remaking a broken world

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10 ESV)

"There are actually only two options for human society: true worship and war. Only true worship humbles human pride. False worship and war go together, because false worship exalts the worshiper, who is really only worshiping an idol of their creation or imagination. Only in worship of the true God will people be brought so low our aspirations to greatness will be removed, and our empire-building plans abandoned. Only in true worship will we live together in weakness and without pretensions." (Christopher Ash)

I am currently reading Remaking a Broken World. The author, Christopher Ash, studies the biblical theme of "gathering and scattering". When people try to build communities (families, nations, empires), that is, to "gather" in opposition or neglect of the one, true and living God, then idolatry and human abuse will prevail. And so God will judge by scattering these people, and their attempts at community will be thwarted. He cites the tower of Babel (Genesis 11) among many other occasions throughout the Bible, when people groups, including the nation of Israel, would be scattered abroad. But when people come to the Lord and hear his Word and seek to follow his ways, such as at Mount Sinai, in Jerusalem (Mount Zion), and as followers of Jesus Christ, then God will gather them together to experience the joys of community in God's presence. The local church is a first fruits of the new creation community.

The thesis of Ash's book is that "the ordinary local Christian church contains within itself the seeds, or the DNA, of a remade world... I want to persuade us to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to belonging to, and serving God in the fellowship of, a local church; and that this may prove to be the most significant thing we do with our lives."

Quotes taken from Remaking a Broken World: The Heart of the Bible Story, by Christopher Ash (The Good Book Company, 2019)

Also currently reading:
-- Suffering is Never for Nothing, by Elisabeth Elliot (Crossway, 2019)
-- Complete Short Stories, and Mystery and Manners, by Flannery O'Connor
-- Texas Ranger: The Epic Life of Frank Hamer, by John Boessenecker (Thomas Dunne Books, 2016)

clement quotes hebrews

Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth around AD 90. This is perhaps the same Clement, companion of Paul, mentioned in Philippians 4:3. Many hold him to be the first bishop / pope in Rome, aka St. Clement I. Clement quotes from the letter to the Hebrews. Origin suggested that Clement was in fact the writer (as transcriber or amanuensis) of Hebrews. Perhaps this letter began as a "word of exhortation" given by Paul at the synagogue (Heb 13:22; cf Acts 13:15) which then became a circular letter for the churches. Other possible authors of Hebrews include Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos. The theology is Pauline, but the transcriber is obviously second-generation (Heb. 2:3-4). At any rate, this early church leader in Rome, is already quoting Hebrews in his letter in AD 90: CHAPTER 36 ALL BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN TO US THROUGH CHRIST This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Savior, even Jesus Christ, the High Prie...

Howard Hendricks on OT books chronology

When I was in seminary, Howard Hendricks (aka "Prof") gave us a little card with the books of the OT chronologically arranged. The scanned copy I have was a bit blurry and I wanted to make something like this available for our church class in OT theology ("Story of Redemption"). A few minor edits and here it is...

bible reading july 5-6

Bible reading for July 5 -- 6 July 5 -- Jeremiah 1 and Matthew 15 July 6 -- Jeremiah 2 and Matthew 16 ================ HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, July 4! Throughout the years I have felt varying degrees of loyalty to this nation. The more I have studied history, however, and have observed God's working in it, the more deeply I have come to appreciate the founding principles of this country. In practice this nation has allowed a greater freedom for the gospel to go forth and for the church to flourish than any other nation. Along with the UK the US has been the sending base for thousands of missionaries around the world. The freedoms we have are not to be treated lightly. "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." ( The Declaration of Independence ) ================ "...my people have committed t...

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