I might have to stop listening to the 50 Greatest Speeches. It is really depressing. This morning, I ventured back to the Brandenburg Gate to hear a portion of President Reagan’s “Tear Down this Wall” speech. Here is the link: (more…)
Archive for September, 2010
A Striking Dissimilarity; Part 2
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010Helpful Correctives from the Old Testament, Part 2
Friday, September 3rd, 2010Here is another great lesson from Judges. This one from chapter 6 (the Call of Gideon). Here is the context. Israel, again, has forsaken God and He has given them over to the oppressor—this time the Midianites. The lesson from this passage is: “You are what God says you are.”
When the Angel of the Lord comes to Gideon. He greets Gideon, “”The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” It is obvious, however, that Gideon is not. While the Angel is saying this, Gideon is threshing wheat in a wine press because he is scared of the Midianites who are controlling God’s people through their maniacal version of Midianite Food and Drug Administration which does not allow the Israelite to grind grain. He is hiding because he is scared. The Angel tells Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and the Asherah (Baal’s female counterpart) beside it. Gideon, “the mighty man of valor”, does this, but he does it at night because…well…he is scared. Later, Gideon requires two (not one) signs from the fleece to get his act in motion. When Gideon is called, he is obviously not what the Angel says he is, but he becomes (in just a chapter) exactly what the Angel calls him. He defeats the Midianites host with 300 men. He becomes a Mighty Man of Valor. (more…)
Helpful Correctives from the Old Testament, Part 1
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010I have a pattern of reading through the Scriptures. Each day I read a chapter or so of the Old Testament in general, from the Old Testament Wisdom Literature (Psalms, Proverbs, etc.), and the New Testament. I wanted to write today with a plea—actually two:
First Plea: Read the Bible daily. Nothing encourages me more each day than this time listening to God’s Word and praying.
Second Plea: If you are reading the Bible, make sure that you are reading this Old Testament. It is incredible. It corrects so much each day. Here is a “friendly slaps in the face” that I received this week from the book of Judges (one of my favorites and very helpful in chaotic times): (more…)
