Archive for June, 2009
Biblioblog Top 50 for June is Out and Libby Turned One
Biblioblog Top 50
The Biblioblog Top 50 for June is out, and here’s the scoop:
- In June, the complete biblioblog list topped 250 blogs, and now stands at 258. There are also 191 related blogs for a whopping 449 blogs in all;
- My buddy tc robinson over at New Leaven makes his debut at No. 40. Congrats to tc;
- One of my personal favorites, Nick Norelli at RDTWT, and the less-than-deserving winner of this prize for the reasons stated therein, comes in at No. 18;
- Ol’ what’s his name is still No. 1 and surprisingly humble about it; and
- Your’s truly is hanging in there, a slight slippage from last month, but a respectable No. 15.
I guess that just about puts a bow on the month of June, except that I neglected to mention on this blog that my little Libby “the Libster” Lopez turned one this weekend. Happy birthday Libby!
On my other blog, I posted a 12 days of Libby, a sort of countdown to her birthday. Here is a preview of what you can expect to find over there (minus me in the photos):
The Libster on Easter Sunday
Reorganizing My Reader
Okay, since so many of you have moved to WordPress (cheers!), I’ve had to reorganize my Google Reader. I’ve also learned that you cannot unsubscribe from a Blogger blog that you are also following. It just keeps reappearing in the reader.
So, I have stopped following all of you who have moved, but only on Blogger. Please assume I still love you all, but I have only your new blogs active in my reader now (I think).
If for some reason you suspect that I don’t, please let me know.
God was the First Feminist
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, God, Old Testament on June 30, 2009
Okay, not exactly. But, to the extent to which God intended equality of the sexes, I think so.
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. Gen. 5:2 (KJV)
The tension between Christianity (or Christian doctrine) and feminism has always struck me as odd and unnecessary. God created them, male and female, and called them Adam.
In Genesis 2, we are told that Adam named his helper “Woman,” but I don’t find anywhere in scripture where God makes such a distinction. God created a helper for Adam, but called them Adam.
Later in scripture, there are rules for how humans are to interact, govern, and live peaceably in a society, but I believe those are for the benefit of mankind, given from a merciful God who knows all to well the frailties of Adam. In the New Testament, Paul gives additional instructions out of revelation of how these beings can best interact and accomplish God’s will on earth.
But, male and female are indeed two sides of the same coin, and together we are one Adam.
This is Shocking-Only 6% of Israelis Think US Government is Pro-Israel
I think Christians have long thought of the United States as Israel’s only friend in the world, but the Israelis don’t seem to agree.
According to a Jerusalem Post poll, only 6% of Israelis see the United States government as pro-Israel (down from 31% a month ago). Considering that the poll has a margin of error of 4.5%, this is shocking. By contrast, 50% of those polled believed the Obama administration to be pro-Palestinian.
With friends like us, who needs enemies? Admittedly, I don’t think a newspaper poll is definitive, but we should be sensitive to our government’s response to Israel. I think scripture and history demonstrate that our actions are crucial to our own well-being.
I Think Netanyahu is Right
Haaretz is reporting that Benjamin Netanyahu said that all of the arguing over the Israel’s stance on settlements is impeding progress on peace talks. And, while I cannot be sure about that, I do think Netanyahu is right when he says:
“If we are asked to recognize a Palestinian state as the nation-state of the Palestinian people, then the very least is that the Palestinians should recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people,”
What value is there in Israel, which many if not most “Palestinians” view as illegitimate anyway, supporting a Palestinian state. The problem-causing factors are unwilling even to recognize the other, so why bother seeking recognition from the other?
I will give Netanyahu this: he is willing to say what a lot of people think but are unwilling to say.
Thought for the Day-Rethinking the Cross
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, God, Israel on June 22, 2009
Why do we use the instruction to, “take up your cross,” as an excuse for living a burdened or less-than-abundant life?
I don’t find anywhere in scripture where Jesus instructs us to take up His cross. I agree, the cross He bore was burdensome, shameful, heavy, dark, sinful, and condemning, but, because of that, our’s is not.
Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30.
I think sometimes walking in liberty (for us) is more burdensome, so we try to carry the cross Jesus carried for us. When all you have known is bondage, the unfamiliarity of freedom can feel burdensome.
I remember studying in one of my political science classes the distinction between “freedom from” and “freedom to.” I think we as Christians frequently only get as far as “freedom from” this or that. However, the freedom Christ paid for by carrying our cross is beyond “freedom from” it is “freedom to” be what God has called us to be.
God freed the Israelites from Egypt’s bondage and freed them to take their promised land. But, a good chunk of the Bible is about Israel’s inability to walk in the “freedom to.” And they had a pretty hard time walking in “freedom from” also. How often did they want to go back to Egypt rather than continue on in the wilderness?
It’s an altogether human thing to try to make our freedom more burdensome than our bondage. Is this our cross?
My Wordle-What This Blog Really Is About
I’ve been meaning to do this form some time, I just haven’t got around to it. But, now that I’ve done it, I’m glad I did. I like the picture.
Here is BOB’s Wordle:
BOB's Wordle
And the Winner of the Every Man’s Bible Contest Is…
Every Man's Bible
Jack of All Trades own Bitsy Griffin.
The contest results are certified by the law firm of Peter M. Lopez, Attorney & Counselor at Law, who put all of the names on post-it notes, folded them up, put them in a cup, and drew.
Congrats to Bitsy’s husband, Mr. Griffin (I presume?), for whom she entered and gave a compelling reason for his deservedness. I hope he appreciates the lengths to which Bitsy was willing to go for his Father’s Day gift.
Please send shipping instructions to me via the contact form above at your convenience.
Thanks to everyone who participated.
Tony Blair Says There Could be Middle East Peace Deal Within a Year
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Israel, Politics on June 19, 2009
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
The Jordan Times is reporting that Tony Blair said there could be a Middle Eastern peace deal within a year if all sides will agree to peaceful negotiations.
It certainly seems like both sides are giving (a little), but please forgive my skepticism. While I think we are scripturally mandated to, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6), I don’t find in scripture where such a peace will be fully realized until Christ’s return.
…maybe that’s why we’re supposed to pray for it.
So, while we may not see the kind of peace everyone is hoping for anytime soon, I think we should still pray for peace. And maybe, just maybe, we will see more peace than exists now.
-
You are currently browsing the archives for June, 2009
Copyright Info
Blog Support
Recent Comments