The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnight
Chapter three:
"...many of us, instead of taking the longer but more rewarding path of reading the Bible as a story, want a shortcut...
Shortcut 1: Morsels of Law
Shortcut 2: Morsels of Blessings and Promises
...there are all kinds f wonderful blessings ... and there also are days of doubt, defeat, disobedience, and darkness.
Shortcut 3: Mirrors and Inkblots
Sees Jesus as being like themselves
Shortcut 4: Puzzling Together the Pieces to Map God's Mind ...
Well, I have to go and Anna needs to take this book back to Moody, so I'll have to wait until this summer if I am going to get back to it.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Fri 032009 am 2K 11 Lk 12 Blue Parakeet Ch 2
2 Kings 11
11.2 The text doesn't say, but I wonder how Athaliah missed Josiah. Did she overlook him, or just couldn't find him? Anyway, it was a brave aunt and a plucky priest who saved the day.
11.18 We are in a different dispensation and time, but it is interesting that Mattan, the priest of Baal was held to a different level of accountability than the regular worshippers.
It almost seems that Israel was chaffing under the extreme Baal worship and associated it with the tyranny of Athaliah so that they wanted to destroy the Baal worship as soon as she was gone.
The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnight
The idea seems to be that we tend to pick and choose what we want and basically tame the Bible for our purposes. He says the Bible should make us a little uncomfortable.
In chapter two he talks about three ways people read the Bible. First, is to "read and retrieve." He says on page 26 that, "What we've got in the pages of the New Testament are first-century expressions of the gospel and church life, not permanent, timeless expressions." That statement has an element of truth in it, but concerns me because it seems to open the door for writing off what we don't like at "cultural" and could open the door for "rethinking" key doctrines. The second is "Reading through Tradition," allowing a set of beliefs guide your interpretations. He talks about "the great tradition" and "traditionalism." The third was "Reading with Tradition." Considering what has been believed in the past against what the Bible says.
Luke 12
12.1 Hypocrisy is pointless in the long run.
12.4 This verse ought to be preached on every one in a while.
12.13 I hadn't thought much about the inheritance context for the Parable of the Fool. I should think about including this passage in my will if I ever get enough money for it to be an issue.
12.26 Could we paraphrase this, "Don't worry about what you can't change?"
12.45 I fear the Church is drifting in this direction.
12.58 ...make an effort to settle... Compromise isn't right for every situation, but there are definitely times when it is a desirable thing.
11.2 The text doesn't say, but I wonder how Athaliah missed Josiah. Did she overlook him, or just couldn't find him? Anyway, it was a brave aunt and a plucky priest who saved the day.
11.18 We are in a different dispensation and time, but it is interesting that Mattan, the priest of Baal was held to a different level of accountability than the regular worshippers.
It almost seems that Israel was chaffing under the extreme Baal worship and associated it with the tyranny of Athaliah so that they wanted to destroy the Baal worship as soon as she was gone.
The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnight
The idea seems to be that we tend to pick and choose what we want and basically tame the Bible for our purposes. He says the Bible should make us a little uncomfortable.
In chapter two he talks about three ways people read the Bible. First, is to "read and retrieve." He says on page 26 that, "What we've got in the pages of the New Testament are first-century expressions of the gospel and church life, not permanent, timeless expressions." That statement has an element of truth in it, but concerns me because it seems to open the door for writing off what we don't like at "cultural" and could open the door for "rethinking" key doctrines. The second is "Reading through Tradition," allowing a set of beliefs guide your interpretations. He talks about "the great tradition" and "traditionalism." The third was "Reading with Tradition." Considering what has been believed in the past against what the Bible says.
Luke 12
12.1 Hypocrisy is pointless in the long run.
12.4 This verse ought to be preached on every one in a while.
12.13 I hadn't thought much about the inheritance context for the Parable of the Fool. I should think about including this passage in my will if I ever get enough money for it to be an issue.
