Blog of the Week - ESV Bible Blog

It is time for the blog of the week.  This week's blog is the ESV Bible Blog.  I chose this blog this week because of an interesting post from today where they link to a website that provides a visual for all of the cross-references in the Bible.  It is pretty amazing to see a visual reminder that Scripture interprets Scripture.  This blog mostly contains news about the ESV translation, which is currently my favorite translation for devotional reading (NASB for study), and basically is a link to some other pretty cool blogs, sales, or websites.

Cool Hand Luke

I watched Cool Hand Lukefor the first time last week. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I watched. It has taken me a while to process this movie and decide what I think about it. First, it definitely moves slow at times, and it made it hard for me to concentrate on what was going on. Second, it ended up being pretty predictable, with foreshadowing in the first half that just made me ready for it to get to the end (I think there was probably one escape scene too many). Third, the movie was a bit frustrating to me. I have come to the conclusion that movies of this style are harder for me to watch than any other type of movie.

I thought Paul Newman's acting was outstanding. He did a great job of capturing the character in my opinion. I was annoyed by the rest of the acting for the most part. I think it is worth seeing the movie because of its reputation as one of the classic movies of all time. Maybe I should have watched it on a Saturday instead of after a stressful day at work!

Finding Neverland

I recently watched Finding Neverlandagain.  I think this is the first time that I was able to watch it all the way through from start to finish.  It is an interesting story of how the famous Peter Pan came to be.  As a fan of Hookand Peter Pan, as well as Johnny Depp as an actor, I was not disappointed in the movie.

It is interesting to watch Barrie befriend the sons of a widow. The movie does a wonderful job of depicting the fine line between reality and make believe by switching back and forth between the two. I found it interesting that this man who was so great with children apparently had no desire to fulfill his duties as husband to his own wife. I was pleased with how clean the movie was, which is rare today, especially since it was actually nominated for Oscars. It is an unusual love story about a man who likes to pretend that someone else is his family, and in the process creates a masterpiece. I thought it was a good movie, and definitely would not mind having it in my collection.

Baylor Basketball

I just noticed that the Baylor Basketball teams (both men and women) are ranked right now.  Given Baylor men's basketball history and the toughness of the conference for the women, that is pretty impressive.

"That's all I have to say about that"

I am a happy camper.  I would be happier if it was the other Manning in the Super Bowl or if both were in the Super Bowl or if New England was not, but I am glad that the Giants pulled off the upset.  I would say maybe we will see a Manning win again this year, but I have watched the Patriots.  Although I will be cheering for the Giants, the Patriots are going to have to have a bad day for the Giants to beat them.

Yes, this is real

Yes, this is a real junk mail item that was received by our firm.  Some lawyers will use anything to promote themselves and their firm.

(Sorry that it is sideways.  I thought it would take too much time to try to turn it the right direction.)

Blog of the Week - Jesus Creed

Now upfront, I want to point out that I rarely agree with this week's blog of the week theologically.  I do not have any desire whatsoever to read the books that he suggests to read (for the most part).  I do not support his theological views or his views on how to do church.  All of that may leave you wondering why this blog would even be a blog of the week for me.  The answer is quite simple.  Through this blog, I have been able to learn quite a bit about the emerging church and the leaders of the emerging church from one of their own.  I think it is important to see what they are saying about themselves.  

Some of the blog posts are quite helpful as reminders that we are on the same team as some of the emerging church (I am not quite sure that all in the leadership of the movement are Christian, but that is an argument for another day).  Additionally, by reading this blog, I am encouraged to think through what I believe, why I believe, and how it differs from what he is saying.  The blogger also summarizes books that I do not wish to waste my time reading (because some of them are by authors that differ on first tier theological issues - also a topic for another day), but it is helpful to be informed about what is contained in the books.  By reading what someone who endorses the books reads, I am better able to understand where someone I may come in contact with is coming from who has read the book.  

I would suggest reading this blog only if you are grounded in your theological beliefs so that you are not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.  I would also suggest reading this blog as a reminder that there is diversity in the body of Christ.

