Book, , Movie, Music, and Television Reviews

• 3 Comments

•

Reading Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" - in the first chapter he writes that "another" denotes not a "different" counselor, but rather another of the same kind (p.34).

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

ἄλλος (allos) is simply "another;other) and is used 160 times.  I'm not sure that Chan is quite right...but when Jesus was born, His parents returned to their home country in an "allos" route.  Another (different) route.

From John 16:

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

I'm not sure that one can always take something said specifically to the apostles, and apply it universally, but the point that Chan makes remains:

Jesus had to leave so that the Spirit could come.

Chan says that having the Spirit with us - within us - is better than having Jesus Christ standing next to us.

The Spirit will remind us of what Jesus told His followers.

To them, the Spirit reminded them of the time they spent with Christ; as they penned the New Testament, they wrote as ones who had the Spirit within them, reminding them of what Jesus said and did.

To us...those Scriptures come to mind as we have need of them.

this day...

...as the storms of life loom on the horizon - maybe the storm will miss me this time, maybe it will sweep over me head on.  Or maybe the last few months have simply been the peaceful eye of the storm.

Either way, Jesus said,

"You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"

•

I watched the final episode of "Lost" last night.  I've watched every episode, beginning to end.  This one was hard - not only because a series that I've enjoyed ALL of it is over...but also the hodgepodge of emotions that I felt as I watched this final segment.

The struggle of "good" against "evil" (although both of the characters representing these things were a mixture of good and evil) was only a minor part (at least for me.)

In the struggle against "evil", the characters marched forward, feeling obligation, but also seemed to have a feeling of inevitability - this was their calling and they were going to fill it.

Throughout this episode (the hardest part for me) was the memories and reunions.  The "back and forth" from the island to "real life" - which was real?

Where somebody died on the island...they were reunited with their lover.

Where somebody left, they were returned to the arms of the one they loved.

Somebody forgotten...remembered.

In the end...all were brought back to where they were supposed to be.  It was all an illusion.  "Everybody dies."

•

From "Puritan Paperbacks"

I've been working through a study on the Lord's Supper - leaving one church, looking for another - I find kinship in those congregations with a rich liturgy, could find a place in a Lutheran church (LCMS), but I cannot and will not be in a church with closed communion.

What does the "Lord's Supper" mean and what is it supposed to represent?

I've just finished reading the "Epistle to the Reader" (the message in the beginning of the book from Watson).

When I contemplate the holiness and solemnity of the blessed sacrament, I cannot but have some ache upon my spirit, and think myself bound to hold this mystery in the highest veneration.  The elements of bread and wine are in themselves common but, under these symbolical representations, lie hid divine excellencies.  Behold here the best of dainties, God is in his cheer.  Here is the apple of the Tree of Life; here is the "banqueting house" where the banner of free grace is gloriously displayed, "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me is love" (Song of Sol. 2:4)

Watson strove for the "correct middle" - between two extremes that he thought should be avoided - transubstantiation (which he believed was contrary to reason and Scripture and that - he thought - profaned Christ's institution of the supper; and mere symbolism, which aimed short of the mystery and fell short of the comfort.

According to the forward, Watson built on the teachings of Calvin, who believed that this sacrament was a means of grace, through faith - in which Christ works effectually within the believer.

• 2 Comments

•
Born for This

Pull back the curtains, snap off the string.
This tired and lonely man is offering everything.
Tie up the main mast, boys, we’re going into the storm.
Passion’s not found in roses, but it’s in the thorns.

Farewell to the reckless, I want the real thing.
This life is knocking, son, open up and let the truth ring.
Posing is a past time. Ring a bell for selfishness.
I’m through with fallacy. Whatever happened to progress?

(Push forward. I won’t stop. Keep going till I drop).
For this I was born...born, born for this. (This time I give it all).
For this I was born...born, born for this. (Upright and standing tall).
For this I was born...born, born for this. (This time I give it all).
For this I was born...for this. (Can’t stop).

To all my brothers, to all my brothers’ sons.
You can’t find freedom in money, it has to be won.
Spin your wheels in this graveyard; build your casket of chrome.
You’re on a road to nowhere, boy, and it’s taking you home.

(Push forward. I won’t stop. Keep going till I drop).
For this I was born...born, born for this. (This time I give it all).
For this I was born...born, born for this. (Upright and standing tall).
For this I was born...born, born for this. (This time I give it all).
For this I was born...for this. (Can’t stop).

No one told me I’d pay for this. Drinking pleasure that’s turned to piss.
Standing firm on this sphere of sand. King of the world, yet I see no land.
No one told me how to deal with this. Shooting targets that don’t exist.
Standing firm while I sink in the mud. My heart is pumping, but I have no blood.

For this I was born...born, born for this. For this I was born...born, born for this.
For this I was born...born, born for this. For this I was born...for this.

