Reading from Monday, August 2

A few years ago, I went to a comedy show in the city - Henry Rollins was the headliner, but I also saw Jenenane Gorofolo and one other dude who's name I can't remember. The show was very very left wing, democratic, "I hate George Bush" kind of show. This one guy got on the topic of Christians and told some jokes about them. I never take offense at stuff like that - I often welcome it because things like that may reveal something I'm doing that's unkind to others, so I laughed at myself along with everyone else.

The comedian then - to drive his point home about how hypocritical Christians can be - told a story about one night when he was performing and told that very same set of jokes about Christians. He said a man came up to him after the show and said this (please excuse the language):

"Hey buddy, I'm a Christian. Fuck you."

Barring the profanity, I think that is the attitude a lot of Christians have. It's the "This is who I am and you can't tell me I'm wrong" attitude. As I've been reading about in Romans, we should be trying our hardest to live in peace with one another. Not to stir up controversy, not to accuse or condemn one another (that's God's job) and not to tell comedians to F-off because they made a joke about your faith. We certainly have a right to take pride in what we believe, and even to be offended when someone defaces it - but imagine how that comedian's perspective on Christians would have radically changed if that same person said this:

"Hey man, great job tonight. I gotta say that as a Christian I was a little offended by some of the jokes you made about my faith, but I realize that we can come off as hypocritical sometimes. I am often guilty of it myself, but I'm trying to work on it. I'll continue to pray for you and hope that one day your opinion will change about us."

I know that's a little corny, but you know what I mean. Spread peace, brothers and sisters. Don't spread hate.

Reading for August 2
2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13
This section tells the second part of Hezekiah's story. It tells of the king of Assyria, Sennacherib (sen a cherub), and how he wanted to destroy the crap out of Judah and Israel. He had already begun attacking several cities within the region when he sent messengers to the people of Israel saying:

On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? ¹¹ When Hezekiah says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,' he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst.  ¹³ "Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? ¹⁴ Who of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand?

Sennacherib was basically taunting all the people of Israel about their God. Saying what makes your God so great as to save you from me destroying you? Everyone else thought they would be saved by their gods and they weren't - so what makes you guys so special?

Well, Hezekiah prayed for Israel's salvation from the hands of Sennacherib's army, and God freaking delivered. While the Assyrians were camping, he sent an angel to wipe out their entire Assyrian camp. That was the God Sennacherib was dealing with. Boom.

Romans 15:23-16:9
Paul turns from very profound religious teachings to a very personal closing to his letter. In these final paragraphs he talks about his desire to visit the people to whom he is writing. Through this detail, it's clear that this book of the Bible, while applicable to the whole world, is addressed to a very specific group of people that Paul knows intimately. He expresses excitement and joy at the prospect of seeing his friends again, and shares his fears and trepidations about visiting Jerusalem again because the last time he went to Jerusalem, it didn't turn out so well. So he asks these people to pray for him.

He then talks about specific people, mentioning them by name, who will presumably be going to Rome and he asks the recipients of this letter to welcome these people into their community.

I think the point we should take away from this is a point that Paul had made early on in his letter. That point is that if you're going to offer corrective guidance to someone, you must first know the person. Paul wasn't nailing this letter to the door of a cathedral or protesting in the streets of Rome with signs that said how doomed they all were, he was writing to a group of his buddies. Like for you ORB folks, it would be as if Christian or Michelle or Jared or Andy or Matt A. moved away and wrote us this sweet letter (assuming you're close with one or more of those dudes/dudettes). Or for you non-ORB folks, it would be like someone you love and trust moving away and writing you a letter.

Paul is the man, living by pure example. Trying to emulate Jesus is an admirable, yet futile task. However, if we tried to emulate Paul, I think we would find that much more attainable. Admitting our flaws where flaws exist, teaching with love, living as an example, and above all, avoiding being a hypocrite. And also avoiding the act of telling comedians where they can stick it.

Psalm 25:16-22
The need for a savior:

¹⁸ Look upon my affliction and my distress
       and take away all my sins.

 ²² Redeem Israel, O God,
       from all their troubles!

It's clear in these two verses that the idea of a savior was formulating already. It was fairly obvious at this point that the relationship between God and man would never be repaired. Drastic action needed to be taken, and indeed it was.

Proverbs 20:16-18

 ¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
       hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.
 ¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
       but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
 ¹⁸ Make plans by seeking advice;
       if you wage war, obtain guidance.

 Yup yup.

Reading from Sunday, August 1

Alright, post numero dos for the evening.

