Archive for August, 2009
So Funny it Hurt…Others
To be so funny you cause someone pain is really quite something. I would imagine only the very best comedians are able to make such a claim. And I would imagine that only the truly elite are able to make such a claim using the written word.
So, to be so funny that you cause pain by proxy is really quite an achievement indeed. Last week, my post Don’t Bite Your Friends was apparently just such an achievement.
A very dear friend of mine who shall remain nameless (but the author of this blog) was reading the aforementioned post and was so overcome by the sheer comedic force thereof that he apparently blurted out to his spouse:
Peter Lopez is the funniest person I know.
The problem: such a statement necessarily displaces all others, said spouse included, from laying claim to that title.
Now, I’m sure you all are aware that in the law, the truth is an absolute defense to any form of defamation claim. So, while my friend may be factually correct in his assertion, and thereby free from any civil and/or criminal penalties, he is so busted at home. *Feel free to check out his blog and offer him words of comfort and consolation.*
For the sake of marriages everywhere, just know that I am perfectly satisfied with being the second funniest person any of you know.
Biblical Justification for a Two-Day Weekend?
If any of you have ever wondered whether we should have a one-day weekend or two, here’s something to think about:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night And there was evening and there was morning, one day (emphasis added). Gen. 1:1-5 (NASB)
The account continues:
8 …And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
Creation, creation, creation…
31 …And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
However, immediately following that we have:
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.
2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Gen. 2:1-2 (NASB)
Isn’t it true that in the Jewish tradition, the Sabbath, for example, begins the evening of the sixth day and continues until the evening of the seventh? Why wouldn’t the first day, or “one day” above, begin the same way such that all of the creation events that have been traditionally assigned to the “second day” would have actually happened on day one, and those events assigned to the “first” day (“first” not actually appearing in Hebrew text) would have occurred before time as we know it.
Thus, the creation of man would have occurred on the fifth day, and the, “By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done…” stuff would have happened on the sixth.
So, like us, God might have used the sixth day (our Saturday) to finish up some stuff, too. A little house cleaning after a hard week’s work, if you know what I mean? Think of it as a Sabbath-lite.
The moral of the story: don’t feel bad for only working five days, not six.
And don’t send me a lot of heretical hate mail, or flood the comment section by telling me how wacko I am, I already know that. I’m just trying to have a little fun on a Friday (my Sabbath-lite-lite), and if creation theology is reformed in the process, so be it.
Hebrews Bible Study-Week 1
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, Greek, Israel, Jesus, Law, New Testament, Old Testament on August 27, 2009
Last night was the first real night of our Hebrews study. Our study group actually met last Wednesday, but it was more of a meet-and-greet.
One of the themes that kept emerging throughout the discussion of Hebrews 1 was the author’s set up of his (or her) theme or thesis or argument. It is similar to how a lawyer would present a case. I don’t know why this didn’t occur to me during the days and weeks leading up the study, and only right in the midst (I might have developed the idea a little more being a lawyer and all), but it will end up being a good starting point, I think.
The opening four verses (a single sentence in the Greek) are powerful. Already, the author has grabbed the audience’s attention contending that (1) God has spoken to the fathers through the prophets and (2) God has spoken in His Son, who (3) upholds all things through the word of His power and (4) has a much better name than the angels. The importance of these conclusions to a Hebrew audience cannot be overstated.
The author then, in proving the superiority to the angels, immediately invokes Messianic Psalms. Again, the significance is clear. This Son is the one to whom the scriptures have been pointing. Everything that has come before has been to try and illustrate this.
In Chapter 2, the author cuts right to it, “if the word spoken through the angels proved unalterable,” then how much more is this true since He said it and God confirmed it through sings, wonders and miracles.
The audience is presented with the inescapable conclusion before the identity of the Son is revealed. Quite a stroke of persuasive genius, especially considering the intended audience.
And then the really good news, the devil is rendered powerless (Genesis 3:15), the slaves are set free, and He is there to help us because He gets it. He became one of us, and He gets it.
This is obviously a very shorthand version of an hour-and-a-half Bible study. I don’t know if my study/discussion notes will be of any help, but I have included them as separate posts, and you are certainly free to use and abuse them as you feel the need:
At the end of the semester I will probably make a master post with links to everything, but for now it’s one week at a time.
Hebrews Chapter 1-Study Notes
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, Israel, New Testament, Old Testament on August 27, 2009
These are my study notes for Hebrews Chapter 1. I don’t know if they will make much sense to anyone else, but if they are helpful to anyone feel free to use them.
The scripture references and discussion notes should have aligned with the appropriate scriptures, but I lost that somehow when I loaded the table into my blog. On the left is, obviously, the Bible text, the center column contains the scriptures I referenced or wanted to reference, and the right-hand column has discussion topics.
| Hebrews 1 (NASB)
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, 6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, 7 And of the angels He says, 8 But of the Son He says, 10 And, 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? |
Scripture Refs.
