Comparison

I have written 33 posts in 2009.

Jane has written 5.

What's up with that? I blame her roommates.

Elements common to most prayers in the Bible

Are the present in ours?

1. God's sovereignty declared both in the mode of address, and explicitly.

2. A general declaration of weakness and helplessness.

3. God's promises and words are declared, generally like this: "Do you remember that you said this?"

4. The threat to the promise mentioned is laid out.

5. The request is laid humbly at God's feet.

This pattern can be seen, among other places, in Daniel's prayer, Nehemiah's, Jehoshaphat's, Hezekiah, and the prayer of the believers in Acts.

Here is a good article...

I might have had even more faith in the press and politicians than I thought, and unfairly spoken ill of the A.I.G. employees who received their retention payments (called bonuses). Here is an op-ed from the New York Times. It should shame the attorney general of New York, Dodd, Rangel, and any of the other politicians who have jumped on the self-righteous fury train either to cover themselves, or to make a name for themselves.

By the way, why is the attorney general of New York even involved in this situation? Is that position only open to political hacks? The last guy to occupy it was Eliot Spitzer, who made a name for himself by harassing big corporations in a populist manner. Then he became governor of New York and resigned after paying a hooker in tax-payer money.

Anyways, here's the link.

Self-righteous Fury!

Nothing brings out self-righteous fury like finally finding a villain. That's been the problem with this darn economic crisis. There aren't any easy villains. But now we have them! Those dastardly financial "wizards" over at AIG in the financial products division.

Can you believe that the executives at AIG had the nerve to honor the contracts their employees had signed? I mean, in a crisis, small things like the rule of the law shouldn't get in the way of us finding a scapegoat.

The whole situation is disgusting. First, the fact that the bonuses for these employees were not performance based. Trust me, AIG gave out those bonuses only because they were contractually obligated, not out of some dastardly underhanded attempt to get their employees rich at the expense of the country.

Second, the ignorant public that is furious at a situation that very few of them actually understand. And of course the press which loves an easy story to sell the outrage.

Third, the grandstanding politicians who are climbing on themselves to outdo each other in degree of rage.

Where is truth in all this? Hard to fine, in Washington or elsewhere. Listen, the law sometimes obligates us to do things that are not pleasant, like give bonuses to people that don't deserve them. But it is a better thing to honor the law than to bend it to please the anger of many.

Watch this...

And change. Don't clap along with it, or be inspired for short period of time. Remember that the preaching of the Word has convicting power.

On Division in the Church

No Christian belief can be separated from action. If it can, then it is no more than speculation. Maturity, according to Paul, is a growth in knowledge that results in right action. Hence Romans, "be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may be able to test and approve what God's will is..."

This is why doctrine is important. But doctrine that does not speak into our actions is nothing. Hence Romans, "the form of teaching to which you were entrusted." The imagery there is of being molded around a teaching. It is not a teaching dully possessed, to be chatted about around fireplaces, at seminars and forums, etc. It is to be lived.

To separate belief from action is dualism. But so is to separate action from belief.

What we believe about things matter. If someone teaches Biblical untruth it will eventually make its way into practice, once it has overcome the cultural stigma that went before it.

My point is that what you believe matters. The Scripture was meant to give clarity.

A Collection of "Let us..." Commands from Hebrews

Hebrews iv-- "...let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it..." (meaning, "the promise of entering his rest")

Hebrews iv-- "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Hebrews v-- "...let us go on to maturity, not laying the foundation again..."

Hebrews vi-- "Let us not be lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

Hebrews x-- "...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith..."

Hebrews x-- "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess."

Hebrews x-- "...let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

Hebrews x-- "Let us not give up meeting together..."

Hebrews x-- "...let us encourage one another..."

Observations:

1. Broadly in two categories. First, an exhortation to press forward into maturity and deeper communion with God. Second, an exhortation to encourage others to do the same.

2. The author is concerned that through being content with a shallow faith, the members of the church will be deceived and fall away.

3. The author implies that this guarding and watching over one another is a mutual activity of our faith. In chapter iii, he says "encourage one another...so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

4. Beware of false assurance, seems to be the command. Pressing in to know God and advance into maturity is a duty of every believer.

Hawai'i

I just spent the last three days on the island of Oahu.

I want to clarify why I went, so that my readers (some of whom may be donors) don't think that I went merely to go surfing and swim with dolphins.

Two of my best friends in the galaxy live in Hawai'i--Timothy Lin and Mike Cain. They are out there working with the Navigators. I love these guys a lot, and I know that one of the hard things for them has been the isolation. So I found a cheap ticket (well, relatively cheap) and took an open weekend. One of the nice things about ministry here in Long Beach is that our weekends are pretty free.

I was really hoping to encourage them, and experience a bit of their life. Also I wanted to meet Tim's new girlfriend Heidi.

Some highlights from the time:

1. Shaved Ice, malasalas (sp?), poke, kalbi steak. Some good eating.

2. First time surfing! I managed to get up to my knees, but that's it. Maybe better luck next time.

3. Philipino Karaoke, partially in Engrish. Example: the line "building castles in the sky" became "building castles in disguise."

4. Swimming with the dolphins for free! Check out the pics on facebook. Tim and I both made out with the dolphin. Mike had to settle for a hug.

5. Meeting and getting to know, a bit, Heidi. Tim's a lucky guy, she's really cool.

6. A 13 dollar beer in Waikiki. Wait, did I say highlight? Actually that was a lowlight. That place was so haole, am I right?

But now...

These are the two great words of Romans.

Listen! They are the hinge on which the world turns.

The world was silent when they were spoken. "Every mouth was silenced," says Paul. Before the holiness of God men must forever shut their mouths, and hold their tongues. Where is boasting before the throne of God? It is excluded.

Shhh...you stand examined by the Law. See yourself as the Law sees you, that is, without deception, without hiding. Nothing in all creation is hidden from his sight, everything is uncovered and laid bare...yes, even your heart lies uncovered and laid bare. Every thought, every rising passion, every moment of anger.

Listen to what Paul says about you! Your feet are swift to shed blood, your mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

Do you think you will escape such things? Remember David's conclusion. If God is counting sins, who can stand?

Here is where we stand in Romans iii.20. We shudder in the knowledge of our sin, but we are silent. No man can speak. No man can claim anything. We sit still and wait.

Then the words come forth.

But now...

Our hearts leap to hear them. These words are free, a hoping against hope. Knowing the character of God and the nature of our sin, what hope can we have for mercy. Our hearts wait.

What the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his Son.

24 = most ridiculous season yet?

Imagine if you turned on your television set tonight to be greeted by the news that Barack Obama had been taken captive in the White House by Robert Mugabe and a dozen of his royal guards.

Or, better, by Omar Al-Bashiri.

How did they get in, you might ask? Easy...a five minute swim from the Potomac, which despite threat levels raised to their highest point, was somehow completely unguarded only a five minute swim from the White House.

Also, Michelle Obama is in surgery since she got taken hostage and shot.

So I keep hearing about how AMAAAAAZING Slumdog Millionaire, even though it looks like a exploitative cheesefest to me.