Reading for August 1
2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21
I know there's a point where the kingdom of Israel reunites, and I think this may be the start of it. Hezekiah had just finished rebuilding the Temple and was now trying to organize a huge celebration of Passover. Based on the way this was written, it seems like Passover hadn't been celebrated in a very long time. When he decided on the day and time, he sent out messengers to both Judah and Israel, inviting them to this huge celebration which would be occurring, but also to win them back into the graces of God. Many of the people mocked and cursed these messengers, sticking to their old ways of turning away from God. But many others had come back to the Lord and came and celebrated the Passover in a huge group.

The celebration was scheduled to last seven days, but when those seven days ended, it says that they decided to go another seven days. The joy of those two weeks must have been unparalleled in any of these people's lifetimes. Very cool.

Romans 15:1-22
More evidence that one of the Old Testament's main purposes is to give us an appreciation of how great we have it.

⁴For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

I can totally get behind that idea, and barring a few MAJOR mental hurdles, this explains God's viciousness in the OT. One of my hurdles is the idea that people of the past were hurt, tortured, and often killed - and what purpose does that serve? To make me feel better about my position in life? That's not cool.

Like if someone gave me a Macbook pro and a brand new video camera for free I'd be so freaking happy. But then the person told me that he killed 10 people to get it, I wouldn't want it...that analogy doesn't work perfectly, but do you see what I mean? Those people's suffering is on my head. They suffered, unwillingly, at the hands of a seriously powerful, and outrageously pissed off deity, so I could live comfortably. I don't like it.

The only way I think it would make sense for me is if the entire Old Testament was theoretical. The biggest rhetorical question of all time, only in place to give you a sense of what it would be like without Christ. But then if you take the OT as a fairy tale, that trivalizes God and everything that happened before that made Jesus' sacrifice so impactful.

I think I'm talking in circles.


Psalm 25:1-15
 ¹⁰ All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
       for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
¹⁴ The LORD confides in those who fear him;
       he makes his covenant known to them.

I know I made this point a couple of days ago, but look how conditional God's love was before Christ. Each statement of love from God is followed with an if statement. God loves you IF you behave. Which implies that he hates those who are naughty.

God proves himself wrong by sending Jesus to die for everybody. Not just the people who obeyed, but for the people who defiantly disobeyed. He died for the worst people in the world. What a change of heart for a God to have. That's pretty incredible.

Proverbs 20:13-15
 ¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
       stay awake and you will have food to spare.
 ¹⁴ "It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer;
       then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.
 ¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
       but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

OK, goodnight. 

 

Reading from Saturday, July 31

Hey yo. I got a new computer for work as we are all being forced to upgrade to Vista. I gotta say I like the look and feel of Vista, but haven't spent enough time with it to truly hate it as I know I one day will.

The computer itself is sweet though. It's even got a little lamp on top of the screen to light up the keyboard.

Anyway, let's get to some Bible'n.

Reading for July 31
2 Chronicles 29:1-36
This is a pretty short reading for the OT portion of my daily jim jam, and honestly, it's a pretty uneventful 36 verses. We have this new king, Hezekiah, who restores honor and goodness to the kingdom of Judah, and is also in good favor with God. One of the main things that pleases God so much about Hezekiah is his determination to rebuild the temple. He does indeed rebuild the temple and then he offers hundreds and hundreds of sacrifices within the temple to appease the God who had been so angry with his people for so long. God doesn't really make an appearance here other than the text saying that he was pleased.

There isn't too much to extract from this reading - it's pretty black and white. The only thing I think that is kind of interesting is how often the Temple is destroyed and rebuilt and how much of an effort goes into rebuilding it. Which is why it's so shocking when Jesus says that he will destroy the temple and then rebuild it in three days.

Romans 14:1-23
This is really interesting stuff in here - Paul is basically saying that everyone has their own way of worshiping God. As long as those ways are founded within a strong faith, they are perfectly fine to worship how they want. You should not judge anyone else for the way they do things.

I think this could easily be taken out of context to make it seem like all religions are accepted, but what I think Paul is referring to specifically is each person's own specific customs around Christianity. Likely, this arose out of the various places that Christians came from. Many Jews who had converted, likely stuck to the old laws of Leviticus around cleanliness and things like that.

Looking at it from the "I'm OK, you're OK" stance though, Jilly and I were talking about that very topic on the way home from work tonight. Her theory is this:

The writers of all religious texts all heard the same story and then got together one night for a campfire and all told the story a little differently, got mad at each other over the differences and went off and wrote their own version of events.

Ignoring the fact that the Bible was written by dozens of people over centuries of time, I agreed with her. Most of the major religions have the same basic message. I do believe that there are false religions out there, designed to exploit the mentally and emotionally weak, but I believe that all the major ones are valid. I once heard someone say that if a religion doesn't have love as it's central message, then that is a false religion, and I believe that's true.

