Zechariah the Father of John the Baptist:
Luke 1:78-79
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace
God sent Jesus because of who God is. God is tender and merciful.
When God proclaimed his name to Moses the first way he described himself was a God merciful and gracious.
Exodus 34:5-7
5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Zechariah’s hope was in God’s mercy and our’s should be too.
In the psalms it says: the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Or his Mercy in KJV.
Our hope needs to be in God’s mercy for eternity, but also for day to day life. Everything we have is by God’s mercy. Our cars, our, brains, our arms and legs all is by his mercy. All goodness in us and others is only by his mercy. Any love, patience, or kindness we have or see is from his mercy.
In Zechariah’s prophecy he refers back to The Prophet Malachi. Who said over 400 years earlier:
4:2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.
The World was, and still is in many ways, a Dark world. The light couldn’t come from this world. The sunrise had to come from above like Zechariah said, “the sunrise shall visit us from on high.”
Jesus Christ is the Sun of Righteousness he is the light of the World.
Look at how he demonstrates a righteousness that the world has never seen.
John 8:3-11
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Jesus Christ comes with righteousness that shines so brightly it forces everyone around him, the Scribe, the Pharisees, the woman, to look at their own sin their own lack of righteousness.
Right after The incident with the woman in Vs 12 Jesus Proclaims:
12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
This is our hope. That we know longer have to walk in darkness, but can know him. And walk in his light. But in the very next verse the darkness of this world shows up.
13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”
The Pharisees were there accusing him. And that is the world that God sent his son into. God was tender and merciful in sending his son into a world that was not tender and merciful at all.
The world greeted him with No room in Inn and Herod’s plot. The same world would crucify him before long and pierce his mother’s heart.
Jesus Guides our feet into the way of peace as Zechariah said.
Jesus taught us the way of peace:
Luke 6:27-36
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
This is the way of peace. This is Christ’s way and how we can have peace. By loving our enemies. By not getting angry. Not seeking our own way. Not getting even. This is the way of peace God sent Jesus to show us.
This is the gift we were given that we remember all year around and especially on Christmas. God sent Jesus to show us this light. This sunrise. And to die on the cross for our sins that we could be brought into the light.
Even in the darkness we can hope in him. And we can hope in the tender and merciful God who gave us such a great gift.
In one of the darkest times of the history of God’s people he sent his people a promise through the prophet Jeremiah, and I’ll close with that:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases his mercies never come to an end.” Amen
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Some more thoughts on RISK
OK. So right after I wrote the below post I was thinking.
After dinner on Thursday John "The Conqueror" took over the entire globe in less than an hour and a half. And the Church of Jesus Christ has been working on this assignment for about 2,000 years and counting.
Our victory is assured. All the power in heaven on earth is on our side. But the victroy doesn't come quickly. God is most glorified by giving darkness its day so that:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,on them has light shined.
This is my best idea this morning. I should develop a new version of "Worldveiw Risk." We'll Play Christians Vs Socialist, Atheist, and Muslims.
Heres my tag line.
"CONQUER THE WORLD WITH YOUR MISSIONARIES, BUT MAKE SURE TO REENFORCE YOUR TERRITORIES WITH SOME REFORMERS"
After dinner on Thursday John "The Conqueror" took over the entire globe in less than an hour and a half. And the Church of Jesus Christ has been working on this assignment for about 2,000 years and counting.
Our victory is assured. All the power in heaven on earth is on our side. But the victroy doesn't come quickly. God is most glorified by giving darkness its day so that:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,on them has light shined.
This is my best idea this morning. I should develop a new version of "Worldveiw Risk." We'll Play Christians Vs Socialist, Atheist, and Muslims.
Heres my tag line.
"CONQUER THE WORLD WITH YOUR MISSIONARIES, BUT MAKE SURE TO REENFORCE YOUR TERRITORIES WITH SOME REFORMERS"
Thanksgiving
So I guess if I rated my Thanksgiving experience on a scale of 1 to 10 it would be a solid 7. Which is better than expected so I'll give some thanks right now.
Highlights:
- Spent some time, in the morning, doing Family worship with Penelope and her friend Aman (who had a sleep over) talked about repentance.
- Cooked a 20 Lbs. Turkey. That was kind of an impulse buy, and the 11 of us didn't eat half of it. I was planning on cooking it for 5 hours, but really ended up cooking it for 6. Everyone liked it (or at least claimed to).
- I asked for volunteers to read Ephesians 5:15-21 before the meal and my Sister's uncle Lenord did the honors: 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- After reading we all said what we were thankful for.
- I got to play Risk. I don't remember the last time I played a game of Risk. Five people played. I didn't win, but was the last to be conquered. So I guess that is like a Silver medal. I held on to Australia for almost the entire game. Afterward I talked to John "The conquerer" my Sister's faither in law about strategy.
Yeah definitely a solid 7 over all.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Shake the NAtions
On Monday (my day off) I was napping. I was woken up just before noon by a short earthquake. My bed was shaking. I went down stairs and asked my roomate Dave if he had felt it and he hadn't. On account of this I thought that I had dreamt the shaking until Tuesday morning when I went back to work and a cowoker mentioned the quake to me. A 3.1 or something in alumn rock. Very perceptive Dave hehehe. Anyway.
After loafing around for awhile I went to Lake Elizabeth (one of my favirote places) I jogged/ walked around the lake while listening to John Piper's lecture on the life and thought of St. Augstine. It was quite moving. Jogging while listening to John Piper can be a extremely pleasurable experience (thank God for portable MP3 players). I had not previously known that a central issue in Augustine's conversion was delivernace from the bondage to sexual lust that had such a grip on him. He came to see that godly chastity was a greater pleasure than sex. There were also many other wonderful points in the lecture http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1474_The_Swan_is_Not_Silent/
Later Monday night I happened to go to good old Half Priced Books, where I hadn't been for a few years since before they moved to Pacific Commons, I picked up a copy of the Confessions for 3 dollars and 98 cents. Great deal. I also got a CD of BAch organ music and a copy of the Forest Gump Soundtrack. Anyway the Confessions is a really good book. It started out a little slow. I didn't really get much out of the part about being a baby, but once he gets to adolescence its a real page turner. It is great how he intermingles confessions of his sinful life apart from Christ with praises of the God who saved him from it.
"Pride immitates what is lofty; but you alone are God most high above all things. What does ambition seek but honour and glory? Yet you alone are worthy of honour and are glorious for eternity. The cruelty of powerful people aims to arouse fear. Who is to be feared but God alone?"
Augustine
After loafing around for awhile I went to Lake Elizabeth (one of my favirote places) I jogged/ walked around the lake while listening to John Piper's lecture on the life and thought of St. Augstine. It was quite moving. Jogging while listening to John Piper can be a extremely pleasurable experience (thank God for portable MP3 players). I had not previously known that a central issue in Augustine's conversion was delivernace from the bondage to sexual lust that had such a grip on him. He came to see that godly chastity was a greater pleasure than sex. There were also many other wonderful points in the lecture http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1474_The_Swan_is_Not_Silent/
Later Monday night I happened to go to good old Half Priced Books, where I hadn't been for a few years since before they moved to Pacific Commons, I picked up a copy of the Confessions for 3 dollars and 98 cents. Great deal. I also got a CD of BAch organ music and a copy of the Forest Gump Soundtrack. Anyway the Confessions is a really good book. It started out a little slow. I didn't really get much out of the part about being a baby, but once he gets to adolescence its a real page turner. It is great how he intermingles confessions of his sinful life apart from Christ with praises of the God who saved him from it.
"Pride immitates what is lofty; but you alone are God most high above all things. What does ambition seek but honour and glory? Yet you alone are worthy of honour and are glorious for eternity. The cruelty of powerful people aims to arouse fear. Who is to be feared but God alone?"
Augustine
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
O Lord hear; O Lord forgive; O Lord pay attention and act
Daniel 9
7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you...
11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him...
the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done...
18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you...
11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him...
the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done...
18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
Sunday, July 13, 2008
dok-sol-uh-jee
dox·ol·o·gy: 1.a hymn or form of words containing an ascription of praise to God.
