comes from his experience with Dolores Umbridge and the Ministry of Magic. Too proud to admit Voldemart has returned, the Ministry turns to lies and deception to keep up their reputation. They take over Hogwarts in the form of Professor Dolores Umbridge, who tidies things up by enforcing harsh rules, firing some questionable professors, and preventing the students from practicing spells. In response, students form their own secret society where Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Death Eaters, or Voldemort's followers. Harry grows as he teaches them, but still struggles with teenage hormones. He gains his first kiss with Cho Chang. On top of this, he still does not know what to do about his violent emotions. He says he's angry all the time and isolates himself from his friends. Luna Lovegood reminds him of the importance of community in fending off our foes. By the end of the film, Harry has a better idea of who he is as a person and of what his purpose is in life. Although it has been mentioned in past films, (spoiler alert) he finally understands that he has something Voldemort will never have: love and friendship. He chooses the good and pushes Voldemort out of his mind. Voldemort leans over Harry and whispers, "You will lose." The Ministry walks in and there's no denying the truth any longer.

David Yates directs the film for his first Harry Potter flick and I have to say I really enjoyed it. While the third film was my favorite, I did not like the direction of "The Prisoner of Azkaban." I would not mind the original director of the Potter films returning, but I also dislike the director of the fourth film. The sixth film should be interesting. I did not like the fifth book much, but loved the movie. I love the fourth book, but hated the fourth movie. I wonder what my impression will be of the sixth movie. The sixth movie is the beginning of the end of the series and cleans off looses ends from the fifth film. It will be important that it is done well and that parts of the book left out are tastefully chosen. One thing's for sure, I hope they bring back Nicholas Hooper as the composer. "Order" has the most beautiful and fulfilling soundtrack out of all the films. It builds off the original soundtrack in small amounts, but contains mostly new material that really connects with characters and events in the film. I highly recommend it. The acting in the film is also worth mentioning. Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson have grown so much in their abilities; it's hard not to like them. Newbie’s also do not disappoint. Imelda Staunton is ironically wicked as the cat loving, pink wearing Dolores Umbridge and Evanna Lynch's calm, strangely pitched voice adds character to the role of Luna Lovegood. It really is the best Potter film yet. Helena Bonham Carter also joins the cast as Bellatrix Lestrange. Considering how few lines she has she portrays a lot about her character just by body language and costume.

Christian Themes

I found extra meaning in this film because I recently read a book called "Looking for God in Harry Potter" by John Granger. Reading this book and thinking more about the plot lines I found three main Christian elements in the story of this film:

1. Community. Harry tries to go it on his own, but finds he can't. Luna Lovegood reminds him that his friends provide support and loving care to him, encouraging him in his fight against evil, not to mention his fights against his own hormones. In the end, it is the memory of this love and friendship that enables Harry to say no to Voldemort. Likewise, we as Christians have many battles to face. We find support in community. We pray for each other and treat each other as we wish to be treated. We find that we all have a part to play in the building up of the church and no individual God-given gift can accomplish anything on its own. We also find community in the Order of the Phoenix, which bands together to fight Voldemort, as well as in Dumbledore's Army, the group of students Harry secretly teaches when Umbridge forbids the practice of magic. Interestingly enough, throughout history the phoenix has been a symbol used for Christ. Dumbledore also stands as a God-like father figure.

2. Life after death. Harry hears voices coming from the archway that Sirius disappears into at death. From this we gather that there is life after death and we always have something to hope for. Luna Lovegood tells Harry at the end of the film that things have a way of coming back to us in unexpected ways.