I'm not going to pretend I know anything at all about Islam or Hinduism or Buddhism, but I know that the central message of Islam is not what the extremists are practicing, just as Christianity isn't about what Christian extremists are practicing.  I know that Hinduism has a heavy focus on Karma, which entices goodness in the darkest of characters.

For me, Christianity makes sense. It has shaped who I am and guides who I continue to be. For others, their own religion guides them to nearly the same outcomes. Who am I to say that they're wrong?

I'll close my tirade with this line from what I just read:

¹⁹Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Psalm 24:1-10
See, now there are things that are in direct conflict with what I just said:

³ Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
       Who may stand in his holy place?

⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
       who does not lift up his soul to an idol
       or swear by what is false.

The Bible explicitly says that it is right and everything else is wrong. And maybe that's the case, but that's the problem with religion - no one can know for sure who is right or wrong until we die. 

Proverbs 20:12
 ¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—
       the LORD has made them both.

OK great. Have a good night.

Reading from Friday, July 30

Jilly and I just watched a movie called "The Stoning of Sorana M." It's a true story of a recent stoning in Iran where the woman's husband falsely accuses her of cheating, convinces the rest of the village's government and eventually they stone her to death. But I didn't realize how brutal the act of stoning was. They bury the accused up to their waist and tie their hands behind their back, so there is very little resistance on the body, and so the stones hit as strongly as possible. First the family throws the rocks at the person, then it's open season. Rocks are hurled at her head over and over until she is a bloody mess and eventually dies.

It was absolutely sickening - and to think that God ordered this type of death on people in the Old Testament is unbelievable. It's animalistic. Again, I am thankful to be living in a time where God no longer commissions that type of thing, but what a terrifying God we serve...

Reading for July 30
2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27
The history of three more kings is covered in this reading. Uzziah was the next in line, he was in God's graces until he became powerful. He then became prideful and he lost his favor with God. Then he got leprosy and died.

Then Jotham became king of Judah, but he was good, so he wasn't killed.

Then Ahaz became king and he sucked and he was given over in battle to many nations. Then he died.

Romans 13:1-14
This section opens with the idea of respecting and obeying whoever is currently governing over you and your country, because whoever is in power has been put there by God. I think this is a good thing for our country to hear with all the hyper partisanship flying around and people getting angry with eachother over simple differences in opinion. I don't think you have to agree with everything your government or leadership does, but you have to respect it. I think this should come with a caveat that if your leader is corrupt and evil then you should not follow them.

This is incredible -

8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

As I said in the last post, this is something else I can be proud of about my faith. The idea that loving one another, if it's done properly and truly, will cover every commandment. Aside from the laws concerning God directly, that is certainly the case. Jesus covered the full spectrum by saying - love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Psalm 23:1-6
This is Psalm 23. Probably the most well known Psalm every written. I love this verse in the middle...

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

At this point in David's life, he was going through some heavy stuff, and for him to write such hopeful things about God in thie time is extremely encouraging. If David can get through the death of the majority of his children, losing his throne to one of his only remaining sons and survive exile from his own nation and still praise God, it gives me hope that when I experience something life-shatteringly awful in my life, I will be able to cope and still praise God.

Proverbs 20:11
Come on...you know better...

Even a child is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and right.

Alright - I got two down, yo.

Jilly and I are going to see John Mayer tomorrow night so I may not get to post. Here's hopin I'm up for it when I get home.

Reading from Thursday, July 29

Still five days behind, son. Let's keep on truckin.

Reading for July 29
2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28

This reading focuses on two of the kings of Judah - Joash and Amaziah.


Joash became king of Judah when he was seven - crazy right? - and he ruled in a way that was pleasing to God. Now there was a chief priest in Judah named Jehoiada whose counsel Joash sought frequently. During Joash's reign, he commissioned the rebuilding of the temple, which had been damaged in battles and was a couple hundred years old at this point. The rebuilding of the temple put Joash in a pretty good spot on God's list.

However, shortly after Jehoida the priest died, Joash turned away from God and led the people of Judah down a bad path. Now there is a key point here that shows God's grace - even in a situation such as this where one of his once obedient children has turned away so sharply. Here is what I'm talking about:

¹⁸ They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God's anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.

So here, even in the Old Testament, we see an act where God doesn't actually appear to want his people to fail. I'm being facetious of course, but when you hear things like God sending lying spirits to people and tricking people into sin, it's nice to see him actually try to help these poor people. Of course the people blow it and they just make God angrier (more evidence of God not being all knowing), but at least there is some discernible love and mercy here.

Amaziah wasn't much better. He was a king who won many battles for Judah, but after returning from one particular battle, he brought the gods of the conquered nation back to his own people. Obviously displeasing to God, and things ended badly for him with a battle between Judah and Israel where Amaziah lost all of his wealth and pride.