1:2-3 – Gen. 1:1, John 1:1 1:5 – Psalm 2 1: 9 – Psalm 45; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16: 12-14 1:10 – Psalm 102; Gen. 1:1 1:13 – Psalm 110 |
Discussion Notes 1:1-3 – Scripture and prophets like sketches before photos. Ex. layers and layers of sketches required for animation. 1:2 – “spoken to us in,” limited to past tense? “In.” 1:4 - Must understand in context of ancient Israel. Angels = significant, greater than prophets. 1:5 – Psalm 2. First Messianic Psalm. Key to who “Son” is. Author refers to Messianic Psalms over and over. 1:13 – Ps. 110 “order of Melchizedek” theme repeated in Hebrews Ch. 5-7. 1:14 For “those who will inherit salvation?” |
Hebrews Chapter 2-Study Notes
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, New Testament on August 27, 2009
These are my study notes for Hebrews Chapter 2. I don’t know if they will make much sense to anyone else, but if they are helpful to anyone feel free to use them.
The scripture references and discussion notes should have aligned with the appropriate scriptures, but I lost that somehow when I loaded the table into my blog. On the left is, obviously, the Bible text, the center column contains the scriptures I referenced or wanted to reference, and the right-hand column has discussion topics.
|
Hebrews 2 (NASB) 1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. 5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, 13 And again, And again, 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. |
Scripture Refs.
2:6-8 – Psalm 8 2:12 – Psalm 22 2:14 – Gen. 3:15 2:15 – Gal. 4 2:17-18 – Heb. 4:15 |
Discussion Notes 2:1 – What is the “this reason?” Is it what was spoken in 1:1-2? 2:2 – The scriptures given by angels to the fathers in the past unalterable, how much more what is spoken by the Son, and then confirmed by those who heard. 2:6-8 – Psalm 8. Another Messianic Psalm. 2:8 – Will we only see all things subjected to Him upon His return? What do we do now? 2:14 – Since Gen. 3:15, devil has been trying to prevent seed from being born. 2:15 – What are we/they slaves to? 2:17-18 – Tempted in every way, yet w/o sin. Truly knows and understands what we are going through. |
Charismatics Let Their Experiences Define Theology
Posted by Peter in Christianity, Theology on August 24, 2009
In the blogosphere and elsewhere, I often come across something like this:
Charismatics let their experiences define their theology…yada, yada, yada.
To which, I can only answer, “Well, duh!”
I fail, however, to see how this is a real criticism. Moreover, I fail to see how non-charismatic, acharismatic, or anti-charismatic theology is any less defined by experience (or lack thereof).
Can someone help me out here?
Polycarp is Giving Away a Cool Book
Posted by Peter in Blogging, Book Reviews, Christianity on August 24, 2009
My blogging buddy Polycarp is giving away a copy of Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols by Mike Aquilina.
It looks like a fascinating read. To enter, simply comment on the original post for one entry, or write a post about the giveaway for two additional entries.
The one atypical catch is you have to write a review about the book if you win. There don’t appear to be any special rules about the review (re length, etc.) however. And if you don’t have a blog, you can post your review on his blog.
The date and time for the drawing are sometime next weekend. Good luck.
Don’t Bite Your Friends
My fourteen-month-old daughter was watching this horrifyingly horrifying kids show this weekend, Yo Gabba Gabba. One of the lesson segments was: “Don’t bite your friends.” Complete with chant and everything:
Don’t…Don’t…Don’t bite your friends!
Sage advice to be sure, but it seemed somehow incomplete, especially since the segment that followed wasn’t, “or anyone else.”
Enemies and strangers beware.
Internet Addiction Detox
Addicted to the internet?
If you’re reading this, you probably are. And there’s good news for your addiction.
A CNET blog is reporting America’s first internet addiction detox program, appropriately named reSTART, is open for business. The Heavensfield Retreat Center’s “Internet Addiction Recovery Program” provides “treatment for internet, gaming, texting and video game abuse.”
What, no blogging? They’re missing out on a huge pool of addicts, aren’t they?
However, for a mere $14,500 you too can spend 45 days in Heavensfield, located outside of Seattle, WA, and kick your internet, texting or video game addiction. Bloggers, too bad.
Prayer for Children who are Given Bibles?
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, God on August 20, 2009
In the interesting search string category, how’s this(?):
prayer for children who are given Bibles
My response to the lost searcher in need of advice:
Lord, let them read it.
Or, how’s this(?):
Lord, open their eyes to see,
and their minds to know,
open their ears to hear,
and their hearts to grow.
And, Lord, if you must,
open that hundred dollar, leather, engraved, tricked out Bible upside their head every now and again, but only if you must.
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