Pastor Knauf has encouraged people in the congregation to write their own doxologies.
Heragoes:
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ
Whose lovingkindness is indescribably wonderful
Who came to give life to the world
Who offers an end to hunger and thirst
Himself the bread of life and the living water
To be bought without money and without price
Praise be to Him who laid the foundation of the earth
Who commands the morning, the storms and the sea
Yet who offers abiding love and fellowship
Who becomes a friend and enters a sinners heart
May the giver of all blessinsgs be praised by all the blessed forever and ever
On a similar note check out this video (which I've been unsucessfully trying to embed directly on the blog for like 30 minutes):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuihT9wRc34
Pastor Knauf has encouraged people in the congregation to write their own doxologies.
Heragoes:
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ
Whose lovingkindness is indescribably wonderful
Who came to give life to the world
Who offers an end to hunger and thirst
Himself the bread of life and the living water
To be bought without money and without price
Praise be to Him who laid the foundation of the earth
Who commands the morning, the storms and the sea
Yet who offers abiding love and fellowship
Who becomes a friend and enters a sinners heart
May the giver of all blessinsgs be praised by all the blessed forever and ever
On a similar note check out this video (which I've been unsucessfully trying to embed directly on the blog for like 30 minutes):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuihT9wRc34
Monday, June 30, 2008
Midnight (more like 2:30 am) snack
These things are the bomb. I mean usually I justcan't get that into chips. But I'm definitely all into these. I think it is the sweetness and the texture. I heartily recommend them for your late night stash.
This Sabbath I think I rested a little too much. I took a nap in the afternoon. It was supposed to be a short one (an hour or less) but I guess I feel sort of the same way about the snooze button as I do about these chips: Once I start I just can't stop. So after my 2 and a half hour siesta I now (predictably) can't sleep tonight.
Chaplain Keith Knauf preached today. I really like Chaplain Knauf. He inspires me to be humble and cheerful thru trials.
Cool fact about Chaplain Knauf #1 He learned Greek from John Piper
Cool fact about Chaplain Knauf # 2 He preaches wearing a tie that is really not a tie.
I saw him take it off after service. There is really a strap that goes under his collar and holds it on. Very risky neck wear. At least it's not a clip on.
Oh and I really like his preaching too:
Thursday, June 19, 2008
A Fable AKA No back up plan
The following is a fable. It is not in the Bible.
Last night I couldn't sleep and I listened to a Sermon and heard this fable for the first time.
The Fable:
The Lord Jesus Christ ascends into heaven after his death resurection and post resurection apearances. The Lord is greeted by the 24 elders. One or the elders asks him.
Elder: So Lord what's the plan?
The Lord: Well one of my disciples betrayed me you know, but I've still got 11 of the 12 and they have about 100 other believers with them. Those 11 are going to preach the Gospel to every creature on the face of the earth and make disciples of all nations.
Elder: 11? and about 100 followers?
The Lord: Yes.
Elder: The 11 that doesn't include that doubting Thomas does it?
The Lord: It does.
Elder: The hot heads James & John?
The Lord: Yes certainly.
Elder: Cowardly Peter?
The Lord: Oh yes ofcourse he's the leader of the pack.
Elder: What is the back up plan?
Last night I couldn't sleep and I listened to a Sermon and heard this fable for the first time.
The Fable:
The Lord Jesus Christ ascends into heaven after his death resurection and post resurection apearances. The Lord is greeted by the 24 elders. One or the elders asks him.
Elder: So Lord what's the plan?
The Lord: Well one of my disciples betrayed me you know, but I've still got 11 of the 12 and they have about 100 other believers with them. Those 11 are going to preach the Gospel to every creature on the face of the earth and make disciples of all nations.
Elder: 11? and about 100 followers?
The Lord: Yes.
Elder: The 11 that doesn't include that doubting Thomas does it?
The Lord: It does.
Elder: The hot heads James & John?
The Lord: Yes certainly.
Elder: Cowardly Peter?
The Lord: Oh yes ofcourse he's the leader of the pack.
Elder: What is the back up plan?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Don't Be Deceived
I studied some in James 1 recently. I really enjoyed it because God gave me some insights out of it that I never noticed before. I can sometimes read over a passage numerous times without getting something and then bam I get it. Those insights are below. Also of note is that what James says about the way of life and death is the same thing Paul says in Romans 6:16-23. Yet many people maintain that James and Paul disagree.
Passage James 1:13-17
13Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
This passage makes several points and they may seem to be unrelated to one another. It mentions:
- Where temptation comes from.
- The deadly end result of temptation and sin.
- Not being decived.
- God giving gifts.
Really these all fit together for a clear message: There is a great deception with two lies. And there is the opposite One great truth with two parts.
The deception is this. Lie one: Bad comes from God. Lie two Good comes from us.
The Truth is this. Bad comes from us. All good comes from God.
Our passage starts by telling us not to make excuses for our temptations. All of us to try to excuse our own temptations and sins. This is our nature as sinful people. We want to blame other people, circumstances, and ultimately God for what we do wrong. We may say or think: “If God hadn’t brought these problems into our lives and put these temptations in front of us we would have been better.” These are lies. We are to blame for our own sins.
Temptation comes from our own desire. We own it and are responsible for it. It comes from our hearts. Like Jesus said, Mark 7:15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him…. "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
This is what is within our hearts. When it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
All of our sins bring forth death. All work in that direction. They bring death and destruction to our lives and the lives of our neighbors.
James has already dealt with the lie and the truth of where Evil comes from. Now he moves on to where good comes from.
16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above
The word “every” here is very important. The Bible doesn’t just say that God gives us some good gifts. The Bible says every good gift comes from him. In other words no good gifts come from anyone or anywhere else. Every good thing we’ve ever had or seen was from him. The goodness we see in ourselves or other people is a gift from God. Even in people who don’t believe in him. The good doesn’t come from us. It is only by the grace of God. That is what we are told not to be deceived about. Don’t believe the lie that good comes from any other source but God or that there is goodness apart from God.
In contrast to our sins that work towards death and destruction is God's goodness seen in Christ. In the ministry of Jesus Christ we see that he reversed and overcame repeatedly the deadly and destructive effects of sin. Everything Jesus did opposed sin, was the opposite of sin, Jesus was and is the giver of life. He made the blind see. He made the lame walk. He cleansed the lepers. He made the deaf hear. He raised the dead. He preached good news to those who were poor. Ultimately by his own death and resurrection he conquered death.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The SAK
Last Night my daughter had a Spring concert at her school. I was expecting a very boring evening. I suppose some parents actually enjoy these events. Not me. The place is always crowded. The show itself pushes an hour and a half and consists mostly of performances not including my daughter. When she does sing its with like a hundred other kids. Not my cup of tea.
Any how this one actually turned out to be pretty intersting Thanks to the Smart Alecky Kid.
I ended up spending most of the time outside of the Cafeteria in the courtyard talking to this kid. He's pretty interesting. He's an 8th grader, but his sister is a 3rd grader and he always has to help out at the school cuz his mom's on the PTA. He always has something smart alecky to say. The first time I encountered this young man was a couple of months back at Open House night. He was helping out by the cash register at the book fair. Penelope loves book fairs she's a total book worm. So we're in line and this smart alecky kid starts trying to hard sell Penelope on some sort of decorative pen. The exchange went something like this:
Smart Alecky kid to Penelope: come on buy it you know you want to.
My Smart Alecky ex wife: How do you know? maybe she doesn't have any money?
SAK: cuz Mom's behind her (in line).
Ex wife: How do you know? Maybe I don't have any money?
SAK : But Dad's behind her and Dad always has a credit card.
Me: What
SAK: Yeah you should let me borrow your card and give me the pin number. I'll give it back to you.
I don't recall if the pen was purchased. I know I didn't buy it. I never spend money at those things. But the conversation stuck out in my mind. It was the most surprising and entertaining part of my open house experience.
So fast forward to last night. This time lack of seating turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I had a program (which SAK handed me). Checking my program I realized there were like 10 or more songs before P sang again. So I was out like trout. Kicking it in the Courtyard. But still what to do with the time? Thats when I decided to start chatting with SAK.