Romans 12:1-21
Great stuff in here. Verse 2 is one that I am fairly familiar with in my previous dealings with the Bible, but here it is:

²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I often have an issue trying to figure out God's will for me, as I'm sure many other people do. Well, here are the instructions to help you figure it out. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." It sounds like new-age mumbo jumbo but if you let that sink in for a little bit I think you will at least know what state of mind you need to be in to receive the will of God. 

Then we have this set of verses that, I think, encapsulates everything I believe and want to believe about Chrisitianity:

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.

Genuinely love people.Work hard. Be patient in times of trouble. Pray. Help people in need. Pray for blessings for your enemies. Be happy for other's success. Mourn for other's losses. Check your pride.

This is what I've been waiting for. This is a statement that I can proudly display to the rest of the world when I confess to be a Christian. I understand that I must accept the other unpopular things that go along with it, but allow me a moment to just revel in the goodness of these verses - where my and God's morals finally line up.

Psalm 22:19-31

30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.

31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

I think David is still talking about Jesus here but its a little more cryptic. These last two verses are nice though.

Proverbs 20:8-10

8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin"?

10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the LORD detests them both.

Alright, kids. Goodnight.

Reading from Wednesday, July 28

It's been a fabulously relaxing weekend. Hopefully I have enough energy to knock out at least two of these posts tonight.

Reading for July 28
2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21
I'm so happy that Chronicles is almost done. Every reading is either really boring or really confusing. The fist part of this reading is actually pretty cool though. We learn about a king that I haven't heard of before: Jehoram - he succeeded Jehoshaphat as king of Judah, but he was a wicked king unlike his father and grandfather Asa. And because he behaved in a way so against God, God told him that he would die by - get ready for this - pooping out his own bowels.

Well this bowel dump doesn't happen right away, first God puts a quarrelsome spirit in the surrounding nations and Jehoram is forced to fight off these armies before he becomes ill, and when he eventually does, he goes out just the way God had promised him:

¹⁸ After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. ¹⁹ In the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain.

Ugh - bowel evacuation has made my "top 10 ways not to go" list. 

The second half of this text is really confusing, so I'm just gonna skip over it. Sorry, that's totally lazy, I know.

Romans 11:13-36
OK - whoa whoa whoa:

³²For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

God makes us all behave badly on purpose so he can show us all how great and merciful he is? If that's the case why not make us all immune to the temptation of sin then? I cannot understand this aspect of God, and maybe never will. This is the same part of him that hardened Pharaoh's heart every time he was ready to give in and let is Israelites leave. This is the same part of God that has sent homosexuality into the world to make it more difficult.

I mean I suppose that overcoming adversity and receiving a free gift of grace is more valuable than just living in grace from the start, and I guess that sorta answers my question - but to read that one verse makes it look really messed up.

Psalm 22:1-18
Whoa - total prophecy psalm here:

¹⁴ I am poured out like water,
       and all my bones are out of joint.
       My heart has turned to wax;
       it has melted away within me.
 ¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
       and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
       you lay me  in the dust of death.
 ¹⁶ Dogs have surrounded me;
       a band of evil men has encircled me,
       they have pierced  my hands and my feet.
 ¹⁷ I can count all my bones;
       people stare and gloat over me.
 ¹⁸ They divide my garments among them
       and cast lots for my clothing.

All of that stuff hapened while Jesus was being crucified. Now I don't know if David wrote this with the intent of being prophetic, or if he wrote it concerning himslf or someone else of that time, and Jesus' story just happened to go the same way. 

Proverbs 20:7
 ⁷ The righteous man leads a blameless life;
       blessed are his children after him.

I'm not gonna make it through another post. My eyelids already have those 1 ton weights on them, and when you open my eylid to check if I'm sleeping, my eyes are little Xs. Goodnight. 

Reading from Tuesday, July 27

Well, so much for catch up day. I am freaking exhausted. We just got back from a birthday party, and I am extremely sleepy. Once again, forgive the potential brevity of this post.


Reading for July 27
2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37
This section finishes the account of Jehoshaphat's story. Not too much in the way of interpretation here. Jehoshaphat is led into battle against another nation and God miraculously destroys the other army before his army even arrives to fight. That's like when the other teams doesn't have enough players and you win by default.

Oh man - so sleepy.

Romans 10:14-11:12
Oh my gosh - I'm so tired.

There really isn't anything mind blowing in this one. Jews and Gentiles are awesome. Yay!

Psalm 21:1-13
Burn up the enemies, save Israel.

Proverbs 20:4-6
 ⁴ A sluggard does not plow in season;
       so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
 ⁵ The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters,
       but a man of understanding draws them out.
 ⁶ Many a man claims to have unfailing love,
       but a faithful man who can find?

Well this was a bit of a wasted post. I'm sorry...