3. Good vs. Evil. Like many today, the Ministry of Magic is too proud to admit to its statesments are false and fight evil. Instead, they let evil take over and become evil themselves. Throughout the film, Harry struggles with the possibility that he could become just like Voldemort. A dark side in Harry begins to rise. He questions Sirius, asking why he feels so angry and what exactly the implications of his anger are. Both Sirius and Dumbledore indicate to Harry that everyone has both good and evil in them, it is which side they choose to act upon that matters. As Christians, we find the same thing true with our hearts. We all have a sinful nature that came with the fall. We can't get rid of our fleshly tendencies, but we can choose to say no to the temptation when it comes. It won't stop coming, we can still say no. Satan will try to attack our minds telling us that we, too, will "lose" (and I certainly am prepared to lose everything for God because I know God will provide and that there are more important things than the things of this world and that I have a better life to look forward to in Heaven), but with God's help we can do anything. Once you decide to accept Christ, you belong to Him and Satan cannot take your soul. All he can do is try his best to keep you from bringing others to Christ. We all have the potential to do evil, but it is our choices that matter because God gave us free will.

So, I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I am a Christian. No that is not redundant or contradictory. Harry Potter is a great story that we all can learn from. You'll find that the fifth Harry Potter film will fill you up with a lot to digest. Not just the great special effects (I especially like the transitions, dueling scene, and newspaper headlines) and great acting, but the morals and the continuation of a great story worth watching over and over again.

Articles on Harry Potter and Christianity

2009-07-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

Interesting Articles on Harry Potter and Christianity

http://lists.christianitytoday.com/t/7821452/5972044/135030/0/

This article talks about how strange it is that people get so caught up in Harry Potter, but not in God. The author suggests that if we spent the time to read the Bible and watch the characters develop as if we were waiting for the next book to come out, Christianity might have it's own fad going. It's an interesting read that really makes you think about the modern church and modern ministry. Plus it's a great Christian article about Harry Potter.

http://lists.christianitytoday.com/t/7821452/5972044/135029/0/

This article talks about the similarities between Harry Potter and Matthew 6. The author points to various characters in the books who try to serve two masters or try to use earthly means for good. These characteristics line up with the Sermon on the Mount. The author bases his thesis on the fact that Dumbledore quotes the Bible twice. I never thought about the parallels this article brings up, so it was a refreshing and thought-provoking read. The author also ends the article with a short bit on Rowling's faith and what Christian critics say about it.

http://hogwartsprofessor.com/

http://justindburton.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/a-really-really-ridiculously-insightful-dont-forget-long-harry-potter-post/ - discusses several HP themes

Under the Stars with Dad

2009-07-13T23:20:00.000-07:00

I went out for ice cream and a drive in the country with my dad tonight. We talked about life, our pasts, our futures, and about God. The stars were an amazing reminder of God's power and wonder, and my dad's fatherly love for me reminded me... if God has blessed me with such a wonderful earthly father, how much greater of a father must He be.

My earthly father reminded me of something crucial tonight: We're all uniquely created by God. I'm no less loved by God nor am I no less accepted by Him (and given salvation) with my mind over heart. I have a heart for God, but I don't feel it as much as some others do. And that's OK. Some people are more emotional than others. My best friend cries when she misses me, and I just sit there listening to her on the phone. I miss her too, but I don't feel it the way she does. That doesn't mean I love her or miss her any more or less than she misses me.

God loves me, and I choose to love Him. Love isn't a feeling. It's a choice. And I choose God.

God's Presence

2009-07-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

This is a long one, but please hang in there with me and read this all the way through. I want to share with you how God is there even in the silent and lonely moments.

The good feeling has worn off, but I must believe, I do know that God's presence never goes away. And for once, I can feel it. or at least I felt it for a short amount of time tonight. Not in the charismatic sense, but just in a knowing sense. You see, for this entire weekend I've been bitter inside. I've questioned God's will for my life. I've questioned my own selfishness and my desires to be used in the same way as the others I've witnessed at conferences (Women of Faith and Beth Moore). I've questioned my faith and my salvation, or at least the genuine nature of my faith, repentance, and love of God. And in some ways, I still do have questions. But I won't go into detail about my questions, because tonight God gave me some answers.