Me: These things are pretty boring huh?
The conversation flowed smoothly from there. He was really easy to talk to cuz he's such a big mouth. We talked about how he doesn't fit in with other Junior Highers, Computer games, model rockets, classwork procrastination, and Family Guy(which I think is a very offensive show). I worked in some discussion of God, Christ & the Bible. He's not a Christian. Wasn't very interested. He told me that one time his cousins ( who apparently are pretty serious Christians) had him read a Bible Passage and he fell asleep. And one time he went to their church and got in trouble for accidentally slamming some other kid with a door while playing hide and seek.
Anyway I was pleased that I had an entertaining way to spend the time and got to at least mention Christ and reading the Bible to the SAK. I won't be surprised if our paths cross again.
Any how this one actually turned out to be pretty intersting Thanks to the Smart Alecky Kid.
I ended up spending most of the time outside of the Cafeteria in the courtyard talking to this kid. He's pretty interesting. He's an 8th grader, but his sister is a 3rd grader and he always has to help out at the school cuz his mom's on the PTA. He always has something smart alecky to say. The first time I encountered this young man was a couple of months back at Open House night. He was helping out by the cash register at the book fair. Penelope loves book fairs she's a total book worm. So we're in line and this smart alecky kid starts trying to hard sell Penelope on some sort of decorative pen. The exchange went something like this:
Smart Alecky kid to Penelope: come on buy it you know you want to.
My Smart Alecky ex wife: How do you know? maybe she doesn't have any money?
SAK: cuz Mom's behind her (in line).
Ex wife: How do you know? Maybe I don't have any money?
SAK : But Dad's behind her and Dad always has a credit card.
Me: What
SAK: Yeah you should let me borrow your card and give me the pin number. I'll give it back to you.
I don't recall if the pen was purchased. I know I didn't buy it. I never spend money at those things. But the conversation stuck out in my mind. It was the most surprising and entertaining part of my open house experience.
So fast forward to last night. This time lack of seating turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I had a program (which SAK handed me). Checking my program I realized there were like 10 or more songs before P sang again. So I was out like trout. Kicking it in the Courtyard. But still what to do with the time? Thats when I decided to start chatting with SAK.
Me: These things are pretty boring huh?
The conversation flowed smoothly from there. He was really easy to talk to cuz he's such a big mouth. We talked about how he doesn't fit in with other Junior Highers, Computer games, model rockets, classwork procrastination, and Family Guy(which I think is a very offensive show). I worked in some discussion of God, Christ & the Bible. He's not a Christian. Wasn't very interested. He told me that one time his cousins ( who apparently are pretty serious Christians) had him read a Bible Passage and he fell asleep. And one time he went to their church and got in trouble for accidentally slamming some other kid with a door while playing hide and seek.
Anyway I was pleased that I had an entertaining way to spend the time and got to at least mention Christ and reading the Bible to the SAK. I won't be surprised if our paths cross again.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Unbound Strong Man
One of the wonderful things about Jesus is how powerful he is. He upholds the universe by the word of his power (Heb 1:3). When the dog bites. When the bee stings. When I'm feeling sad. I simply remember that it is a theological impossibility that these things happened because my Lord wasn't strong enough to stop them.
He holds the whole world in his hand and all the details there in. Not just for those who admit it. For everyone.
He holds every heart beat. Every breath. Every firing neuron. In his hands. Who wouldn't Fear Him? Who wouldn't Worship Him?
He holds the whole world in his hand and all the details there in. Not just for those who admit it. For everyone.
He holds every heart beat. Every breath. Every firing neuron. In his hands. Who wouldn't Fear Him? Who wouldn't Worship Him?
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Forerunner
I really like this website: http://forerunner.com/
This guy Jay Rogers, and whoever else is involved in the site, are using media resources for the expansion of the Kingdom.
Check out this video clip:
This guy Jay Rogers, and whoever else is involved in the site, are using media resources for the expansion of the Kingdom.
Check out this video clip:
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Gift Exchange AKA further adventures in Seekonomics
In the below orange Paragraph Charles talks about wealth being personalized Through Locality and Free gift exchange. He later corrected "free gift exchange" in favor of just "gift exchange".
So we are back full circle at the Gift exchange. I just hope my new CD doesn't get redistributed and I end up being the one holding the half eaten bag of generic corn flakes at the end of the night. This is a joke it isn't meant to have a double meaning which applies to an eceonomic system. But maybe it does. Its unintentional.
I think what he is talking about (unless it is totally over my head) with the gift exchange is obligations that should/would/could come with wealth. This is like the OT practice of allowing your field to be gleaned by widows, orphans, and foreigners. And even letting it lie totally fallow every seven years for this purpose. Part of the covenant in exchange for posessing means of production was to be gracious to the poor. I can see how this would work in agriculture. Even now it could be done literally just the way it was in the Bible. But it is hard to envision how it would work in any other industry. Like if I owned a Jelly Bean factory would I have to sell all the Jelliflops really cheap. Oh wait they do do that.
This also reminds me of what some OP Missionaries are doing in a third world context they have a farm and pay day laborers in food to harvest the crop (or whatever else needs to be done). THey pay them 2 days worth of grain for their families for every one day worked. Maybe non agricultural businesses could contribute a percentage of their earnings to such a farm.
THe bigger question though is who enforces such a gift exchange. I think this is the underlying question in this whole discussion actually. Why would sinful people voluntarily live this way? WOuldn't the state have to enforce it? And then where are we?
In the OT God enforced it through prophets and judgments severe judgments. BTW Deuternomy 27-30 is one of my favirote portions of Scripture it would be advantagious for us all to recite it once a month or something.
But would it be presumptious of us to set up our own system and then claim that God enforced it? Maybe if we were as faithful as possible to the revealed covenant it wouldn't be setting up a new system at all, but returning to faithfulness to the already revealed (and still in force) covenant.
Then again we aught to remember that the Covenant was broken continually resulting in ever increased judgment. But then again then again this should be more of an argument for faithfulness than against it. THe covenant exists whether we attempt to follow it or not.
See Charles' paragraph:
However, I am not comfortable with mutualism's general disdain for inherited property and landed wealth. I think distributivism is closer to the biblical example. Not all concentrated wealth is bad. But it becomes bad when it lacks charity and seeks its own independent existance above people and their organic ties. I think alienation is the natural consequence of economic entities like corporations which are nothing but abstract and impersonal bureaucracies. Bureaucracy and oligarchy always emerge where the scale of organization is big. Thus, we need to get away from the 'abstract and large' and move toward the 'small and personal'. Wealth needs to be personalized, accomplished in a rediscovery of locality and free gift exchange, and one of the first steps in this direction would be an empowering of community---e.g., confining family, church, and state to their proper biblical spheres...
Oh and here is another great Charles Paragraph:
Exchange can't be 'free'. So let's leave it at 'gift exchange'. I got this from James A. Smith's book "radical orthodoxy". Gift exchange is a term RO uses to describe tithing and liturgy in both worship and christian life/economics. It is an exchange which contains an expected value, or a 'return' for charity given... more like 'obligations', 'oaths', and 'duties'.... I guess a 'covenantal exchange' may have another dimension where not only oaths are sworn, but charity, grace, and the welfare and good reputation of the other is also contextualized into the trading of goods/services. Thus, our economy should reflect the 'offerings' of our worship? The love for Christ should be the model for our love for neighbor? Thus our daily interactions with neighbors--our economic exchange---should resemble Christ's covenant? There is a charitable, reputatible, binding, and personal dimension?
So we are back full circle at the Gift exchange. I just hope my new CD doesn't get redistributed and I end up being the one holding the half eaten bag of generic corn flakes at the end of the night. This is a joke it isn't meant to have a double meaning which applies to an eceonomic system. But maybe it does. Its unintentional.
I think what he is talking about (unless it is totally over my head) with the gift exchange is obligations that should/would/could come with wealth. This is like the OT practice of allowing your field to be gleaned by widows, orphans, and foreigners. And even letting it lie totally fallow every seven years for this purpose. Part of the covenant in exchange for posessing means of production was to be gracious to the poor. I can see how this would work in agriculture. Even now it could be done literally just the way it was in the Bible. But it is hard to envision how it would work in any other industry. Like if I owned a Jelly Bean factory would I have to sell all the Jelliflops really cheap. Oh wait they do do that.
