The Encounter --Part II

For the first five years of my faith journey I could not read the Song of Solomon without lusting.  It was during a reading for a bible survey course that I had an encounter with this book.  And it really was that strong.  I remember where I was, the time of night, the weather outside, and where I was sitting.  As I read the forbidden book - Song of Solomon - I was enveloped in the love of Christ.  There, siting in the presence of the almighty, came to me these words “sex too, is beautiful.”  It was a revelation of the Spirit.  I had been reading my Bible for five years every day (or very close daily).  Our third century brother whose name is synonymous with 'Great Theologian' promoted singleness for reason of holiness.  Some have speculated that his bad view of body/sex is related to personal issues for him that went beyond the all the Platonic/Greek thinking that ran through his veins.  But I think there could be more.  Why didn't his reading of the Old Testament correct his less than good view of body and sex. He is quoted as once saying “If Abraham could have had children with out having sex, he would have.”

All Boys Have A Peanut--Part I

As we were about to break bread our adorable little girl announced “All boys have a peanut.”  Where did that come from?  What does that mean?  Looking up into the air, I muter the words to myself, “all boys ...” when my wife bursts out laughing.  What is so funny?  All boys [laughter] have [more laughter] a penis.

Now all of us are laughing with our little one not cognizant of why, but enjoying her part in the uproar.

Kids really... do... say the funniest things.

 

The first mention of male and female in the Torah greets us with two anatomical words.  The Hebrew words respectively mean “pointed” and “bored or pierced” for man and women who are to  be fruitful and multiple.  It is hard not to see child like innocence in these first mentioned words in Genesis 1. 

Give Us Back the Book (Part II)

While we can and may give some specific examples of how separating the first half of the Bible from the second half has lead to seriously misreading the later half (actually 30% of the Bible), the statement below is a broad stroke example of this error.

One confident evangelical theologian wrote, back in my seminary days, "For the Christian, the Law is a dead and a useless thing." [1]

Opposite Ends -- Give Us Back The (Whole) Book

Some 15 years ago while I was working on a degree in counseling, one of the professors, an Old Testament scholar, noted the Bible is mostly narrative – story – and if you wanted to read the Bible well you need to read novels. I heard about a book by John Steinbeck called East of Eden.

Newest Course at School on the Way

ENGAGING BEAUTY

In today's world, the average person (including the average American Christian) can easily slip through their life without ever opening their heart to Beauty--and to the life, joy, transcendence, sorrow, intimacy, romance, and pain that Beauty brings. All of us hunger for Beauty, yet few will answer its haunting call. The purpose of this class is to learn to hear that call, to recognize it--wherever it is to be found--and then learn to open vulnerably to that which we desire and fear more than anything, to allow it to transform us forever.

Back to Origins - Genesis 1-11

School on the Way presents an intimate and interactive look at Genesis 1-11. We will explore the wild and terrible, wonderful and mysterious scenes of Genesis.
Among other things you will:

• Learn the difference between Greek and Hebrew thinking
• Find out what God thinks of us (that alone may turn your world up side down)
• Read Genesis in the context of ancient cultures and stories.
• Understand the best translations (and options) of the original language
• Hear what others thru the centuries have said as they have read/listened to Genesis.
• Listen to what God is saying to and through each other.

The Journey - We will go to the very foundations of the planet and back. In many ways my job is to be your tour guide. There will be teaching and dialogue as well as reflection. This class will be a little like the TV show LOST, you gain some new understanding (as the episodes unfold) only to get a whole new set of questions. For years I've read and taught these earlier chapters of Genesis with increasing fascination and inquiry. Every new class brought fresh insights and questions with each return to this ancient record. An insatiable appetite has driven me to spend hours studying the best thoughts on the original Hebrew text.
A degree in Old Testament has me reading much of the background context for the earlier chapters of Genesis including ancient parallels to Genesis. We are interacting with others who currently and in centuries past have reflected long and deeply about these chapters. I have been blessed with the prayers of our church in asking for God to lead in the preparation for this course. Because of seeing so many things that I have missed through the years I still feel like a beginner coming to these early chapters of Genesis. My guarantee is you will learn a ton (and not just from me).

If this has your interest read on…

The Wonder of the Unexpected

I open an email and contained there in is a wonder of the unexpected. In the form of a video, I am affected to celebrate what is planted in every person. A real image of heaven or as I like to think of it … a new earth, a place where the uniqueness of all and every, is put on display for awe and cheering. I hear passages to a new world from passages of an old text. Telling words - "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be marveled at in all of them". Marveled at … in all of them, how can this be? Surely in some of them… no, it is in all of them, those we never believed could have this kind of substance and in reality who don't believe it themselves. Those who are pretending to have something great even betraying their own confidence as they foolishly boast while doubting it all the same. And the reality - they don't know the glory within and would of course be in awe themselves if they could see it.