Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
The Bible as God's Very Word
When I was a youngster my mom would never leave the house without making a list of chores for me and my two brothers. I am sure many of you were afflicted in this same way. When my mom came home the chores were usually done. However, sometimes my brothers would get side tracked and mom would come home to a pig sty (notice that I said "my brothers." Usually they would try and con me into doing their chores). About 10 min before mom was supposed to get home we would scurry around the house trying to finish what we could. When mom would walk through the door we would hear her yell, "Luke! Clint! Jimmy! Get down here!" We would walk with our heads down knowing we were in trouble. Mom would then say, "Boys, why are your chores not done?" Usually we would come up with all sorts of excuses. Many of which were down right lame. What do you think mom's response would have been if we would have said, "Duh Mom, you never told us to clean the kitchen, mop and vacuum the floors, mow the lawn, and make our beds you wrote it. We would have done these things if you would have told us to do them, but you didn't. All you did was write us a list." First of all, this would have royally ticked my mother off. My Mother usually never loses her head when she is angry. I am sure that her response would have been something like this, "What? You know full well that when I write something it is no less from my mouth than when I speak it. You are merely looking for a way to not do your chores. GET THESE CHORES DONE NOW!" We all know that both speaking and writing are forms of communication. When my mom wrote us a chore list it was just as much from her mouth as if she had spoken it. Writing, in a sense, is speaking in written/codified form. This is why you would go to jail if you recieved a letter from President Bush commanding you to go to court house and sign up for the draft and did not do it. Just because President Bush did not tell you to go to the court house with his mouth does not mean that he did not tell you to go. He told you in written form.
The Bible is God's Word. God has spoken. The Bible is no less the very words of God because it is in written form. Imagine if right now God were to come down to you in the form of an angel and command you (in His God voice) to go to Wal-Mart and buy as many tubes of toothpaste as you could fit in your shopping cart. Would you not immediately drop whatever you are doing to go to Wal-Mart to do what He told you to do? Of course you would. I mean come on, God actually told you to go to Wal-Mart. Only a fool would not take it seriously. Why then do we not take seriously what God has said in His Word. That is right, what God has said in His word is no less from His mouth than if He were to appear to you in the form of an angel and specifically tell you something. Why do we seem to have this disconnect today? Why is it that we do not equate the authority and truth of the written Word with the spoken Word? Do you take God's word as seriously as you would if He were to come to you in the form of an angel and tell you something? Would you take the command to "not store up treasures on earth but in heaven" more seriously if God were to manifest Himself to you and speak to you audibly? Probably, because God is invisible, we do not take His written Word as seriously as we do His spoken Word.
Once we realize that the Bible is the very Word of God there is no going back. Once this is realized, why would we want to look anywhere but to the Bible for answers. If I want to know how to shoot a basketball I am not going to call Bill Gates. No, I am going to call Michael Jordan. If I want to know how to shoot a basketball I am going to call the basketball expert. If I want to know how my wife is feeling I am not going to call her brides maids. No, I am going to go to the source and ask my wife how she is feeling. If I want to know who God is, how He works, what He thinks, and what He expects of me I am going to ask God. So many people today develop their idea of who God is without taking into consideration what God has already said about who He is. Did you catch that? They have not taken into consideration what God has already said about HIMSELF.
Who is God? What does He expect of you and Me? Well, I could really care less what you or I think. What I want to know is what God thinks. This may come as a blow to your self esteem, but your thoughts on God are worthless to me and should be worthless to you. I do not say this because I think I am smarter than you. No, I say this because God is smarter than you AND He has spoken. What counts is God's thoughts on Himself, because He is the expert on who He is, how He works, and what He expects of us. Your thoughts on God are only good in so far as they are shaped by what God (the expert) has said. Sorry to be so up front, but if your ideas conflict with God's then you are wrong. This is why innovative theology is worthless. As a theologian, it is my goal not to come up with new ideas, but to conform my ideas to those of God's. It is my goal, as a theologian, to think God's thoughts after God. To do anything else is down right silly.
More on this later...