This also reminds me of what some OP Missionaries are doing in a third world context they have a farm and pay day laborers in food to harvest the crop (or whatever else needs to be done). THey pay them 2 days worth of grain for their families for every one day worked. Maybe non agricultural businesses could contribute a percentage of their earnings to such a farm.
THe bigger question though is who enforces such a gift exchange. I think this is the underlying question in this whole discussion actually. Why would sinful people voluntarily live this way? WOuldn't the state have to enforce it? And then where are we?
In the OT God enforced it through prophets and judgments severe judgments. BTW Deuternomy 27-30 is one of my favirote portions of Scripture it would be advantagious for us all to recite it once a month or something.
But would it be presumptious of us to set up our own system and then claim that God enforced it? Maybe if we were as faithful as possible to the revealed covenant it wouldn't be setting up a new system at all, but returning to faithfulness to the already revealed (and still in force) covenant.
Then again we aught to remember that the Covenant was broken continually resulting in ever increased judgment. But then again then again this should be more of an argument for faithfulness than against it. THe covenant exists whether we attempt to follow it or not.
See Charles' paragraph:
However, I am not comfortable with mutualism's general disdain for inherited property and landed wealth. I think distributivism is closer to the biblical example. Not all concentrated wealth is bad. But it becomes bad when it lacks charity and seeks its own independent existance above people and their organic ties. I think alienation is the natural consequence of economic entities like corporations which are nothing but abstract and impersonal bureaucracies. Bureaucracy and oligarchy always emerge where the scale of organization is big. Thus, we need to get away from the 'abstract and large' and move toward the 'small and personal'. Wealth needs to be personalized, accomplished in a rediscovery of locality and free gift exchange, and one of the first steps in this direction would be an empowering of community---e.g., confining family, church, and state to their proper biblical spheres...
Oh and here is another great Charles Paragraph:
Exchange can't be 'free'. So let's leave it at 'gift exchange'. I got this from James A. Smith's book "radical orthodoxy". Gift exchange is a term RO uses to describe tithing and liturgy in both worship and christian life/economics. It is an exchange which contains an expected value, or a 'return' for charity given... more like 'obligations', 'oaths', and 'duties'.... I guess a 'covenantal exchange' may have another dimension where not only oaths are sworn, but charity, grace, and the welfare and good reputation of the other is also contextualized into the trading of goods/services. Thus, our economy should reflect the 'offerings' of our worship? The love for Christ should be the model for our love for neighbor? Thus our daily interactions with neighbors--our economic exchange---should resemble Christ's covenant? There is a charitable, reputatible, binding, and personal dimension?
Monday, May 19, 2008
Seekonomics
I've been having this discourse with my friend Charles B about a Christian view of economics. As usual when I talk to Charles he comes up with a lot of interesting material. That is why I asked him my original question. It started off as specifically about John Calvin's impact on capitalism and particularly his view of loaning at interest. We never quite got the answer to the original question nailed down, but it opened up other intriguing avenues. See below.
Original message from Simo to Charles:
Charles,
Often in my reading I've come accross statements that say in effect: Calvinism set the stage for modern Capitalism. I'm sure you have seen this too.
My questions are why and how.
In my reading I've come accross three possible connections:
1. The reformation made people generally more responsible i.e. Business men were good stewards, employees were hard working and honest.
Sounds good to me.
2. Calvinist believed that observable temporal blessing, seen in financial gain, was evidence of Eternal election.
This is weird. It's like a back door prosperity gospel, but I bleieve it could have happened.
3. Calvin's teaching on Interest or Usury differed from what had been formerly taught in the Church. Followers of his teachings didn't think it was unethical, as former generrations had, to lend at interest.
This is what I'm most interested in. I was wondering if you had ever studied on it. I would like to know what the Bible teaches about lending. What Calvin taught about lending. The difference. And how his view effected the History of Western Society.
Maybe Calvin took a wrong turn.
Charles response to Simo:
Hi Simon, This is an excellent topic! However, I don't really have an answer, but it's something I've wondered myself. What I find amazing is how uncritical we are about the Reformers. The reformers were as political as they were religious. They had specific ideas on how they wanted to democratize the Church and Empire. Recall, Charles V was a stalwart defender of Rome and Papacy. Free cities like Geneva also had merchant classes who wanted to freedom from the yoke of princes, and so made natural alliance with the protestant cause. So, there were many interests at stake, and I think the politics of that time influenced many theological confessions and treatises. I do not think either Luther or Calvin were objective in this respect. They wanted to establish free churches which were not driven by Roman bishops but by lay and low clergy. I many ways the Reformers did open the doors to capitalism, free markets, republics, and nation-states--sic., the modern era. Likewise today's commentators often appeal to this line of Reformed thought (the protest of Empire and Papacy) in order to justify market societies, science, democracy, and even secularism. To me this is gross isogesis. However, expecting men to seperate their cultural presuppositions (which we are not generally conscious about) from biblical exegesis is unrealistic. Thus, when dealing with various subject matter, it is always smart to differentiate between what is "essential" from "indifferent". A lot of the political and economic ideas of the Reformation where predispostions shaped by their struggle with ceasarpopism. Here are some of my opinions regarding your points:
1. The reformation made people generally more responsible i.e. Business men were good stewards, employees were hard working and honest.
Sounds good to me.
>> Protestant work ethic. Work and time was revolutionized by the Reformers. Prior to the Reformation time was organized around festive masses, i.e., the liturgical calendar. Often liturgical seasons suspended work and normal time for periods of several weeks. For instance, Christmas was celebrated not just for 3 days (like today...if you get a 3 day weekend from work) but from Christmas to Epiphany, or the 12 days of Christmas. Fesitvals were very long compared to modern vacation time. And, in Europe there is still this practice--short workdays, extended holidays, festal weeks, etc. By abolishing festal days, the Reformers inadverdently surrrendered huge segments of the calendar year to the secular, and this allowed the material to rule over the spiritual. In the medieval this was the reverse.
2. Calvinist believed that observable temporal blessing, seen in financial gain, was evidence of Eternal election.
This is weird. It's like a back door prosperity gospel, but I bleieve it could have happened.
>> Gosh. Assyria was rich. So was Babylon. I don't think there's a necessary tie. God took wealth away from Job. Jesus said blessed are the poor. Lazarus and the rich man, etc.. I agree with your here.
3. Calvin's teaching on Interest or Usury differed from what had been formerly taught in the Church. Followers of his teachings didn't think it was unethical, as former generrations had, to lend at interest.
>>> Don't know much about this. As with #2 I wonder if Calvin wasn't influenced by his audience. Protestants tended to get backing from merchants and free cities. Don't know. I further suspect there is more to biblical economics the libertarianism. Libertarianism runs against the emphasis that Reformers placed on covenant and covenantal relations. WE tend to turn Protestantism into an excuse for egoistic individuals. A covenant is not a simple contract between two individuals. It has a corporate and timeless dimension. But even in the OT there a laws limiting the freedom of property. However, this is through the extended family, not state. This is where Leftwing christians go wrong... Property was owned in a covenantal manner, and I think this is how we might want to begin when looking at biblical economics. Start with inheritance rights of families... Got to go back to work!!! didn't have as much time as I wish to talk about this rich subject. I think there is much room to re-evaluate Gary north and the christo-libertarian crowd. Awesome questions. I've been asking myself the same, but haven't had time to go really deep. Thanks Simon! sincerely,charles
Charles then proceeded to send me several interesting links.
I think the most interesting on is the following on Distributism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributism
Here are the other links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_orthodoxy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Localism_(politics)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_Traditionalism
http://www.mutualist.org/
http://r3volutionphase2.com/
My current thoughts:
I think it is undeniable that the Old Testament Theocracy was economically Distributist. The ownership of the "means of production" the land was distributed by families. And there were several laws about protecting these family land rights. Even if through poverty a family lost their land later someone from that family would be able to retrieve it. Some of the hardest warnings in the OT are against those who would violate land rights and boundaries. Even King Ahab couldn't practice Eminent Domain and get away with it.
