Great Book

In practical ministry for men, with Damien Spikerite (I don't know how to spell his name, the new proff) we, Dan, Jay, Lane and me, have had to read Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity, by Eugene Peterson, and it is awesome. The book is challenging, encouraging, and written beautifully. If you are in ministry this is a must read. I would love for you guys to read it and offer your thoughts. I know all you need is more reading, but this is really worth it. I love you all so much. I just finished reading his chapter on find a spiritual director, and being able to seek guidance from you guys is the most incredible blessing, I have all of you for spiritual directors.

Taylor

Hey guys, I know this may be a bit nerdy but I want to recommend a blog to you. Check out Justin Taylor's blog @ between two worlds. Taylor has co-written a couple of texts with Piper and has some great links to significant websites and articles on his blog. Ok, shalom to you.

Sweet Deal

CBD is selling the Anchor Bible Dictionary (6 volumes) for only $ 179.99. With estimated shipping it was $194 something. It is a great tool. Snell says its the best Bible dictionary available, and Wright endorses it. I wonder, do I really need these books? Is it the best use of kingdom funds? I have no doubt I would use them. I use the IVP Dictionaries all the time. What do you think, an appropriate use of kingdom funds?

Food for Your Theo-Political Appetite

I'm more interested in the prayer/presence of God stuff that has come up, but I figured I'd go ahead and recommend a resource for the political/capital punishment/church/kingdom theme that has been going on. I can't find the text available online, otherwise I'd link it. Anyway, it is Martin Luther's "On Governmental Authority." This is a very influential document in Christian political theory. I read it in Hans Hilerbrand's "Protestant Reformation," a collection of original sources from the period. Check it out. For those at Ozark the call # is 270.6 H652p. Let me know your thoughts.

The Kingdom of God

I have come up with a definition for the Kingdom of God, "Israel as it should be." One might then ask, "What is Israel as it should be?" And concluding that such a definition is unhelpful for understanding an already loaded concept. Let me give you the basic thrust of my thinking here. Offer corrections, suggestions, cautions and comments in general.
(1) Israel was always intended to be a Theocracy (1 Sam 8.4-9), but rejected God in seeking an earthly ruler.
(2) Regardless, God promised to establish his covenant through a King (1 Sam 7.12-16; ca. 1200-1000 B.C.)
(3) Through years of socio-political turmoil, from the split of the Northern and Southern Kingdom on including: Assyrian exile (701 B.C.), followed by Babylonian Exile (586 B.C.), Nehemiah as a glimmer of hope (445 B.C.), until the Seleucid Empire and Antiochus IV Epiphanes (ca 170 B.C.), another glimmer of hope in the Maccabean Revolt (167-170 B.C.) until the instituation of the Hasmonean ruling priestly class not sanctioned by levitical law (152 B.C. ), then Pompey and Roman control (63 B.C.) which included such tyrant rulers as Herod the Great (37 - 4 B.C.) follwed by his incompentent sons and a slew of anti-semite Roman governers until the Jewish war (66-70 A.D.) Richard Horsley in Bandits, Prophets and Messiahs: Popular Movements in the Time of Jesus, has a great overview of the socio-political conditions of Israel highlighting the majority peasant class. All that to say that the economic burden of the constant power struggle had crippled the majority lower class, in such a way that even if they didn't know the scriptures as well as the ruling elite, they knew they were not living in the Promised Land as God intended it. All that to say that N.T. Wright is correct in Jesus and the Victory of God to say the Jew's considered themselves to be in exile, or at least not living in Israel as God had intended it.
(4) The agenda of the popular movements in and around the time of Jesus was to bring the kingdom, they simply used different means to do so. Included in these movements are Pharisees, Saducees, Essenes, and perhaps the controversial "Zealot" movement, others also found in Horsley's BPM.
(5) Jesus considered his role to be enacting the kingdom of God in a climactic way, which included taking such titles as "Son of Man" and "Messiah" among other indications including his prophetic preaching, healings and exorcisms. See Wright JVG.

Therefore, my definition makes sense of a variety of historical data, sets Jesus in his socio-political context as well as 1st century judaism, as far as we know, in addition to being theologically consistent with Xn doctrine and OT movements (both historically possible and theologically acceptable?). This is obviously a more complex proposal and requires more work espeically in the develop of OT theology of theocracy and what the prophetic movements in Israel both prior to and after Assyrian Exile, Babalyonian Exile, and the Maccabean period.

The significance of such a proposal is that:
(1) The church is the new Israel
(2) Jesus' actions are just as significant as his words for Xn theology and doctrine
(3) Jesus was political
(4) Xn politics revolve around bringing the Kingdom to the whole earth

And surely much more. These are not my own ideas as I have cited just a few of the great minds that have opened my eyes to trying to understand Jesus in his world.

Let me know what you think, I love you guys.

?

Drew Moss, Is saying intercourse ok?

Brothers

Let me first just say I'm glad to finally be here. Jay, I can't believe you and Caitlin are pregnant, congrats.