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Saturday, June 2, 2007
An Update and Some Thoughts
This past wednesday Baby James had an appointment with his neurologist and pediatritian. Overall, things are looking up for Baby James. Dr. Rhodes (his pediatritian) was overly surprised to hear that Baby James no longer needs his g-tube. She referred to him as the "Miracle Boy." We talked to her about his g-tube. She recommended that we keep it in for another month to be safe. Kristal and I both agreed with the Doctor. As much as we would like it out, we know that, for the sake of the unexpected, it is best to keep it in. He has been eating on his own now for over two and half weeks, so we know that he will most likely not need it. Our meeting with the neurologist (Dr. Morris) was extremely informative. Immediately after looking at Baby James Dr. Morris made some general observations. First of all, he informed us that he could instantly tell that Baby James had a brain injury. Although most babies cry, Baby James cries like a baby who had a brain injury. Although most babies move their limbs, Baby James moves his limbs like a baby who had a brain injury. Babies with brain injuries cry and move their limbs, which is normal, however, they cry and move their limbs in frantic/spastic ways. Because of this, he decided that it would be best to put Baby James on some muscle relaxing medicine. The medicine is suppose to help him, umm... relax. All I can say is, "Thank you Lord for muscle relaxing medicine!" Since we have been giving him medicine, he has been sleeping normally and crying much less. At first, when we gave him the medicine, he was having a hard time eating because he was so tired. He is starting to get used to the medicine and is now eating more than he was before he was on the medicine. Before giving Baby James this medicine, he was too frantic to look us in the eyes. Now he looks at us. Before giving Baby James this medicine, he would only sleep about 2 hours a shot, now he sleeps about 4 hours at a shot. Baby James is finally happy. Make no mistake about it, he is still Mr. Cranky Pants, but he is much more civil about it. He is much more aware and happy when he is awake, and he actually sleeps when his eyes close.
Here is a list of things to pray about: 1. Pray that Baby James would continue to heal. He has come a long way. God has done some wonderful things. There is still a lot of healing left. All of the doctors are telling us that Baby James will for sure have issues later on in life because of his injury. What a wonderful thing it would be for us to be able to, 10 years down the road, tell them that Baby James has no issues because God is mighty to heal. 2. Pray that God would continue to allow this medicine to be effective for Baby James. Pray that he would continue to sleep soundly. Pray that he would continue to be happy. 3. Pray that the Lord would continue to teach us wonderful things in light of what we have gone through. 4. Pray for me as I look for a job. I hope this doesn't sound too picky, BUT specifically pray that I would land a job where I would have plenty of time to study. I am specifically thinking of a job doing security at a guard post. I have been applying for security positions. Pray that the Lord would open up for me a job where i would be able to work and study. I would either like a job like this, or a job doing ministry of some kind. I really would like a ministry position, but I do know that not many churches would feel comfortable with a 25 year old in leadership. 5. Kristal and I are ready to get on with life. We really want to get back to church etc. Tomorrow we are planning on going to church. Pray that it would go well and that Baby James would be handleable (yep, I made that word up). 6. Kristal is still healing from delivery. She is getting around great, but there is still a lot of soreness and pain. Pray that she would completely heal quickly. 7. Pray that the Lord would continue to strengthen our marriage. This circumstance has grown us closer together. Pray that our love would deepen even more. 8. Lastly, pray that God would provide a place of fellowship for us. This is something I have been desiring since we have been in NH. Pray that the Lord would lead us to the right place. We have visited many wonderful churches since we have been up here, but we are still not sure where we are going to go. Kristal and I are both hungering for some good godly fellowship.
Thank you all for continuing in prayer for us. We love you all. Thank you also for praying for my finals. I did well on my ethics final, but felt a bit unsure about my Christianity and Culture final. The Lord provided me much study time. I have learned so much through my classes this past semester. Oh, and pray for my seminary--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Dr. James Emery White was named the new president of the seminary last July. Well, he just resigned as Gordon-Conwell's president. Dr. Haddon Robinson has been named the new interim president. Pray that the Lord would put the right man in this position. Pray that the Lord would put a man in who is doctrinally sound, emphasizes the original languages, and helps train students be culture engagers.
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