However I'm not sure if a similar system could be restored today. The concept is kind of frightening . My inner Ron Paul can't handle it because of the prospect of privately owned means of production being taken away and redistributed.
Perhaps it would have to start voluntarily and small scale.
I would love to here anyone else's thoughts on these topics.
Original message from Simo to Charles:
Charles,
Often in my reading I've come accross statements that say in effect: Calvinism set the stage for modern Capitalism. I'm sure you have seen this too.
My questions are why and how.
In my reading I've come accross three possible connections:
1. The reformation made people generally more responsible i.e. Business men were good stewards, employees were hard working and honest.
Sounds good to me.
2. Calvinist believed that observable temporal blessing, seen in financial gain, was evidence of Eternal election.
This is weird. It's like a back door prosperity gospel, but I bleieve it could have happened.
3. Calvin's teaching on Interest or Usury differed from what had been formerly taught in the Church. Followers of his teachings didn't think it was unethical, as former generrations had, to lend at interest.
This is what I'm most interested in. I was wondering if you had ever studied on it. I would like to know what the Bible teaches about lending. What Calvin taught about lending. The difference. And how his view effected the History of Western Society.
Maybe Calvin took a wrong turn.
Charles response to Simo:
Hi Simon, This is an excellent topic! However, I don't really have an answer, but it's something I've wondered myself. What I find amazing is how uncritical we are about the Reformers. The reformers were as political as they were religious. They had specific ideas on how they wanted to democratize the Church and Empire. Recall, Charles V was a stalwart defender of Rome and Papacy. Free cities like Geneva also had merchant classes who wanted to freedom from the yoke of princes, and so made natural alliance with the protestant cause. So, there were many interests at stake, and I think the politics of that time influenced many theological confessions and treatises. I do not think either Luther or Calvin were objective in this respect. They wanted to establish free churches which were not driven by Roman bishops but by lay and low clergy. I many ways the Reformers did open the doors to capitalism, free markets, republics, and nation-states--sic., the modern era. Likewise today's commentators often appeal to this line of Reformed thought (the protest of Empire and Papacy) in order to justify market societies, science, democracy, and even secularism. To me this is gross isogesis. However, expecting men to seperate their cultural presuppositions (which we are not generally conscious about) from biblical exegesis is unrealistic. Thus, when dealing with various subject matter, it is always smart to differentiate between what is "essential" from "indifferent". A lot of the political and economic ideas of the Reformation where predispostions shaped by their struggle with ceasarpopism. Here are some of my opinions regarding your points:
1. The reformation made people generally more responsible i.e. Business men were good stewards, employees were hard working and honest.
Sounds good to me.
>> Protestant work ethic. Work and time was revolutionized by the Reformers. Prior to the Reformation time was organized around festive masses, i.e., the liturgical calendar. Often liturgical seasons suspended work and normal time for periods of several weeks. For instance, Christmas was celebrated not just for 3 days (like today...if you get a 3 day weekend from work) but from Christmas to Epiphany, or the 12 days of Christmas. Fesitvals were very long compared to modern vacation time. And, in Europe there is still this practice--short workdays, extended holidays, festal weeks, etc. By abolishing festal days, the Reformers inadverdently surrrendered huge segments of the calendar year to the secular, and this allowed the material to rule over the spiritual. In the medieval this was the reverse.
2. Calvinist believed that observable temporal blessing, seen in financial gain, was evidence of Eternal election.
This is weird. It's like a back door prosperity gospel, but I bleieve it could have happened.
>> Gosh. Assyria was rich. So was Babylon. I don't think there's a necessary tie. God took wealth away from Job. Jesus said blessed are the poor. Lazarus and the rich man, etc.. I agree with your here.
3. Calvin's teaching on Interest or Usury differed from what had been formerly taught in the Church. Followers of his teachings didn't think it was unethical, as former generrations had, to lend at interest.
>>> Don't know much about this. As with #2 I wonder if Calvin wasn't influenced by his audience. Protestants tended to get backing from merchants and free cities. Don't know. I further suspect there is more to biblical economics the libertarianism. Libertarianism runs against the emphasis that Reformers placed on covenant and covenantal relations. WE tend to turn Protestantism into an excuse for egoistic individuals. A covenant is not a simple contract between two individuals. It has a corporate and timeless dimension. But even in the OT there a laws limiting the freedom of property. However, this is through the extended family, not state. This is where Leftwing christians go wrong... Property was owned in a covenantal manner, and I think this is how we might want to begin when looking at biblical economics. Start with inheritance rights of families... Got to go back to work!!! didn't have as much time as I wish to talk about this rich subject. I think there is much room to re-evaluate Gary north and the christo-libertarian crowd. Awesome questions. I've been asking myself the same, but haven't had time to go really deep. Thanks Simon! sincerely,charles
Charles then proceeded to send me several interesting links.
I think the most interesting on is the following on Distributism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributism
Here are the other links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_orthodoxy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Localism_(politics)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_Traditionalism
http://www.mutualist.org/
http://r3volutionphase2.com/
My current thoughts:
I think it is undeniable that the Old Testament Theocracy was economically Distributist. The ownership of the "means of production" the land was distributed by families. And there were several laws about protecting these family land rights. Even if through poverty a family lost their land later someone from that family would be able to retrieve it. Some of the hardest warnings in the OT are against those who would violate land rights and boundaries. Even King Ahab couldn't practice Eminent Domain and get away with it.
However I'm not sure if a similar system could be restored today. The concept is kind of frightening . My inner Ron Paul can't handle it because of the prospect of privately owned means of production being taken away and redistributed.
Perhaps it would have to start voluntarily and small scale.
I would love to here anyone else's thoughts on these topics.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Be careful Chewie
Here some good advice:
Han: "Keep your distance Chewie but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance."
Chewbacca: "Ngyargh yargh."
Han: "I don't know...fly casual."
Check this out:
Darth Vader
Han: "Keep your distance Chewie but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance."
Chewbacca: "Ngyargh yargh."
Han: "I don't know...fly casual."
Check this out:
Darth Vader
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Do I have another Chia Head on my hands?
About 4 or 5 years ago at a Christmas Party there was a White Elephant gift exchange. I think this was before I started my own annual infamous Christmas Bash with its even more infamous White Elephant Gift exchange, (Which has been known to get violent) anyway. So at that Gift exchange I got a Chia head. I was pretty excited about the head. It seemed very simple (which is a must for any project I hope to complete). Also it seemed like the perfect thing for me to do/ decoration for me to have. I thought having it would just scream, " I'm a fundamentalist single Father but with a youthful wacky zainy side".
Unfortunately maybe me and the head were never meant to be. Because all these years later it's still sitting unopened in my closet. I never even took the plastic off.
I'm starting to think maybe this blog will go the way of the Chia head. I started out with such enthusiasm. This Blog was going to display all my greatest thoughts, goals, and aspirations. It was intended to demonstrate and define the new Simo. But alas I have falling short. I haven't posted anything in over three weeks. Even before that I was running out of material and unable to meet my goal of Posting at least twice a week.
Today though at least I have something to post about. I mean something besides the Chia Head Quagmire. Something not about the blog itself. Here she goes:
As a Christian there are something things I do that could be described as seeking the Lord or pressing into God or you could refer to these activities (if your a stuffy reformed person) as "means of grace". Some examples of these activities are praying, listening to sermons, reading the Bible, taking the Lord's Supper, reading devotional literature, and singing hymns.
One of the great things about this is sometimes I'll read, hear, or sing something that really hits the spiritual nail on the head. That relates to my own particular circumstance. But another thing I've come to realize and appreciate recently is that sometimes even if my battleship isn't sunk the experience brings clarity to what my battleship really is. Seeking God and exposing myself to some truth flushes out what my real problems are even if they aren't specifically named.
Like on one recent occasion I was reading Ezekiel or rather trying to read Ezekiel. I couldn't concentrate; my mind kept wandering. Then I figured out I was angry with someone. And that this was a big enough issue that it had to be dealt with. And then it was.
