Weekend Update . . .

FYI ….. (3/7)

From my friend, Dietrich Bonheoffer (through The Big Picture) . . .

“Consecutive reading of Biblical books forces everyone who wants to hear to put himself, or allow himself to be found, where God has acted once and for all for the salvation of men. We become a part of what once took place for our salvation. Forgetting and losing ourselves, we, too, pass through the Red Sea, through the desert, across the Jordan into the Promised Land. With Israel we fall into doubt and unbelief and through punishment and repentance experience again God’s help and faithfulness. All this is not mere reverie but holy, godly reality. We are torn out of our own existence and set down in the midst of the holy history of God on earth. There God deals with us, and there He still deals with us, our needs and our sins, in judgment and grace. It is not that God is the spectator and sharer of our present life, howsoever important that is; but rather that we are the reverent listeners and participants in God’s action in the sacred story, the history of the Christ on earth. And only in so far as we are there, is God with us today also.

A complete reversal occurs. It is not in our life that God’s help and presence must still be proved, but rather God’s presence and help have been demonstrated for us in the life of Jesus Christ. It is in fact more important for us to know what God did to Israel, to His Son Jesus Christ, than to seek what God intends for us today. The fact that Jesus Christ died is more important than the fact that I shall die, and the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is the sole ground of my hope that I, too, shall be raised on the Last Day. Our salvation is ‘external to ourselves.’ I find no salvation in my life story, but only in the history of Jesus Christ. Only he who allows himself to be found in Jesus Christ, in his incarnation, his Cross, and his resurrection, is with God and God with him.”

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1954), 53-54.

A good article about the “Shack” with a bunch of links that have various perspectives of the book, both positive and negative: Faithmaps on the Shack.

Between Two Worlds has posted two lectures given by Dr. Billy Graham at Harvard University several years ago called “Evangelism and the Intellectual,” very good stuff: Bill Graham at Harvard.

Also from BTW, this Q & A e-booklet/essay from David Powinson:, "I Am Motivated When I Feel Desire," reprinted in his book, Seeing With New Eyes: Counseling and the Human Condition Through the Lens of Scripture.

I mentioned this earlier in the week, but if you missed it: Online ESV Study Bible Free for the Month of March.

Blogs about Grammar (someone has to forward this to Dr. Hicks), but, take this Dr. H …. Ten Common Myths About Grammar Debunked. My favorite ….

Split infinitives when you feel like it. Honestly, if you think that it’s improper to split an infinitive in English, you need help. This has never been a rational or justifiable rule of English, and just looking at competent English writing should be enough to disabuse you of this notion. Split infinitives are commonly quite beautiful, especially when compared to the often-barbarous sound of an unsplit infinitive.

Excellent reminder from Pastor Ray Ortlund of the need for humbleness in all of us, no matter our preferred theological bent: Theology, Culture.

“Some Scary Reminders About the Importance of Community” From Christians in Context.

Ed Stetzer is hosting a series of interviews he did with Pastor Andy Stanley about preaching and teaching, well worth the read for those whom want to do this well.

And finally, you have to read this to understand the illustration below: Taking out Jesus Trash.

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.