From CNN.com, by Jonathan Powers. What do you think? Oil poses a clear threat to America’s economic and national security. This spring we have watched as untold millions of gallons of oil flowed into the Gulf. But for years, we have watched as billions of dollars flowed to hostile nations to pay for oil. Every day, we send well over a billion dollars out of this country to pay for oil — money that could and should be used to... Read more
Psalm 21 follows Psalm 20 both numerically and thematically. It is one distance removed from what happened in Psalm 20, but has the same basic themes: the king’s victory leads to joy and contemplation of more victories. I swipe the organization from Goldingay’s fine commentary (Psalms 1). 1. The King rejoicing (v. 1). 2. YHWH’s past deliverance (vv. 2-7) 3. YHWH’s future deliverance (vv. 8-12) 4. The People rejoicing (v. 13). The priest, or someone, declares the reasons why the... Read more
Are today’s youth abandoning the Church? Is there cause for alarm? Or is the condition with youth in the church today about the same as always? These are questions that many people are asking and many people are also answering them. Often in uninformed ways. For about a decade I was listening to apocalyptic warnings, and while I tended to minimize such, I was on the bandwagon. I, too, believed the reports. But this year two valuable books came out... Read more
This is an issue for some, and it’s an eye-roller for others. But not all think tats are a good idea, especially the more visible down-the-arm or around-the-neck or all-over-the-face kind. Flannery O’Connor you may remember used a tattoo in “Parker’s Back” to create a sense of the dramatic and grotesque. Recently a couple had a job offer in a church and then lost that offer because of the prominence of tattoos on both husband and wife (story below). How... Read more
From CNN.com, these are first names that are prohibited in some foreign countries. Any names you’d like to suggest for the good ol’ USA? Here in the U.S., you can name your kid almost anything, but that’s not the case everywhere in the world. Let’s take a look at some countries with pretty strict or otherwise fascinating baby-naming laws. Sweden: Metallica, Superman, Veranda, Ikea and Elvis Germany: When evaluating names, the Standesamt refers to a book which translates to “the international... Read more
Yesterday we began to look at Psalm 20. We observed the prayer was more of a blessing said in the presence of God about the King. The context seems to be the King going to war or to battle. Those who are saying these things (vv. 1-5) are either a priest on behalf of the People or the People or the military band around the King. In v. 6 the King responds: Now I know that the LORD will help... Read more
Scot forwarded this letter, with permission of the author to post. I am putting it up for consideration because it fits with the general topics I’ve posted on for the last several years. We’ve had a problem – and this problem has raised serious questions in the minds of many, from seventy year-olds in retirement, fifty year-olds looking at middle age, and twenty year-olds looking toward the future. I don’t post to sow seeds of doubt, but to work toward... Read more
A pastor once said to me that Christianity, Judaism, and Islam believe in the same God but just worship him differently. I said two things back: (1) Not true, for no Jew or Muslim believes in or worships God as Trinity, and (2) just try getting an ordinary Christian, Jew or Muslim to say they think that we all have the same God. I have believed for a long time that touchstones are to be used but the only honest... Read more
I just came across this one. By Anna Davlantes, FOX Chicago News Chicago – They eat up millions of your hard earned tax dollars. It’s money that could be used to keep your child’s school running. So with the internet and e-books, do we really need millions for libraries? Libraries are quiet havens for the community. They take us to other worlds. They even make us laugh. But should these institutions — that date back to 1900 B.C. — be... Read more
Psalm 20 is a unique of liturgical worship (read the Psalm after the jump). It reads as if the People, or some group, is praying for the King in vv. 1-5 and then in v. 6 the King responds, and then in vv. 7-9 the People speak again. Strictly speaking, Psalm 20 is not a prayer. It is a public worship liturgical blessing of the King. And yet there is a sense that this blessing is said before YHWH in... Read more
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