Now this may sound pretty obvious. But it is remarkable how self decieved us sinful humans can be. Its remarkably how long we can go around upset digging deeper and deeper holes without realizing, or being willing to realize and deal with what our real problems are. It is even more remarkable the way that the word of God and seeking first the kingdom break through this deception...
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
That's all for now folks. Hopefully I'll have more to say in less than three weeks.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Rogelio
So I've got this Father in Law Rogelio. He's actually my ex Father in law since I'm not married. One of the funny things about knowing him is that I never knew him when he was actually my father in law. AnyhowRogelio is one of the most interesting people I've ever met. By an unforeseen and unique turn of events we ended up spending most of the afternoon together on Wednesday and he sort bore his soul to me. He seems like the kind of guy who will kind of bear his soul to anyone. I'll post his picture someday soon.
Rogelio is 62 years old.
He was born in Cuba.
He came to the US in 1980 because he was on a mission to go to San Francisco and have a daughter (mission accomplished the rest is history).
He is going to go to the Florida keys and live in a trailer and catch fish to survive.
He told me a lot of things yesterday:
He told me that in Cuba when he was boy most people spent no money all year, and saved it all to buy nice clothes to wear on Christmas day.
He told me they didn't need money much because everything they needed just grew out the ground or was fished out of the sea. They just had to throw some seeds on the ground and melons grew up.
He told me he hated Castro because he has seen how Castro destroyed everything in his country piece by piece. All the political stuff he told me made me an even further entrenched libertarian.
He told me that in Cuba the walls of the buildings that used to be as nice as here are broken down. Windows without glass and buildings without roofs. I can see how much it hurts him that the walls of his country are broken down just like Daniel and Nehemiah. I should have told him to pray for Cuba all day for awhile and see what happens. It didn't occur to me.
He told me that in Cuba the Government keeps the people poor so they can control them. That everything has to come from the Government and you only get it if the Government likes you(including healthcare so there Michael Moore). If you ever say anything bad about the State you become the enemy. And staying on the good side of the State gets harder and harder because whatever you give it is never enough for them.
He told me that in Cuba to go from one city to another you have to go through a check point and be questioned.
He told me that the people in the US have never seen what State control does to a country and a people and thats why people in the US vote Democrat.
He told me that in 62 years he has never understood women and he told me that when I'm 62 I won't understand them either.
He told me that every day in Miami a Cuban man kills a women. This is apparenlty because both the Cuban men and women are crazy.
He told me that he felt like the force of destiny pushed him to do some of the things in his life. Pushed him to come to San Francisco and have a daughter. Is pushing him to move to Florida and some day back to Cuba. Pushed him to show up at Rosary's house unanounced in the middle of the night Tuesday.
He told me things in life are destined you can't change them they are written in the book. I agreed with him about the book and told him God wrote it before He created the world.
I told him the Gospel. He wasn't offended but was more interested in continuing to talk about his own ideas. I guess it runs in the family...
And I mean that part of the family that's descended from Noah.
Rogelio is a crazy man whose done crazy things.
Rogelio is a very sad man.
I really really like Rogelio.
Rogelio is 62 years old.
He was born in Cuba.
He came to the US in 1980 because he was on a mission to go to San Francisco and have a daughter (mission accomplished the rest is history).
He is going to go to the Florida keys and live in a trailer and catch fish to survive.
He told me a lot of things yesterday:
He told me that in Cuba when he was boy most people spent no money all year, and saved it all to buy nice clothes to wear on Christmas day.
He told me they didn't need money much because everything they needed just grew out the ground or was fished out of the sea. They just had to throw some seeds on the ground and melons grew up.
He told me he hated Castro because he has seen how Castro destroyed everything in his country piece by piece. All the political stuff he told me made me an even further entrenched libertarian.
He told me that in Cuba the walls of the buildings that used to be as nice as here are broken down. Windows without glass and buildings without roofs. I can see how much it hurts him that the walls of his country are broken down just like Daniel and Nehemiah. I should have told him to pray for Cuba all day for awhile and see what happens. It didn't occur to me.
He told me that in Cuba the Government keeps the people poor so they can control them. That everything has to come from the Government and you only get it if the Government likes you(including healthcare so there Michael Moore). If you ever say anything bad about the State you become the enemy. And staying on the good side of the State gets harder and harder because whatever you give it is never enough for them.
He told me that in Cuba to go from one city to another you have to go through a check point and be questioned.
He told me that the people in the US have never seen what State control does to a country and a people and thats why people in the US vote Democrat.
He told me that in 62 years he has never understood women and he told me that when I'm 62 I won't understand them either.
He told me that every day in Miami a Cuban man kills a women. This is apparenlty because both the Cuban men and women are crazy.
He told me that he felt like the force of destiny pushed him to do some of the things in his life. Pushed him to come to San Francisco and have a daughter. Is pushing him to move to Florida and some day back to Cuba. Pushed him to show up at Rosary's house unanounced in the middle of the night Tuesday.
He told me things in life are destined you can't change them they are written in the book. I agreed with him about the book and told him God wrote it before He created the world.
I told him the Gospel. He wasn't offended but was more interested in continuing to talk about his own ideas. I guess it runs in the family...
And I mean that part of the family that's descended from Noah.
Rogelio is a crazy man whose done crazy things.
Rogelio is a very sad man.
I really really like Rogelio.
Monday, March 24, 2008
All our days we carry it
Or it carries us
In our chest we bear it
All our days we must
It hungers it thirsts
When it needs it feeeds
It give the tongue its words
And forces the hands' deeds
It pours forth desire
For earth, posession, and pride
Our years are washed away
By its relentless tide
Until the One comes
Changes its streams
Now it loves righteousness
And of heaven it dreams
But how qucikly its called
To return to dust and to death
It falters at a glance
It faints at a breath
Who can bare this beast
Within our breast?
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Mark 7:21
21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
Psalm 51:10
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Or it carries us
In our chest we bear it
All our days we must
It hungers it thirsts
When it needs it feeeds
It give the tongue its words
And forces the hands' deeds
It pours forth desire
For earth, posession, and pride
Our years are washed away
By its relentless tide
Until the One comes
Changes its streams
Now it loves righteousness
And of heaven it dreams
But how qucikly its called
To return to dust and to death
It falters at a glance
It faints at a breath
Who can bare this beast
Within our breast?
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Mark 7:21
21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
Psalm 51:10
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Been Studying
Been Studying.
Putting a significant ammount of time into generating a well thought out post is not currnetly theasible.
Here's a quote:
"God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy." Jeremy Taylor 1613-1667 Brittish Clergyman
Putting a significant ammount of time into generating a well thought out post is not currnetly theasible.
Here's a quote:
"God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy." Jeremy Taylor 1613-1667 Brittish Clergyman
Friday, March 7, 2008
Set Free
"Suppose a kingdom had long been overrun by the enemies of its true king, and he, though long possessed of sufficient power to conquer them, should yet suffer them to prevail, and establish themselves as much as they could desire, would not the valor and wisdom of that king be far more conspicuous in exterminating them, than it would have been had he opposed them at first, and prevented them entering the country? Thus, by the diffusion of Gospel light the wisdom, power, and grace of God will be more conspicuous in overcoming such deep-rooted idolatries, and in destroying all that darkness and vice which have so universally prevailed in this country, than they would have been if all had not been suffered to walk in their own ways for so many ages past".
William Carey (1761-1834) Missionary to India.
I heard this quote mentioned in a sermon. It points to God's increased glory in redeeming the world from sin and misery. Like in Romans 8.
19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
William Carey (1761-1834) Missionary to India.
I heard this quote mentioned in a sermon. It points to God's increased glory in redeeming the world from sin and misery. Like in Romans 8.
19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Is Simon Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
Hopefully we will find out sooner or later.
I'm currently working on becoming an elementary school teacher. I already have my Bachelor's degree. The following steps stand between myself and the classroom.
1. Qualify for and enroll in a Post Bachelorate teaching program at an inexpensive online out of state Universtiy (Almost done)
2. Pass the CSET (studying)
3. Pass the CBEST
4. Get Hired for an internship.
In an internship I would work full time as a teacher while still finishing my credential. Theoretically I could start teaching as early as this fall. That's what I'm working towards.