The Phone Call I Dreaded

I finally got the phone call I have dreaded receiving for several years now.  In some ways I knew it was only a matter of time before I received it.  I never knew who it would be about, but I knew it was coming.  It is something inevitable when you work with children in inner city New Orleans.

"Ms. Cyndia, you remember Gee?"

"Gee?"

"Gervais"

"Yeah"

"Well he got killed last night.  Shot during a fight."

Sixteen years old.  Would have turned seventeen today.  He was ten the first time I went to the Center.  I wasn't close to him, but I knew him.  He always gave me hugs.  He wasn't that regular at the Center.  I saw him more as he was walking down the street, usually in his green baseball uniform, always with a smile that made it look like he was up to something.  He wasn't the type of kid that I would expect to hear got shot.  There are some kids that if I had heard their name, I would have thought that it was no surprise.  They were headed down that path.  They were the ones that you would would expect to be dead or in jail by the time they turn twenty.  They were the ones that everyone had given up on except maybe a mother or a sister or a grandmother who was still fighting hard for their life.  Gervais wasn't one of those kids.

  

Here is the New Orleans newspaper article on the murder.  Not much information.  I think I found out more about the shooting from the telephone call than the newspaper found out from investigators.  That is nothing unusual.  Rumors will run rampant in the next few days and weeks, yet no one will want to talk to investigators.  Not that you can really blame them.  Once you snitch, your time is limited.  It is like I wanted the article to say more.  Of course, the person that wrote the article didn't know the kid.  Looking at the article, this will become one of the many unsolved murders in New Orleans.  No one will want to rat out the shooter, although people know who it is.  Even if someone gives a name, it is likely that they will not want to testify and the murderer will be released.  This time last year it was the stepfather of one of the kids that was killed.  Someone ratted his murderer out, but that person's mother would not let her testify so he was released before the end of the year.  It is enough to make anyone in New Orleans cynical.  It is also a reminder that no one is guaranteed another day, no matter where you live.

For now parents will live in fear in the neighborhood.  Gee wasn't killed in the neighborhood, but parents will still keep a closer eye on their kids.  Then time will pass, and more freedom will be given.  Things will move on.

Doctrine and Application

I wrote this a while ago, but I am just now getting around to posting it.

While studying for my Sunday school lesson a while back, another reason to study and to teach doctrine occurred to me.  In reading Matthew 19-22, there are several examples of ways that the Saducees and Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus through their questions.  Every time that He was presented with the challenging questions, Jesus was able to answer in a doctrinally sound way.  You may be thinking, "Of course, He did.  He was fully God after all, and so all-knowing."  I think that no only was He proving His deity, I think He was setting an example for His followers to follow.  We are told throughout the New Testament to be like Christ.  I think this extends to the way that we answer the challenges of the world, including the difficult questions that we may be asked.

The only way that we are going to be able to answer in the way that Jesus did is if we know the Bible and have the Holy Spirit within us.  Therefore, it is important to learn as much doctrine as we can in order to be ready to give a clear, accurate defense to questions posed by those who are our modern day Pharisees and Saducees.  We have to have such a solid foundation that the hard questions don't shake us up.  I think that the ideal way to establish this foundation is in the same way that Jesus did, meaning starting as a young child.  We should be challenging our children by teaching them the truths of Scripture at a young age.  There are many ways to do this, but we need to stop using the excuse that children do not understand.  Instead, we need to be challenging children from a young age.  Most adults do not fully understand the doctrines presented in Scripture, and there are many mysteries that we have to accept by faith.  Therefore, we should be teaching children to accept the mysteries by faith young.  Plus, people learn more than we think that they are capable of learning when people are challenged.  

It seems that the church as a whole today wants to steer clear of doctrine because it isn't relevant or it doesn't meet people's felt needs.  However, many in the church cannot give a defense when questioned by non-Christians about things such as the doctrine of the Trinity, doctrine of the Church, and the doctrine of salvation.  Too many in the church are not firm in their convictions because they are more concerned about becoming better people than having a changed heart and mind.  They would rather focus on self and how God can make self better, instead of focusing on God and the things of God so that self becomes smaller and smaller (which, ironically, results in becoming a better person).