12.26 Could we paraphrase this, "Don't worry about what you can't change?"
12.45 I fear the Church is drifting in this direction.
12.58 ...make an effort to settle... Compromise isn't right for every situation, but there are definitely times when it is a desirable thing.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Th 090319 pm 2 King 9-10
2 Kings 9
9.31 Wicked as she was, you have to appreciate her cutting sarcasm and whit.
9. 34 After what Jehu said in verse 22, it is curious that he would want to see to her burial. I guess it was a "professional courtesy" or something.
2 Kings 10
10.10 "Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the Word of the Lord which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab..." I like the expression about words falling to the ground. And, it is impressive how confident Jehu was in bringing about the violent end God had prophesied for Ahab's house.
10.15 I love "Jehonadab the son of Rechab."
10.29 This is the saddest verse in the chapter. (Well, this one and 31 combined.) It's not enough to have a great start. Lord, help me to finish well.
9.31 Wicked as she was, you have to appreciate her cutting sarcasm and whit.
9. 34 After what Jehu said in verse 22, it is curious that he would want to see to her burial. I guess it was a "professional courtesy" or something.
2 Kings 10
10.10 "Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the Word of the Lord which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab..." I like the expression about words falling to the ground. And, it is impressive how confident Jehu was in bringing about the violent end God had prophesied for Ahab's house.
10.15 I love "Jehonadab the son of Rechab."
10.29 This is the saddest verse in the chapter. (Well, this one and 31 combined.) It's not enough to have a great start. Lord, help me to finish well.
Th 090319 am Victorious Praying Ch 23 2Kg 6-8
A Journey to Victorious Praying
Finished chapter 23, on fasting, and read 24, on waiting on the Lord. Thrasher said that waiting on the Lord was not as much an activity as an attitude and suggested that when the Lord rebuked Martha, it was her distracted, worried, and bothered attitude, not her service, that was called into question.
2 Kings 6
6.18 blindness I wonder if this might have been some kind of lack of awareness instead of an inability to see anything. I can't imagine someone agreeing to be led to a military mission if they couldn't see. This kind of blindness would be a good illustration of the spiritual blindness of the lost today. They just don't have a clue. I need to check the Hebrew sometime to see if that is the case.
2 Kings 7
7.2 "you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it." What a sad punishment. I want to see and taste.
7.19 "Now look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" He lacked Abraham's faith. We don't have to have a solution in mind to have faith.
2 Kings 8
8.1 Preachers often criticize Ruth for doing the same things. It seems that Elijah wouldn't have to her to live elsewhere if it was against the law to do so.
8.10 This is a hard one to figure out.
8.18 Be very careful who you marry!
8.26 Scary music time in the movie. Athaliah was "a real piece of work."
Finished chapter 23, on fasting, and read 24, on waiting on the Lord. Thrasher said that waiting on the Lord was not as much an activity as an attitude and suggested that when the Lord rebuked Martha, it was her distracted, worried, and bothered attitude, not her service, that was called into question.
2 Kings 6
6.18 blindness I wonder if this might have been some kind of lack of awareness instead of an inability to see anything. I can't imagine someone agreeing to be led to a military mission if they couldn't see. This kind of blindness would be a good illustration of the spiritual blindness of the lost today. They just don't have a clue. I need to check the Hebrew sometime to see if that is the case.
2 Kings 7
7.2 "you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it." What a sad punishment. I want to see and taste.
7.19 "Now look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" He lacked Abraham's faith. We don't have to have a solution in mind to have faith.
2 Kings 8
8.1 Preachers often criticize Ruth for doing the same things. It seems that Elijah wouldn't have to her to live elsewhere if it was against the law to do so.
8.10 This is a hard one to figure out.
8.18 Be very careful who you marry!
8.26 Scary music time in the movie. Athaliah was "a real piece of work."
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wed 090318 pm 1King 4-5
1 Kings 4
Four miracles in this chapter and the two about men have to do with eating. Probably not very significant, but interesting.
1 Kings 5
5.7 Am I God to kill and make alive..? This is a great questions for me sometimes when I get prideful and self sufficient.