Becoming a teacher would make major changes in my life. Not the least of these changes would be that I would no longer have my current job as a security guard. I'm not sure if I can handle the shock. This job has been the one constant in my life for many years. There are very few things I've done in life as long as this job. When I started this job Bill Clinton was President. I've had this job through 3 Residences, 3 Churches and 3 cars. I may have to grieve.
BTW: I find that show "Are you Smarter than a 5th grader?" very entertaining. I was dissapointed though when I figured out the contestants don't actually compete against the 5th graders. Isn't that kind of implied?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
My Only Comfort
Question: What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.... ( Heidelberg Catechism for Lord's Day 1)
There are other comforts of course: friends, knowing you got everything done at the end of a work day, sleep, Motrin, knowing all the bills are paid, Family etc. But those comforts are temporary.
They all blow away. Solomon was right so much of life is vanity just striving after the wind. Everything we spend our whole life chasing: respect, money, women, even righteous things too like family, friends, hard work, and acheivements for good. They all pass away, and they all dissapoint as long term sources of comfort.
Isn't it true in the final analysis that the catechism is right? Meaning of course the Bible that the catechism is based on is right. Isn't this the greatest comfort? The one that holds you both in life and death.
The greatest comfort is to not be my own. To be a posession.
Actually everyone is a posession. Everyone belongs to someone. But who owns you is the most importnat thing in life. Those who think they are their own fool themselves. And what a sad state to imagine oneself to be in anyway: independence how dreadful and empty.
But to belong to someone if it is is someone wonderful ( and it is) is the greatest comfort. To know that I'm in his hands all the days of my life. To know I can not be taken out. To know he is a faithful wonderful friend. To know that I don't belong to myself or this world but to another.
I know myself I know what happens to my posessions they get broken, worn out, neglected, eaten or thrown away, But not my owner. He takes better care.
This is my comfort that I am a posession of Jesus Christ. He keeps me, holds me, molds me, he guides me and he will take me home.
The Disciples thought they had something great. That they had achieved something remarkable.
"Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" Luke 10:17-20.
Don't seek comfort in what you've done or will do. Your comfort should be this: Your names are on the inventory.
Last Summer my friend Harold died and for some reason his name seems to be coming up in conversation recently. This song was played at his funeral: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaM3wCMcHjA
comforting...
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.... ( Heidelberg Catechism for Lord's Day 1)
There are other comforts of course: friends, knowing you got everything done at the end of a work day, sleep, Motrin, knowing all the bills are paid, Family etc. But those comforts are temporary.
They all blow away. Solomon was right so much of life is vanity just striving after the wind. Everything we spend our whole life chasing: respect, money, women, even righteous things too like family, friends, hard work, and acheivements for good. They all pass away, and they all dissapoint as long term sources of comfort.
Isn't it true in the final analysis that the catechism is right? Meaning of course the Bible that the catechism is based on is right. Isn't this the greatest comfort? The one that holds you both in life and death.
The greatest comfort is to not be my own. To be a posession.
Actually everyone is a posession. Everyone belongs to someone. But who owns you is the most importnat thing in life. Those who think they are their own fool themselves. And what a sad state to imagine oneself to be in anyway: independence how dreadful and empty.
But to belong to someone if it is is someone wonderful ( and it is) is the greatest comfort. To know that I'm in his hands all the days of my life. To know I can not be taken out. To know he is a faithful wonderful friend. To know that I don't belong to myself or this world but to another.
I know myself I know what happens to my posessions they get broken, worn out, neglected, eaten or thrown away, But not my owner. He takes better care.
This is my comfort that I am a posession of Jesus Christ. He keeps me, holds me, molds me, he guides me and he will take me home.
The Disciples thought they had something great. That they had achieved something remarkable.
"Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" Luke 10:17-20.
Don't seek comfort in what you've done or will do. Your comfort should be this: Your names are on the inventory.
Last Summer my friend Harold died and for some reason his name seems to be coming up in conversation recently. This song was played at his funeral: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaM3wCMcHjA
comforting...
Saturday, February 23, 2008
I am what I am
Lister: Wasn't it Descartes who said "I am what I am".
Rimmer: No it was Popeye the Sailor Man.
Actually Popeye and Descartes were both beat by at least 1500 years. And I know, as certain Philosophy majors are sure to point out, that Descarte actually said "I think therefore I am".
So on Thursday night I had the good fortune of having dinner at some friends house who I hadn't seen for a long time. After Dinner we had Family devotions and their 8 year old son recited 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 ( He did a pretty good job). As I was sitting there grateful and impressed to be with this family who were consistently raising there three children in the fear and admonition of the Lord I was struck by the words of Saint Paul: "But by the grace of God I am what I am."
In the previous two verses he has made a case for his unworthiness. That is why our risen Lord apeared to him last. As though he had been born too late. Paul was unworthy to be called an Apostle because he perscuted the church of God. The humility of Paul is what struck me and urged me to meditate on my own unworthiness.
I was the worst child in my family. I caused great grief to my Mother and Father who I aught to have treated with all honor. It was true of me as the Proverb says that, "a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother." And in my youth though I was blessed immensely with health, life, food, shleter, and oppurtunities for education. Though I had been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and was as such a member of the Covenant of Grace, and had been given some some instruction in the Holy Scriptures and had access to read them whenever I wished. Though God had poured out these rich blessings upon me. I did not receive all of these and my very life with gratitude and live it rightly in sevice to the giver of all good things. But rather I sought the destruction of my life through vain pleasure and considered as glorious and praise worthy men who had totally destroyed their lives by sin and taken this destruction to its end. And I did at this time have thoughts of God, but my thoughts were so perverse and balsphemous, considering myself as all important in God's universe, that I could have justly incurred the wrath of God at that time. I was so pufffed up as to think of my foolish ideas and Philosophies as enlightened and superior to that of any Christian or Pagan thinker. And upon coming of age I made an utter ruin of my life by sin almost as quickly as humanly possible. And furthermore in my youth and through young adulthood I was given to fits of wrath. So that I terribly burst forth in tantrum when my circumstances did not please me. Such an ungrateful and perveerse a creature I was that I in great measure ruined all of the good blessings the Lord had given me and certainly would have completed this work were it not for the Grace of God.
Furthermore not only in my past, but even currently as I have been translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son I am still so ungrateful and full of sin. That I often negelct and consider of little importance those duties of prayer, worhsip, and meditation that are of most importance. That I prefer Idol entertainments that sow to the flesh. My heart is so desiring to go after useles pleasures that I'm like Rachel the rat who methodically and continually sniffs and paws at every door, hinge, or bar so that if at all possible she may free herself from her cage. So my heart searches for an opening to escape the glorious feast I have in Christ and flee away to to the broken cisterns of the the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. So I confess without qualification with the same Apostle Paul that, "I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh." Rom 7:18. I am certainly unworthy to be called a child of God. In fact I'm plainly unworthy of even the common blessings that he gives to me like beholding the beuty of the sunrise through the clouds this morning I saw from the 101 South on the Peninsula, and all the other good gifts of this life.
But like Paul after confessing my unworthiness I can not deny: But by the grace of God I am what I am. Paul was something. It was undeniably all of Grace as Paul continued to confess in this same verse, "I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." Though it was all by grace it was still an undeniable fact that Paul was a true child of God and not only that but that he was an Apostle. He was the Apostle to the Gentiles on whose labor the New Testament Church, for the most part, was founded and grew.
And I agree with Paul that by the Grace of God I actually am something. Not that my works are at all comparable to his of course. It has been given to me to be a son of the Living God. I can not deny that I have this gift. That my troubled soul has been comforted by the promises of our Lord, " I will not leave you as orphans;I will come to you" (John 14:18) and many other promises. I can not deny that he has given me hope. I can not deny that he has given me some ability to know Jesus Christ and some ability to understand his revelation in Scripture. That this has been given to me is quite remarkable. I have observed others who in worldy wisdom and learning are as much or more accomplished than myself who can not comprehend the Scriptures at all. That even if they read or hear them come away with no knowledge or think of them to have some small and strange meanings and are incapable of beholding the the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:6) These are those who the Apostle refers to as natural men (1 Cor 2:14). I can not deny that I have been saved from among their number and made a Spiritual man.
