The Revisable Edition
ODB RADIO: Listen Now DownloadREAD: Matthew 5:43-48
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . for instruction in righteousness. —2 Timothy 3:16
Randall Peterson, a retired autoworker, thinks there could be an interest for a new kind of Bible. He sarcastically says that a publisher ought to create an electronic Bible that would allow for editing from the pew. That way individuals and churches could make the Bible say what they want it to say. He says it could be called the “LAME” Bible: “Locally Adaptive Multifaith Edition” and “could be sold to any church regardless of what it believes.”
He’s making a point, of course, but we might be tempted by such a product. Jesus gives us some hard teachings! As believers, our desire is to be obedient to Him in our choices and attitudes, but at times we resist the Word of God and may wish we could soften His commands.
Some of Jesus’ hard teachings are found in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, He says: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (v.44). That’s what He tells us to do, so we know we can’t just delete it. We need to apply it to our personal situation with the Holy Spirit’s enablement.
God’s Word is to be obeyed by His people. We’re the ones who need to be “revised”—not the Scriptures. — Anne Cetas
The laws of God are true and right;They stand as firm todayAs when He put them in His WordAnd told us to obey. —Fasick
To love God is to obey God.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Playing Through Your Pain
Playing Through Your Pain, by Rubel Shelly
Whether you play golf or not, you surely know the name Tiger Woods. So bear with me. This week's article (from FAX of Life) isn't so much about golf as life.
Almost a month ago now, Tiger outlasted Rocco Mediate in this year's U.S. Open. Playing the course at Torrey Pines in San Diego, the two were tied after four days. They were still tied at the end of an 18-hole playoff. Tiger won on the first sudden death hole. Some say it was the greatest U.S. Open in history.
No, the score wasn't the lowest ever. No, it wasn't won by an eagle from the fairway. No, there was no miracle shot that ended things. The miracle was that the man who won was able to complete the competition.
Tiger Woods played the tournament with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and two stress fractures below the left knee. As I watched part of the Open on TV, it was obvious that the world's greatest golfer was in excruciating pain at times. His powerful swing would contort his whole body, wrench his injured knee in particular, and register quite dramatically on his ordinarily poised face.
Golf is only a game, but watching a professional athlete compete through such pain was inspiring. He could have simply withdrawn because of the injury. Fans would have been disappointed but would have understood. He could have played to his pain and hit the ball less aggressively. He might have fallen back into the pack and taken a high score and low finish. He would have none of it.
Tiger played through his pain. He wouldn't quit. He gave his best on every hole. He insisted on playing to his full potential -- even when that potential was putting both his body and mind under incredible stress. Hooray for him!
There are pains of all kinds.
The winner of this year's U.S. Open had successful reconstructive surgery on his damaged knee about ten days later. He will miss the remainder of this year's PGA tournament events, of course, while he rehabs the knee. But few people doubt he will be ready to play the tour next year. He is, after all, Tiger Woods. He is the ultimate competitor. He doesn't quit.
There are pains of all kinds. Physical trauma, broken relationships, failed ventures, consequences of wrongs done -- all are different and all the same. And each of us has to decide about quitting, playing to the pain, or working through.
As you're deciding what to do with yours, think about why so many people are speaking of Tiger Woods with such admiration these days -- even the folks like me, who hardly know which end of a golf club to hold.
True courage isn't just outlasting difficulty, but turning it into triumph.
---------
(c) 2008 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's
"FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for
previous issues of the "FAX of Life."
Whether you play golf or not, you surely know the name Tiger Woods. So bear with me. This week's article (from FAX of Life) isn't so much about golf as life.
Almost a month ago now, Tiger outlasted Rocco Mediate in this year's U.S. Open. Playing the course at Torrey Pines in San Diego, the two were tied after four days. They were still tied at the end of an 18-hole playoff. Tiger won on the first sudden death hole. Some say it was the greatest U.S. Open in history.
No, the score wasn't the lowest ever. No, it wasn't won by an eagle from the fairway. No, there was no miracle shot that ended things. The miracle was that the man who won was able to complete the competition.
Tiger Woods played the tournament with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and two stress fractures below the left knee. As I watched part of the Open on TV, it was obvious that the world's greatest golfer was in excruciating pain at times. His powerful swing would contort his whole body, wrench his injured knee in particular, and register quite dramatically on his ordinarily poised face.
Golf is only a game, but watching a professional athlete compete through such pain was inspiring. He could have simply withdrawn because of the injury. Fans would have been disappointed but would have understood. He could have played to his pain and hit the ball less aggressively. He might have fallen back into the pack and taken a high score and low finish. He would have none of it.
Tiger played through his pain. He wouldn't quit. He gave his best on every hole. He insisted on playing to his full potential -- even when that potential was putting both his body and mind under incredible stress. Hooray for him!
There are pains of all kinds.
The winner of this year's U.S. Open had successful reconstructive surgery on his damaged knee about ten days later. He will miss the remainder of this year's PGA tournament events, of course, while he rehabs the knee. But few people doubt he will be ready to play the tour next year. He is, after all, Tiger Woods. He is the ultimate competitor. He doesn't quit.
There are pains of all kinds. Physical trauma, broken relationships, failed ventures, consequences of wrongs done -- all are different and all the same. And each of us has to decide about quitting, playing to the pain, or working through.
As you're deciding what to do with yours, think about why so many people are speaking of Tiger Woods with such admiration these days -- even the folks like me, who hardly know which end of a golf club to hold.
True courage isn't just outlasting difficulty, but turning it into triumph.
---------
(c) 2008 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly
"FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for
previous issues of the "FAX of Life."
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Pew Research article on religion in the military
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life published a quite interesting article on religion in the military. Click on the above link to access the complete article.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Denny Burk
A link to Denny Burk's blog was included in Ed Stetzer's 4th of July post. Interesting reading on theology, politics and culture. Denny's blog's rss feed is now added to the links, blogs, and feeds available on Bobology. :) Kent
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