5.13 A friend like this is a treasure!
Four miracles in this chapter and the two about men have to do with eating. Probably not very significant, but interesting.
1 Kings 5
5.7 Am I God to kill and make alive..? This is a great questions for me sometimes when I get prideful and self sufficient.
5.13 A friend like this is a treasure!
Wed 090316 am 2King 2-3
2 Kings 2 2.14 Where is the God of Elijah? With 50 sons of the Prophets looking on Elisha steps forward in faith. If God had not parted the water, he would have looked pretty foolish.
2.17 till he was ashamed It is too easy for people to redefine the paradigm and cajole us into being too embarrassed to stick to what we know is right. Are we not sure of ourselves, or is it just not worth making a fuss over?
2.24 mauled forty-two of the youths I am trying to get a picture of this scene in my mind. "Forty-two of them" may imply that there were even more. It must have been an ominous scene to have a crowd of "gang members" heckling and threatening the prophet. And was does that look like for two bears to maul 42 people. It must have been real mayhem.
2 Kings 3
3.13 What have I to do with you. God to the prophets of your father.
3.14 were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah
For someone raised with almost a "win the lost at any cost" / "Jesus is watching and waiting" background this seems like a very odd attitude to take. It should cause people who reject the Lord to sit up and take notice. I hope that I am always a Jehoshaphat.
3.18 a simple hing in the eyes of the Lord What a reassuring thought!
3,27 What a sad and pathetic scene this must have been. Spiritual darkness is tragic.
2.17 till he was ashamed It is too easy for people to redefine the paradigm and cajole us into being too embarrassed to stick to what we know is right. Are we not sure of ourselves, or is it just not worth making a fuss over?
2.24 mauled forty-two of the youths I am trying to get a picture of this scene in my mind. "Forty-two of them" may imply that there were even more. It must have been an ominous scene to have a crowd of "gang members" heckling and threatening the prophet. And was does that look like for two bears to maul 42 people. It must have been real mayhem.
2 Kings 3
3.13 What have I to do with you. God to the prophets of your father.
3.14 were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah
For someone raised with almost a "win the lost at any cost" / "Jesus is watching and waiting" background this seems like a very odd attitude to take. It should cause people who reject the Lord to sit up and take notice. I hope that I am always a Jehoshaphat.
3.18 a simple hing in the eyes of the Lord What a reassuring thought!
3,27 What a sad and pathetic scene this must have been. Spiritual darkness is tragic.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tues 090316 pm Victorious Praying
A Journey to Victorious Praying
p. 134
Did He [Jesus] remind them, but not to miss devotions for the day. No, He asked them to pray because He knew how heaven works.
Andrew Murray said, “We understand that our true aim must not be to work much; and have prayer enough to keep the work right.”
p. 145
It is accurate to say that Jesus dose not command His followers to fast, but He certainly did expect fasting to be part of their lives.
p. 158
D.L. Moody used to say, “If you say, ‘I will fast when God lays it on my heart, you never will.”
I like Donald Whitney’s suggestion to have a fast of dedication as an expression of one’s willingness to fast as the Holy Spirit would direct.
p. 134
Did He [Jesus] remind them, but not to miss devotions for the day. No, He asked them to pray because He knew how heaven works.
Andrew Murray said, “We understand that our true aim must not be to work much; and have prayer enough to keep the work right.”
p. 145
It is accurate to say that Jesus dose not command His followers to fast, but He certainly did expect fasting to be part of their lives.
p. 158
D.L. Moody used to say, “If you say, ‘I will fast when God lays it on my heart, you never will.”
I like Donald Whitney’s suggestion to have a fast of dedication as an expression of one’s willingness to fast as the Holy Spirit would direct.
Tues 090317 am 1king 3 - Luke 10 - Acts 3
2 Kings 1
1.6 "Is is because there is no God in Israel?" How often do we (I) act like there is no God? It is a thought to take with me today.