For this I was born...born, born for this. (This time I give it all).
For this I was born...born, born for this. (Upright and standing tall).
For this I was born...born, born for this. (This time I give it all).
For this I was born...for this. (Go...)

•

Have you seen "Pocahontas"?  Have you seen "Dances With Wolves"?  Okay, you know the basic story line.

GO SEE IT.  IN IMAX.

The special effects are incredible.

The parts I liked...when Jake first woke up in his avatar body.  His first contacts with the local beasties.  Anything having to do with Grace.

The parts that resonated with me...love against all odds.  When Neytiri found her dying father.

The parts that bothered me...the planet as "mother", the New Age emphasis.  But if you see it as an opportunity for discussion - good.

I've seen it twice and enjoyed it more the second time around.

•

One of the things I do every January (and it takes me a while) is to go through all my music and sort it into my "big" playlists

  • Driving around town
  • sing-along songs
  • Music for school
  • bike riding music

It reminds me of the music that I have.  Some of it makes me laugh, some it makes me cry.

Some if it reminds me...

This one from Dolly Parton

(...)

I said you'd better get to livin', givin'
Be willing and forgivin'
Cause all healing has to start with you
You better stop whining, pining
Get your dreams in line
And then just shine, design, refine
Until they come true
And you better get to livin'.

Your life's a wreck, your house is mess
And your wardrobe way outdated
All your plans just keep on falling through
Overweight and under paid, under appreciated
I'm no guru, but I'll tell you
This I know is true.(...)

You better get to livin', givin'
A little more thought about bein'
A little more willin' to make a better way
Don't sweat the small stuff
Keep your chin up
Just hang tough
And if it gets too rough
Fall on your knees and pray
And do that everyday
Then you'll get to livin'.

The day we're born we start to die
Don't waste one minute of this life
Get to livin'
Share your dreams and share your laughter
Make some points for the great hereafter.

Better start carin'
Better start sharin'
Better start tryin'
Better start smiling
And you better get to livin'...

• 1 Comment

•

Listening the Tim Keller on "The Reason for God"

Each Christmas I remember very clearly at a former church, sitting in the balcony during a quiet moment alone.  There was a stained glass cross in the front and a giant wreath for Christmas.

Behind the birth of Christ...beyond that, the cross.

It was the reason He came to earth...God, in Christ sacrificed Himself to pay for our sin.

Michael Card - Love crucified arose Lyrics
Album:

Long ago He blessed the earth
Born older than the years
And in the stall a cross He saw
Through the first of many tears
A life of homeless wandering
Cast out in sorrow's way
The Shepherd seeking for the lost
His life, the price He paid

Love crucified, arose
The Risen One in splendor
Jehovah soul Defender
Has won the victory
Love crucified, arose
And the grave became a place of hope
For the heart that sin and sorrow broke
Is beating once again

Throughout Your life You felt the weight
Of what You'd come to give
To drink for us that crimson cup
So we might really live
At last the time to love and die
The dark appointed day
That one forsaken moment
When Your Father turned His face away

Love crucified, arose
The One who lived the died for me
Was Satan's nail-pierced casualty
Now He's breathing once again

Love crucified, arose
And the grave became a place of hope
For the heart that sin and sorrow broke
Is beating once again

Love crucified, arose
The Risen One in splendor
Jehovah soul defender
Has won the victory

Love crucified, arose
And the grave became a place of hope
for the heart that sin and sorrow broke
is beating once again

Love crucified, arose
The One who lived and died for me
Was Satan's nail-pierced casualty
Now He's breathing once again

•

The Parables of Jesus: Entering, Growing, Living, and Finishing in God's Kingdom by Terry Johnson

If you ask, "Why did Jesus teach in parables?" most people will answer:  "to make it easier to understand."

When the disciples asked Jesus why He taught in parables, He answered, "

This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Matt 13:13-17 ESV)

According to Jesus, He used parables not to make it easier to understand, but to make it more difficult to understand!

Why?  Johnson puts forward the thought that parables were perfect for Jesus' "purposes in election".

He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. (v.11)

I think the verse that follows contradicts the imposition of the doctrine of election into this passage, though.

Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (v.12)

I think this verse says that (even if there is no doctrine of election and we all start out with the same ability), those who have even a little bit of understanding will be given more...and those who refuse to listen to the Word will have even what they started with taken away.

But the point remains that Jesus used parables to illuminate the truth to some...and to veil it to others.

•

More from "Sons & Daughters"

Calling every daughter
calling every son
All who've been adopted
Through a sacrifice of love
There's no need for you to fear
Your debts have all been cleared

Calling all the downcast
Who feel like they're alone
Anyone who's longing
For a family of their own
God's prepared a place for you
He's calling you to...

Come and sing, come and dance
The Father's singing over you
Come rejoice and be glad
For God delights in you.

Not since Derek Webb has an entire CD resonated so well.