I was watching a Moses movie on TBN (starring Ben Kingsley), and something just hit me and weighed down on me. At that moment, I just knew. I was still, and I knew that He was God. I've always known it, but tonight I could feel it in my heart and know it in my mind. After all the questions, I watched Moses' story, the one I had always known, and found some answers. God called Moses and led His people through the wilderness. Certainly He has called me to something as well. I should not be anxious about my future, because God has it all planned out. I will not be like the Israelites and yell and rebel against God in my dry periods. And through it all, God will lead me. He will be there. I have asked for so long to be able to genuinely feel His presence, and I realize I won't always "feel" it, but I know I am on my way on a great journey to complete and full love of God. Satan lies to me every day and tells me I cannot love God, that I cannot feel God, and that He is not there, but I will not allow this bitterness to eat me up.

Let me share with you what God has shared with me. I told you I was watching a movie on Moses' life. God spoke to me through the movie, but I still had my doubts. Well, God is a God of planned coincidences and confirmation. Sometimes He does not answer our prayers right away, and sometimes I open my Bible and find nothing, but tonight I opened a devotional book by Joyce Meyer. There, I found today's devotionals, one for the morning and one for the evening. The first, title "Don't Worry," reminded me to not let the Devil steal my joy. The real confirmation came when I read the second devotional. I turned to page 194 and read the following verse from Exodus 33:14...

And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, telling Him to count on God's will and God's presence through all his life journey. Is my journey so different? God told Moses not to worry about the future. Meyers writes...

As much as you would like to know God's plans and ways for you, all you really need to know is that His presence will be with you wherever He sends you and in whatever He gives you to do.

On the next page was tomorrow's devotional titled "Learn to Wait with Patience." As I have learned to trust in God no matter what my questions are, I have also learned to wait in patience. We should wait on God's good and perfect will. That does not mean we should do nothing. I still need to keep taking baby steps, reading my Bible and studying God's Word. But I must also realize that God does not always choose to perform miracles or do amazing things (as we would define it) in our lives, and I must learn to accept the small daily blessings, even in hard times, and to push past the bitterness that is inside of me.

I did a lot of crying this weekend. But I cried before the Lord. The Bible says that God hears all of our cries, and answers them according to His purpose and will. The Bible says that God will accomplish His will in our lives. The Bible says...

Hebrews 6:12
Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

You see, it wasn't such a bad thing for me to desire for God to do for me what He's done for the speakers and singers on stage (at the conferences). He wants me to follow in their example, to seek His will in everything an to study the Bible and develop a relationship with Him. That's not a selfish wish. What's selfish is for me to assume that following those examples will lead to a life of fame or a life as a Women of Faith speaker. I must take life one step at a time, examine my motives, read the Word, and trust in His good and perfect will.

As I write this, the Moses movie is coming to a close. Moses is climbing the mountain and God is taking Him home after a well-done journey, after a finished accomplishment of God's will. God's call applies to me, and you, as well. He will give us rest and He will be with us. We may not always understand His ways, and we may not always feel His presence, but He is there. If there's one thing I learned this weekend it's that this conference, this world is not about me. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME! It's about God, and He will use me as He wills. One step at a time, I will put my questions before Him and put my trust in God's good and perfect will. PRAISE GOD.

Blog Fixed

2009-07-12T23:30:00.001-07:00

I made a few changes to the blog. I got rid of the template that was messing up and took an image from the original template to create a heading for the blog. And I am now using one of the regular blogger templates. Hope you like this simpler version. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Trouble in River City

2009-07-12T22:43:00.001-07:00

I'm having trouble with the template to this blog right now, and I'm trying to fix it. Please let me know if the background is showing up right or wrong on your computer.

Nicole C Mullen Video: Touch the Hem of His Garment

2009-07-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm back and I've had a pretty tough weekend at Women of Faith. Didn't really get anything out of it and I'm still processing some questions I have going through my mind. I may post about that at another time, but for now enjoy this video of a song that Nicole C Mullen sang at the conference. It was one of the few things that touched me. The question is how do I find my way to Jesus so I can touch the hem of His garment?

To watch the version I saw go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybw4gaUVKIA
Or find a similar version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKXKprqYWAw