Thoughts on 1 Samuel
I began studying 1 Samuel at the beginning of 2012, and I finished it this morning. I really enjoyed diving into an Old Testament book a little more deeply than I typically have. I feel like God taught me many lessons through these months, and maybe some of them will be helpful for you, too. Here is a very non-exhaustive list of lessons from 1 Samuel.
- Samuel’s mother, Hannah, fought anxiety, and her prayers were still answered.
- Sometimes we need someone—a mentor, pastor, teacher, spiritual guide or friend—to help us recognize God’s voice.
- God can accomplish His purposes through whatever means He chooses.
- If you choose to serve God, you must serve only God. He will not tolerate divided loyalty.
- God can and will cause donkeys to wander in order to accomplish His purposes.
- To obey is better than sacrifice.
- God does not see as mortals see. We look upon people’s outward appearance, but He looks upon the heart.
- When God anoints a leader, that leader may not yet be recognized among people.
- Loyalty to God’s Kingdom will sometimes cost you your life.
- It’s easy to trust and follow a leader when you have confidence in their relationship with God.
Pretty funny stuff! Thanks to @joshrhone and @mrcrowder for sharing!
Book Review: Real Marriage
I recently finished “Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together” by Mark and Grace Driscoll.
I should preface this entire post by stating for the record that I disagree with much of Driscoll’s theology and am often very troubled by the delivery of his messages. I suppose it’s impossible to separate those kind of things from the reading of a book like this, although I did try.
I gave the book 2 out of 5 stars over on GoodReads. I really wish I could have given it 1.5, but I rounded up. There were several really solid takeaways from the book for me. The most helpful section was a terrific exploration of friendship and how it impacts a marriage. Throughout the book, though, there were tidbits that I found useful for my own relationship with my wife.
I couldn’t read the sections that Grace wrote without thinking she had been somehow manipulated or duped into writing them by her domineering husband. I suppose that’s my issue. I can’t figure out why it’s good enough for Mark to have his wife as his “functional pastor” (a concept I’m not quite sure I grasp anyway) but not OK for a woman to be a pastor in his church.
And, in my opinion, the book drastically overuses statistics, many of which are from far too long ago or from far too small a sample size to scientifically matter. I appreciate the time they took to do the research, but I feel they took just enough time to make the research say what they needed it to say for their purposes.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to friends. If you do choose to read it, take the Driscolls’ advice at the onset and just use what is helpful for your marriage, discarding the rest.
A leading man in the Confessing Church recently said to me: ‘We have no time for meditation now, the ordinands should learn how to preach and to catechize.’ That seems to me either a complete misunderstanding of what young theologians are like today or a culpable ignorance of how preaching and catechism come to life.
When we can hardly find any instances of our favorite theological category in the whole of the four Gospels, we need to be wary of how important our own interpretations and theological favorites are.
“I Smell Cookies”
Occasionally, after Kari and I put the boys to bed and all is quiet in our home, we’ll preheat the oven to 375 degrees and enjoy one of our favorite treats, chocolate chip cookies. In fact, we like chocolate chip cookies so much that we had those for dessert at our wedding instead of wedding cake.
A couple weeks ago, having just removed our cookies from the oven in all their piping hot yumminess, Keaton called to us from the boys’ room. “Mommy!” Kari went in to see what was up, and Keaton quietly said, “I smell cookies.” (He actually said “I fmell cookies,” because he has a little trouble with S’s at the beginning of words, but I digress.)
We laughed and gave him a kiss and got him back to bed, but it made me reflect for a moment: When all is dark and quiet, and one’s sense of smell is heightened, what is the fragrance in our home? Of course Braden and Keaton can smell the delicious aroma of chocolate chip cookies, but what aroma does my attitude bring? Can they “smell” when I’m angry or impatient with them? Do they notice a stench when I’m short with Kari, frustrated with myself, or grouchy in general? Is the general fragrance around our house one that would please Christ, or one that would make him pinch his nose?
What does your house smell like?
What the gospel does is show us that Jesus’ life from a purely earthly point of view ended in failure—and yet, because he committed himself in total obedience and love to his father, he was raised by the father to glory as the first fruits of a new creation.
NYC 2011: Ways I Know I’m the Old Guy
So, during my recent trip to NYC2011 as a sponsor with the North Central Ohio District NYI, I began a list of ways I knew I was the old guy. This list was apparently met with delight by many, especially those who work or have worked in youth ministry. So, back by popular demand, here’s the complete list of Ways I Know I’m the Old Guy!
- I’m way more excited about Francis Chan than TobyMac.
- I’m reading the newspaper on the bus ride to #nyc2011. And I’m not ashamed of it.
- Monday at 1:15, #nyc2011 hasn’t officially started yet, and I’m ready for a nap!
- I freakishly enjoyed the Louisville Slugger Museum, and I’m quite excited about the baseball game.
- The caffeine I’m drinking at the All-You-Can-Eat Porch will certainly keep me awake later tonight.
- Of the six of us around the Starbucks table, I’m the only one who brought napkins.
- I never heard of half the card games being played on the riverboat lunch cruise. #WhatTheHeckIsKemps
- Who the heck is Starfield?
- I just ran into my friend @jameswsmith, who I’ve known for nearly 30 years!
- In my spare time, I’m reading a 550-page book on the life of Dieterich Bonhoeffer.
- I sat down for lunch during Ministry to Others Day, and had trouble standing back up. #decrepit
- I think the bass beat may be altering my pulse. But it’s rockin’! #tobymac
- I just sang “In the Light” with #tobymac. It’s the only song I’ve known all night!
- I observed how tonight’s speaker, Francis Chan, looks like Montel Williams. “Who?” asked the teens.
- I haven’t ordered a single pizza after midnight this week (though I may have eaten some).
- I’m reading Lesslie Newbigin in the hour leading up to Session 5.
- I am not interested—in the slightest—in riding an elevator already holding 71 people.
- I would certainly have been trampled by the crowd attacking the David Crowder stage.
- When @starfieldtim makes us get down and dance, I can feel the BURN in the thighs.
- I had a great week but can’t wait to get home…to my beautiful wife and sweet boys!!
Bonhoeffer: Chapter 14
This chapter details the start of Bonhoeffer’s ministry to two congregations in London. It is noted that, even though his services were sparsely attended, Bonhoeffer prepared as if he were “preaching to thousands.” It would serve us all well to do our jobs this way!
In this chapter, Metaxas also speaks of Bonhoeffer’s close relationship with two individuals: George Bell and Karl Barth. While Bell would become one of Bonhoeffer’s closest and most trusted friends, Barth and Bonhoeffer had something of a falling out after Barth refused to exclude the Aryan Paragraph, as Bonhoeffer had so vehemently urged him to do. After Bonhoeffer moved to London, he wrote a letter to Barth, to which Barth replied, challenging Bonhoeffer to return to Germany soon, but doing so in a loving, friendly manner.
During his ministry in London, Bonhoeffer began to preach and write even more prophetically than he had before. He turned his focus to eschatological concerns and wrote letter to friends in which he spoke of bravery, of cowardice having to come to an end. His words would ring truer than ever before the war was over.
A big thanks to my friend Casey, who posted this very hilarious video today.
I'm Brad. I love my wife and two boys. I'm executive pastor at 