Michael in response to "turn the other cheek" the only response I have ever heard is that in the context of the sermon on the mount Jesus is talking about personal ethics. Basically, it doens't really apply. I think most people neglect the clear passages like "turn the other cheek" "all who draw the sword die by the sword" Mt 25.52b or Rev 13.10 go back to the wars of Israel in the OT. It is easy for us to see the difficulty of trying to apply OT narratives concerning the cultic acts of Israel to the NT church. It is similar to the rapture texts, it is so ingrained that the rapture will occur that people read the OT with eyes to see what they want to see instead of "ears to hear." In reponse to your post Jay, how might we present Kingdom ethics concerning peace? It seems that the best way to deal with difficult issues is to let the Bible speak. As you go through the sermon on the Mount, talk about what it means to love your enemies (Rome) in specific ways praying for muslim terrorist countries. I wrestle with this same issue. It seems like the hardest thing isn't giving them the answers, but teaching them to ask the right questions. If I were going to talk about Kingdom ethics however, perhaps the first place I would go would be the sermon on the mount, then the model of cross and resurrection, then Revelation. At my age, I've got is the bible to speak from, I don't have the wisdom in the eyes of veterans to tell them how to live, neither do you Jay. But, Jesus well he's the king, and we are his citizens.

On a similar issue in Sunday school over the next 5 weeks Dan and I will be doing a Series on Christian politics. It will go a little something like this,
(1) Was Jesus Political? Really? How?-->Dan
(2) "Israel and America" Is there such thing as a Christian Nation?-->Tyler
(3) Some issue of Dan's choice -->Dan
(4) "Jesus, David, and Osama" How to Christians protect themsevles?-->Tyler
(5) Undecided

Friends, we would love your imput on these issues, questions that you think might be asked, questions that you think we ought to address, questions you have. Also, if you have ideas how we might go about talking about what it means to be a Christian who happens to live in America in such a way that recognizes our true citizenship without alienating our listeners. How might we teach them to ask the right quesions?

-I love you all

In town?

Hey Nick! Are you in town? Can we meet up?

Jesus isn't cool with shooting people.

I feel like this is the reaction when I drop any suttle hints of Jesus' take on war to the crowd in Cassville, "you mean we shouldn't protect God's counrty at all costs?"
I spoke with some of you about this already. Yesterday (a Wednesday night service for all ages) I was given the text of Mt. 5:10-12--Blessed are those who are persecuted... Well in this talk Jesus' offensive or challenging teachings come to the surface quite naturally. I felt I needed to pose the question, why are we not persecuted too harshly today in America? Well perhaps we don't stay true to Jesus' teachings on war, divorce, money, hell, and his exclusivity is the clear answer to me. All are well accepted teachings in Cassville except for war.

I teach with an elder in the crowd who is an ex-Marine with a flag pole in his front yard and a WW2 vet faithfully staring at me who lost friends in the war against Hitler. Many times I am tempted to leave peace out of the discussion or let it stay in the confines of a nice idea Jesus had for you to get along with your family and co-workers. Undoubtedly, not everyone would agree with my interpretation of Jesus' take on war if it was presented. Yet it has to be said. My question is not so much as whether or not we should stay true to Jesus but how we should say these things to a generation that's been lied to. How to say these things when your not a circuit speaker who can simply leave his disgruntled audience the next day. Most importantly how to get them to embrace a fuller understanding of the Prince of Peace.

I want to hear what you guys think. For that reason,.at this moment I am not telling you what I said last night so as not to draw critique but fresh ideas.
Love you guys, this blog is sweet.

Perspective

How does this perspective on Paul change how we read the other epistles? Did Dunn address that?

Thoughts and questions

Michael: Will you send me those Dunn notes. Thanks man
Nick: Keep procreating my man. Those kids are beautiful.
Logan: I'm processing...

Question: Recently I was in the Northeast and was asked this question, "Where do you stand on the whole freedom in Christ issue?" I thought I might know what the guy meant but I asked him to clarify the question. The issue he wanted to get to was drinking. I guess up there this issue is a major cause of division. I'm sure it's not just up there, but where you guys are at too. How should the Church respond to this issue? If you need clarification let me know. And maybe this isn't a worthy discussion. I don't know? I just wanted to pick your brains. Let me know.

QUESTION

I have noticed Michael's initial warning #4 has been ignored. Are we still watching the G talk? Can we get our J on? Are we down with The Book? What's the HS telling you?

blogadelic

I am blogging now. This it is good to blog.

Oh yeah, I got married. It is good to marry.

I have a picture of wedding if you wish to view. It is good to view.

I cant get no satisfaction...

I guess I will get stuff started as far as sharing in a similar fashion as if I were in the dorms.
Lately I have been thinking alot about what it means to be happy, content, satisfied, etc. Generally I am ok with life; I dont feel overly disgruntled with how my life has treated me up to this point, but there is always this deep down (not always felt) sense of unrest, disatisfaction, desire for more and better everything. Not just material posessions, though this is where it manifests itself most commonly, as it is much easier to buy something bigger than it is to put more effort into my relationships (both with God and people). Still, I feel it basically in all areas of my life.
My question is, is anything really satisfying? Why isnt anything ever good enough? Why am I always a little unhappy, or disatisfied? I heard a serm. where the speaker asked the crowd to do away with the values of the world and hold to the values of God. He said that it wasnt easy, but it was the most wonderful, satisfying awesome thing ever. Frankly, my relationship with God has been a perpetual struggle uphill against myself and doesnt ever seem wonderful. Maybe I am missing something. Is it possible that for some a relationship with God isnt wonderful and satisfying, but simply right? Correct any faulty theology, and please point out my immaturity so that I can grow. It may be that I am just struggling in a slump right now.
I hope I made my thoughts and feelings clear. Comments are desireable.

Hey Brethren. Just wanted to let you know I am Gung Ho on this thing. I have caught the vision, put it in a stir fry, considered the lilies and I am ready to be changed.

I'm happy, and ready to get... snappy?

I think this could be really cool, provided that everyone maintains active use.

I'm on and ready to get it on

I'm on and ready to get it on