I am not saying that doctrine should be taught without application.  I just don't think that application should be taught without doctrine.  If doctrine is not put into practice, it is worthless.  It becomes too much head knowledge without exhibiting a changed heart and a faith that is alive.  However, application without doctrine is destined to fail because it doesn't necessarily spring from a changed heart and mind.  We need to be careful about teaching water and milk to those in the church.  2 Timothy 2:2 commands Timothy to teach faithful men who will be able to teach others.  This is a command that extends to all those in the church.  If we teach only water and milk, we aren't preparing faithful members who can teach others.  However, if we are not afraid to tackle the hard stuff and the doctrine, then we will be preparing faithful members to teach those they come in contact with, including the modern day Saducees and Pharisees.  We will be teaching our church members to be ready to give a defense just as Christ was ready to give a defense when presented with a challenge.  If the church does not know how to make a defense because it hasn't been taught doctrine, the leaders will experience greater punishment for failing to fulfill the commands in Scripture.  However, if the leaders and teachers in the church teach sound doctrine that equips the saints, the leaders and teachers will not be held accountable.  Maybe if more leaders and teachers understood this (or were qualified to teach in the first place), our churches would not be filled with spiritual infants.

More randomness ...

Apparently I published 100 blogs last year.  I apologize to anyone who read through them all :)

Some Thoughts ...

Well, it looks like this is my first blog post of 2008.  Nice.  Too bad it isn't about something meaningful instead of just some random things all put into one blog.

Lil T:  Lil T had to share his house last week with another dog.  The Floyd (one of my co-workers) family went out of town and their dog Huxley came to stay with us for the week.  Huxley used the time to catch up on his sleeping, and did not do much else at my house.  He did insist on sleeping in my bed with me, but he was kind enough to take up only a few inches at the end of the bed!  Lil T and Huxley got along well.  Lil T did not pay Huxley too much attention unless Huxley had the nerve to come into the kitchen with me, which is Lil T's territory (he doesn't even like me in the kitchen unless it is to "visit" him).  I enjoyed having a dog around that was way out of the puppy phase and not even close to being as hyper as Lil T.  I look forward to the days when Lil T will sit down!  Maybe Lil T needs an older brother or sister.  I did not enjoy the morning and night time trips outside (Lil T is litterbox trained for the most part - nice, huh?!?!).

Writer's strike:  I am disturbed about how upset people are about the writer's strike.  Have we really become that dependent upon TV that we think it is the end of the world if we don't have new episodes of shows?  Maybe we should start spending time with our families or reading books or doing anything but watching TV instead.  I guess that is easy for me to say since the only show I am addicted to is The Office, but I refuse to watch new episodes on TV and instead wait for them to come out on DVD.  Why don't we support writers by reading books instead of watching TV?  It isn't the end of the world if there are only 5 episodes (or however many) of The Office this year - it just means a cheaper DVD of the season!

Football:  Wow, LSU sure pulled out all the stops against OSU.  OU is proving that they should not be considered for a BCS game even when they win the Big 12 (I think Missouri could have done better), but I guess they can't be excluded by contract.  In a season of upsets, there really were no big surprises in the bowl games.  That is kind of a letdown.  Apparently Mallett is transferring because Michigan hired someone who is bringing in a spread offense (really, that is against tradition at Michigan.  I already don't like the guy or the ones who hired him) so someone is about to pick up a pretty decent quarterback who has a year's worth of experience on a big stage.  Should be interesting to see where he ends up.  As for the NFL, go Giants.  Go Colts.  Anyone go to the Super Bowl other than the Patriots.  

LLBB:  I am coaching Little League Basketball again.  This year I am coaching a 5/6 grade team.  The kids are a little older, so at least they can all hit the rim, but it will still be an interesting experience.  Seems to be a decent team, and our skills goal is to learn how to do left handed layups by the end of the season.  I love coaching these teams, so it should be a fun season.

Romans:  Anyone who knows me knows that I love to study the book of Romans.  That is what we are studying as a church on Sunday nights this spring.  I am very excited!

Disclaimer:  I really did not proofread or try to use good English.  It has been one of those kinds of weeks - too busy to get my head screwed back on straight, so I am glad that the end of today and tomorrow looks to be a little less busy.  I am braindead.