1.9 demanding--toast
1.11 come down quickly--toast
1.14 "But let my life now be precious in your sight." What a great example of humility that is.
1.18 "...the rest of the acts..." Here is yet another reminder of how much of what we do is relegated to statistics in some obscure book somewhere. What in my life is "Bible worthy?"
Acts 3
This morning we discussed Acts 3 in our staff meeting.
3.1 Peter and John went to pray. Good things tend to happen when we pray. The lame man was in "the path to prayer", a "hot spot" for God's grace.
He wanted money, but God had something much better in store. "...above all we ask or think..."
Jesus had probably walked by this man many times during his ministry, but the timing was important for Peter to preach.
3.25 Why does the NIV have "heirs" instead of "sons?" It seems to be the Greek word for son (Huios) there.
Luke 10
I am trying to read/hear a NT chapter each day in the ESV.
10.4 Wish peace on the house and let the Lord figure out if it deserves it.
10. 19 Serpents and scorpions seem to be an allusion to demons. Mark 16
10.33 he had compassion
10.37 showed him mercy
It is disappointing how hard-hearted we often are. I need to take the time to notice and to be moved.
1.6 "Is is because there is no God in Israel?" How often do we (I) act like there is no God? It is a thought to take with me today.
1.9 demanding--toast
1.11 come down quickly--toast
1.14 "But let my life now be precious in your sight." What a great example of humility that is.
1.18 "...the rest of the acts..." Here is yet another reminder of how much of what we do is relegated to statistics in some obscure book somewhere. What in my life is "Bible worthy?"
Acts 3
This morning we discussed Acts 3 in our staff meeting.
3.1 Peter and John went to pray. Good things tend to happen when we pray. The lame man was in "the path to prayer", a "hot spot" for God's grace.
He wanted money, but God had something much better in store. "...above all we ask or think..."
Jesus had probably walked by this man many times during his ministry, but the timing was important for Peter to preach.
3.25 Why does the NIV have "heirs" instead of "sons?" It seems to be the Greek word for son (Huios) there.
Luke 10
I am trying to read/hear a NT chapter each day in the ESV.
10.4 Wish peace on the house and let the Lord figure out if it deserves it.
10. 19 Serpents and scorpions seem to be an allusion to demons. Mark 16
10.33 he had compassion
10.37 showed him mercy
It is disappointing how hard-hearted we often are. I need to take the time to notice and to be moved.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mon 0903316 pm - 1King 20-22
1 Kings 20
20. 28 Because they have said... God defends his reputation and Ahab falls short of "finishing the job." How typical of us.
20.35-43 Here's another example of the amazing creativity and effectiveness of the OT prophets in effectively making their point.
1 Kings 21
7 out of 10 commandments broken
v.2 #10 not covet
v.3 #5 disregard for parents/family
v. 9-10 #9 false witness
v. 13 #6 shall not murder
v. 13 #3 the Lord's name in vain?
v. 15 #8 shall not steal
All in a day's work.
21.25 Wow! What a distinction.
21.29 ...humbled himself... an interesting statement about such a wicked man. Is there a chance that this involved any real repentance since God took note of it and showed him mercy?
1 Kings 22
22.8 O that I would be that man!
22.13 The messenger was well intentioned, but was he a good friend?
22.32 Compare with 2Chronicles 18.31. Calling out to the Lord is a sign of a humble follower of God which was a contrast to Ahab. I guess nobody would ever expect Ahab to pray.
22.43-44 How painfully familar. Jehoshaphat's two sins (in the midst of a life of doing right in the sight of the Lord) were to allow sin to reside in the obscure places and to make peace with an open enemy of God.
20. 28 Because they have said... God defends his reputation and Ahab falls short of "finishing the job." How typical of us.
20.35-43 Here's another example of the amazing creativity and effectiveness of the OT prophets in effectively making their point.
