Hidden in My Heart

  While I frequently recommend authors, books or poems, I don't believe I've recommended a music cd on here before.  I've even posted thoughts on what the New Testament says about music.  But today is a good time to recommend a set of excellent cds.  We were given the first Hidden in My Heart right before our first daughter was born.  We loved it!  Calming truths of Scripture put to lullaby music.  

 Well, this week we found out that just as we are expecting our second daughter, they have released a second volume.  So, now we are finding out if we will love this one as much as we loved the first one.

You can listen through the cds on their pages, Scripture as poem and lullaby...

Book culture - an occidental phenomenon

   In Is That a Fish in Your Ear?, David Bellos provides some fascinating insight into the nature of literary translation and the languages and culture which accompany it.  Citing UNESCO's database of the top 13 most popular source languages for translation, only Swahili (and English) are not most frequently translated into English.  Swahili is translated most often into Russian, and then English second.
   75% of all translations are either from (65%) or into (10%) English.
   47% of all translated books were published in either English, French, or German.

   Bellos makes this poignant comment which should influence our thinking concerning how to spread the Gospel:

Culture is not the prerogative of any part or place in the world, but book culture [...] is heavily concentrated in Britain, the United States, France, and Germany. (pg 210)

   If you are thinking of ministering outside of those four countries, think through non-literary approaches and concentrate on them. Even though literature (particularly the Word of God) will be vital for the growth of the work of God, it may not be vital for the beginning of that work in many places.  Consider whether this was not true in earliest Christian times.

Blame-shifting the source of our sin

The source of sin lies closer to home than you or I may want to admit.  It's easy to blame God or the devil for our struggles, but the primary source of our sin lies within our own hearts.  Explaining temptation by saying, "God is testing me" or "Satan is attacking me" positions "me" either as the victim, if I am defeated, or the hero, if I prevail.  But confessing that "My heart is desperately wicked" provides no such comforts.  It heads off all attempts to shift blame, and cuts down all the pretensions of spiritual pride.

~ Colin Smith, Jonah: Navigating a God-Centered Life

(recently given to me by friends, and it's pretty rich so far.)

Only Sacred Places

There are no unsacred places only sacred places and desecrated places.

~ Wendell Berry

  A thoroughly Christian sentiment, though I'd never heard of Wendell Berry before reading this quote this afternoon, and I have no reason to think he would see it as such.  May we seek to restore the sacredness to the places that have been desecrated.

Thy Kingdom come...

 

Grace in Witnessing

Non-christians will always automatically hear gospel presentations as just appeals to become moral and religious--unless in your preaching you use the good news of grace against legalism.  ~ Tim Keller (from his 'Preaching Syllabus')

We Love Him, BECAUSE...

He who loves may be sure he was loved first; and he who chooses God for his delight and portion may conclude confidently that God has chosen him to be one of those who shall enjoy Him and be happy in Him forever; because our love and electing of Him is but the return and repercussion of the beams of His love shining upon us.”

— Robert Leighton
A Practical Commentary upon the First Epistle of Peter


(via Of First Importance)

1 Peter 1:17-19 paraphrase, with thoughts on fear

If the one whom you call 'Daddy' is the impartial Judge of everyone's actions, your life in this distant place should be lived with fear and the knowledge that your freedom from all the emptiness that you inherited at birth has been bought, and know that it cost the treasured life-blood of the perfect Christ, not some fleeting fortune which would have vanished anyways.

   Generally, our culture has said that no one should ever have any reason to fear and that fear is bad. In a perfect world, yes; but in a broken world, all must know fear, and fear can actually be good. In 1 Peter 1:17-19, the believer is called to live with fear and knowledge of freedom. That sounds strange. The gospel says that there is a proper fear that remains with the Christian while they are 'in exile' in this land which is never fully home, but with that fear there is the knowledge that we have been ransomed from the futility of the temporary by the most precious of treasures. For those who call God 'Father', there will be a day when our exile is complete, when we are free from the emptiness from which we have been ransomed, and then we will no longer need to fear, for we will be like Him. For those who do not know God as Father, they ought to be terrified lest the impartial Judge speak of their works immediately. And even in this world, there are people who should rightly terrify the doers of evil.

There is more on this topic of Christian fear to consider... 2 Cor 5:11; Jude 23; Heb 12:18-29

Challenges from Psalm 115

THE IDOL 

He made a golden idol;

He gave it every organ.

Yet, no part of it is vital; 

So, it can't receive his corban.

Only if the God you serve truly sees, speaks, feels and does can you see, speak, feel or do.  If instead you serve a piece of wood or metal, the cravings of the depraved heart (fame/glory/ a name for yourself, superiority and prejudice), the cravings of a debased body (excess food or drink, illicit sex), the cravings of a deformed mind (ultimate knowledge and its power), you are serving idols that are senseless: blind, deaf, mute, and without feeling.   The idols we serve express their sense-lessness through us.  So, which of the GODS around you beckons you to bow?  

Does the American Dream of ultimate comfort, security and satisfaction blind your sight to what is real?  

Does the oft-sanctioned lie of being a superior people (maybe, 'a Christian nation' or 'a nation that fights for its and others' freedoms) cause you to despise the suffering of your fellow humans whom Christ loved, blinding you to the reality of your utter sameness before the throne of God?  Does the idol of Freedom demand your allegiance compelling you to attend it and exalt it and yourself above the humble service and obedience which ought to be pledged to the King of the Universe at all costs to self?  Has the God of Temporal Security slandered the Truth and said that you have been or should have been promised safety as you go about this 'mist'-y life?  Has the Deceiver of the Fountain of Youth told you that foolishness is wisdom or that this world's beauty is meant to be lasting?

Then, read Psalm 115 and meditate on the God who actually walks through the heavens, who can actually remember and bless and give gifts and help and shield.  Give Him glory, all peoples; fear and trust in His Name!

Visual Map of World Population

The World's Population Displayed Proportionally by Nation

(thanks to 22 words)

Good News, as reported in the Media

No, really it is good, positive news:

 The Woman who found Mr. Right at age 70 and was walked down the Aisle by her Dad!

 We are living in one of the most peaceful times in history, or maybe the MOST peaceful time in history!