Why has this grace been given to me? Certainly not, as has been attested to above, due to any good in me. It was not that I of my own strangth and will pulled myself up by my bootstraps, so to speak, and turned my life around. No but we are clearly told why: But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1Cor 1:27-29). God chooses foolish sons and Persecuting Pharisees so that they may never forget that it is all of Grace and so that the world may know it is by His Choice, His Grace, and His Power.
The style of this post I think has been somewhat effected by my recent listening habits. I've been listening to some Jonathon Edwards Sermons on my MP3 Player that I downloaded free off of Sermon audio: http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Jonathan%5EEdwards
All of his messages seem to follow this pattern make a point, have few sub points, give like 11 arguments to suppoert each sub point. This makes for long sermons, long posts, and convicting car rides. That is of course not Jonathon Edwards the Socialist Presidential candidate, but that Puritan Pastor Jonathon Edwards who God worked through in the Great awakening.
Hmmm... Great awakening. My sleep hasn't been that great.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Waves and Winds
"Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still knowHis voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below."
Hymn "Be Still My Soul" Katharina A. von Schlegel
Mark 4:39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
They all tremble and obey at His Command:
Waves, winds, Hurricanes, Tsunamis, Foreclosures, Lay Offs, Cars on the freeway
He made them and He holds them together:
Dissapointments, Appointments, Administrations, Laws, Schools, Jobs
He works them according to the council of his Will:
Inconsidierate individuals, rebellious loved ones, Broken Windows
King Jesus is Lord of all
This is our comfort if we are his.
Whatever "is" is because He is, and whatever "is" is good because He is.
Hymn "Be Still My Soul" Katharina A. von Schlegel
Mark 4:39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
They all tremble and obey at His Command:
Waves, winds, Hurricanes, Tsunamis, Foreclosures, Lay Offs, Cars on the freeway
He made them and He holds them together:
Dissapointments, Appointments, Administrations, Laws, Schools, Jobs
He works them according to the council of his Will:
Inconsidierate individuals, rebellious loved ones, Broken Windows
King Jesus is Lord of all
This is our comfort if we are his.
Whatever "is" is because He is, and whatever "is" is good because He is.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Oh and I forgot abt health care: Makes more sense if you read below post first
Ron Paul:
The American people have been offered two lousy choices. One, which is corporatism, a fascist type of approach, or, socialism. We deliver a lot of services in this country through the free market, and when you do it through the free market prices go down.
But HMOs did not arise in the free market; they are creatures of government interference in health care dating to the 1970s. These non-market institutions have gained control over medical care through collusion between organized medicine, politicians, and drug companies, in an effort to move America toward “free” universal health care.
The American people have been offered two lousy choices. One, which is corporatism, a fascist type of approach, or, socialism. We deliver a lot of services in this country through the free market, and when you do it through the free market prices go down.
But HMOs did not arise in the free market; they are creatures of government interference in health care dating to the 1970s. These non-market institutions have gained control over medical care through collusion between organized medicine, politicians, and drug companies, in an effort to move America toward “free” universal health care.
President's Day Dope Ron Paul Quotes
On Freedom:America was founded by men who understood that the threat of domestic tyranny is as great as any threat from abroad. If we want to be worthy of their legacy, we must resist the rush toward ever-increasing state control of our society. Otherwise, our own government will become a greater threat to our freedoms than any foreign terrorist.
On the money (He's right on the money):
A paper monetary standard means there are no restraints on the printing press or on federal deficits. In 1971, M3 was $776 billion; today it stands at $8.9 trillion, an 1100% increase. Our national debt in 1971 was $408 billion; today it stands at $6.8 trillion, a 1600% increase. Since that time, our dollar has lost almost 80% of its purchasing power. Common sense tells us that this process is not sustainable and something has to give. So far, no one in Washington seems interested.
On Abortion:
One day I walked into an operating room, to just be an observant, which we would do generally, as a medical resident. They were performing this hysterectomy, which was a caesarean section. And they lifted out a fetus that weighted approximately 2 pounds, and it was breathing and crying. And it was put in a bucket and set in the corner of the room, and everybody in the room just pretended that they didn't hear it. And the baby died. And I walked out of that room a different person...
On Iraq:
Finally, there is a compelling moral argument against war in Iraq. Military force is justified only in self-defense; naked aggression is the province of dictators and rogue states. This is the danger of a new "preemptive first strike" doctrine. America is the most moral nation on earth, founded on moral principles, and we must apply moral principles when deciding to use military force.
U.S. House of Representatives, September 4, 2002
On the "War on Terror":
If we can't or won't define the enemy, the cost to fight such a war will be endless. How many American troops are we prepared to lose? How much money are we prepared to spend? How many innocent civilians, in our nation and others, are we willing to see killed? How many American civilians will we jeopardize? How much of our civil liberties are we prepared to give up? How much prosperity will we sacrifice? [...] I support President Bush and voted for the authority and the money to carry out his responsibility to defend this country, but the degree of death and destruction and chances of escalation must be carefully taken into consideration.
U.S. House of Representatives, September 25, 2001
Hosea8:7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.
BTW:
I'm not delusional. I know that Ron Paul's chances of being our next president are slim to none. Closer to none. Some day hopefully the American people will wake up.
In fact I heard that on a popular gambling website Ron Paul's chances to win were 100 to 1. Providentially these are the same odds, 1oo to 1, that my San Francisco Giants will win the World Series. So all I need is 200 bones a couple of miracles and I'll have the most amazing two months of my life this fall (Just Kidding).
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Gen 22
Genesis 22 is the famous or infamous passage where God instructs Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. One reaction to this is to be utterly freaked out by the thought sacrificing a child followed by an attempt to rationalize, ignore, edit, or otherwise run away from this great text. Another reaction is to point to this text as a picture or type of God sacrificing his own son. I agree that it is a beutiful type and foreshadowing.
I'm convinced that the heart of the meaning of Genesis 22 is the demonstration of the amazing faith of Abraham. I think it aids our understanding if we contrast Abraham with the Rich young man who came to Jesus (Matt 19:16-22). The young man wouldn't sell what he posessed and give it to the poor and follow Jesus. The Lord of Glory doesn't mince words. He doesn't beg for a half-hearted commitment. He gets right to the heart of the matter: What won't you give me young man? The young man walked away.
But not so with Abraham. All of God's promises to Abraham, and really his promises to the whole world, were embodied in Isaac. But abraham was willing to go to Moriah because, "he considered that God was able" (Heb 11). Abraham was willing to give his everything.
And what of us?
What aren't we willing to give to Jesus: an entertainment, a temptation, a friend, a relationship, a laugh, pride, face, worldy philosophies, a habit, an obsession, a dollar, a thousand dollars, all our dollars, a minute, an hour, a year, a life?
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Matt 13:44)
"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (Gen 22: 2)
Hello Internet
Hello Internet. This is Simon Lyle Chow. I don't know exactly what this blog will consist of in the future. Or how long I'll will keep it up. As I was planning it out in my head I was thinking it would consist of all of the following at various times:
- Quotes that I find inspirational and/or entertaining
- Pics
- General updates on my existence
- Outworkings of my Theological study
- Possible works of fiction and poetry
I hope that everything I post will give glory to my Lord and Saviro Jesus Christ.
And I hope you like it. Check it once in awhile when you are bored. Or when you're not bored if you are that interested in the thoughts of a Half Chinese-Security guard-single Dad-Calvinist who just got 2 pet rats.
First a few comments on the name. I wanted the address of this blog to be onceandfuture.blogspot.com, but this was already taken. It so happens that it was taken by some guy in 2003. This guy in his one (and only) post five years ago stated that he didn't like the Old testament at that he believed certain parts of the Bible were patently false. Go figure.
Also I do not mean to imply in anyway that Jesus is not King right now or that there has ever been a time when he wasn't King. I do think however that the analogy of a rightful King taking back his realm is helpful, somewhat accurate, and sounds cool.
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