1 Kings 21
7 out of 10 commandments broken
v.2 #10 not covet
v.3 #5 disregard for parents/family
v. 9-10 #9 false witness
v. 13 #6 shall not murder
v. 13 #3 the Lord's name in vain?
v. 15 #8 shall not steal
All in a day's work.
21.25 Wow! What a distinction.
21.29 ...humbled himself... an interesting statement about such a wicked man. Is there a chance that this involved any real repentance since God took note of it and showed him mercy?
1 Kings 22
22.8 O that I would be that man!
22.13 The messenger was well intentioned, but was he a good friend?
22.32 Compare with 2Chronicles 18.31. Calling out to the Lord is a sign of a humble follower of God which was a contrast to Ahab. I guess nobody would ever expect Ahab to pray.
22.43-44 How painfully familar. Jehoshaphat's two sins (in the midst of a life of doing right in the sight of the Lord) were to allow sin to reside in the obscure places and to make peace with an open enemy of God.
Mon 09.03.16 am
Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation
I have several books going, but am currently working through Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation by Henry A. Virkler. I really like the format of this book. The first chapter talked about, among other things, the process of hermeneutics and how your view of inspiration and inerrancy affects your approach to hermeneutics.
1 Kings 16
16.19 walking in the way of Jeroboam
16.26 walked in all the ways of Jeroboam
16.31 to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat
What a disgrace to become the standard by which wickedness is measured. And how embarrassing it must be for Nebat to have his name tacked on so many times! I wonder what I am the standard for. I definitely need to pray harder for my kids, so my name will not be used in the same way Nebat's was.
16.14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
16.27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
I wonder how much of my life will be page fillers for the "book of the chronicles of the pastors of TBC?" God save me from useless activity.
1 Kings 17
I always thought of the miracle of the flour not running out for the widow in Zarephath, Sidon was pretty impressive, but apparently the widow was not too impressed. It wasn't until Elijah raised her son from the dead that she knew that he was "a man of God" and that the Word of the Lord was in his mouth. Talk about a tough crowd!
1 Kings 18
18.6 What's with Ahab looking for grass and water himself? Didn't he have people for that?
18. 15 As the Lord of Hosts lives, before whom I stand... I wonder if there is some special sense in which he meant that. I want to do better going through my day with the awareness that I stand before the Lord of Hosts.
18.28 "they cried aloud" versus Elijah "said" Why would we feel like we need to "yell at" God?
1 Kings 19
19.15 O that God will give me the sense and sight to see that it is not "I alone am left" and to take comfort in what He is doing through others.
I have several books going, but am currently working through Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation by Henry A. Virkler. I really like the format of this book. The first chapter talked about, among other things, the process of hermeneutics and how your view of inspiration and inerrancy affects your approach to hermeneutics.
1 Kings 16
16.19 walking in the way of Jeroboam
16.26 walked in all the ways of Jeroboam
16.31 to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat
What a disgrace to become the standard by which wickedness is measured. And how embarrassing it must be for Nebat to have his name tacked on so many times! I wonder what I am the standard for. I definitely need to pray harder for my kids, so my name will not be used in the same way Nebat's was.
16.14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
16.27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
I wonder how much of my life will be page fillers for the "book of the chronicles of the pastors of TBC?" God save me from useless activity.
1 Kings 17
I always thought of the miracle of the flour not running out for the widow in Zarephath, Sidon was pretty impressive, but apparently the widow was not too impressed. It wasn't until Elijah raised her son from the dead that she knew that he was "a man of God" and that the Word of the Lord was in his mouth. Talk about a tough crowd!
1 Kings 18
18.6 What's with Ahab looking for grass and water himself? Didn't he have people for that?
18. 15 As the Lord of Hosts lives, before whom I stand... I wonder if there is some special sense in which he meant that. I want to do better going through my day with the awareness that I stand before the Lord of Hosts.
18.28 "they cried aloud" versus Elijah "said" Why would we feel like we need to "yell at" God?
1 Kings 19
19.15 O that God will give me the sense and sight to see that it is not "I alone am left" and to take comfort in what He is doing through others.
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