my burg

Bible reading for March 24 -- 25 Mar 24 -- Proverbs 11 and Ephesians 4 Mar 25 -- Proverbs 12 and Ephesians 5 "A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight." (Proverbs 11:1) WEIGHTY MATTERS (ch 11).   We've heard it. We've said it. "It's only a little lie." "They'll never miss it." "No one will ever know if we cut a few corners." But Jesus said, "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much" (Luke 16:10).  The first proverb in this chapter contrasts a false balance with a just weight. Many merchants in that day would have a second set of weights, shaved or cored to remove perhaps only few grams worth of weight. But the intent to cheat, even only by a little bit, was present. God's attitude toward that minor slight is expressed in the strongest of terms in both parts of the proverb -- abomination on ...

Bible reading for March 17 -- 18 Mar 17 -- Proverbs 4 and Galatians 3 Mar 18 -- Proverbs 5 and Galatians 4 "When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, 'Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.'" (Proverbs 4:3-4)  GET WISDOM (ch 4). Four sections follow, each introduced directly to "my son" or "sons" (4:1, 10, 20; 5:1). Some scholars suggest Proverbs was written as a training manual for Solomon's sons, as future princes needing to learn about righteous leadership. Be that as it may, Proverbs is applicable for all the sons and daughters of the eternal King, our Lord Jesus. One thing highlighted in these chapters is the inter-generational, mentoring relationship between parents and children (cf Deut 6:4-9; Eph 6:4). God created the family, along with the church, to be the primary conduit of passing truth on to succeeding generations (Mal 2:14-16). As you ...

Bible reading for weekend Nov 14-15.  1 Chronicles 3-6. "These were their settlements, and they kept a genealogical record." (4:33)  GOD KEEPS TRACK. The Jews are back in the land following their exile to Babylon (5th century BC). These are the updated genealogies ("to this day", 5:26, and chapter 9). Words like "registered" and "enrolled" (e.g., 4:41), along with locations (5:26), remind us that God keeps track of his people. It may seem like an endless list of people and places, but this is a testimony to God's preservation of his people. Also, there were remnant families from the various tribes that dwelt in Judah, for example the Simeonites, Levites, Benjaminites (e.g., Paul, Rom 11:1), and others. The Apostle Paul tells us that "all Israel will be saved" (Rom 11:26), which I take to mean that God still has a special place in his divine plan for ethnic Israel, and that there will be a great ingathering of Jews toward the end of...

"In a multitude of people is the glory of a king..." (Proverbs 14:28a ESV) "The believer, therefore, never stands apart by himself; he is never alone.  In the natural world every human being is born in the fellowship of his parents, and he is therefore without any effort on his part a member of a family, of a people, and also of the whole of mankind.  So it is also in the spiritual sphere.  The believer is born from above, out of God, but he receives the new life only in the fellowship of the covenant of grace of which Christ is the Head and at the same time the content.  If by virtue of this regeneration God is his Father, the church may in a good sense be called his mother.  In the world of heathendom also there is no believer or no gathering of believers except by way of the mission which the church of Christ sends them.  From the first moment of his regeneration, therefore, the believer is, apart from his will and apart from his own doing, incorpo...

Here are some recent notable articles I've read: Church and the College Years .  "Love for the 'universal' church necessitates love for and commitment to the 'local' church. So our local churches seek to manifest the universal church as a part of the body of Christ we can love, see, touch, struggle with, give to, and serve."  Why Mormon theology is not Christian (Ben Witherington).  "What I would say is that they are deceived about what the Bible really teaches about the nature of God, of Christ, of salvation, and of true humanity, not to mention the nature of the Scriptures which are indeed the sufficient rule of faith and practice for all true Christians and do not require supplements or corrections from Joseph Smith’s works." Making an idol of family .  "This stuff of many women's fantasies includes an adoring, faithful spouse; attractive, obedient kids; people who depend on you, love you, give you a reason to get out of ...

And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.  (1 Chronicles 28:9 ESV) In studying 1 Chronicles 28 and David's passing the leadership baton to his son Solomon, I remembered a poem that means a lot to me.  I edited the original slightly and printed it out to give to my sons at Christmas in 1997.  Unlike David I do not have a lot of material wealth to pass on to my children, but I do have a spiritual heritage. The original author was Merrill C. Tenney (1904-1985), a Professor of New Testament and Dean of the Graduate School at Wheaton College.  He wrote this for his two sons. A Father’s Gift To you, O son of mine, I cannot give A vast estate of wide and fertile lands; But I can keep for you, long as I live, Unstained hands. I have no coat of arms that insures Your path to eminence and worldly fame; But longer than empt...

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  (Mark 10:42-45 ESV) From Men's Fraternity , "the Quest for Authentic Manhood", comes a list of ways to be a "servant-leader" to our family.  (NB. This is not a check list for this week, but rather objectives for a lifetime.) The husband has a leadership role in marriage - the role of "servant leader." 1. A servant-leader includes his wife in envisioning the future. 2. A servant-leader accepts spiritual responsibility for his family. 3. A servant-leader is willing to say "I'm sorry" and ...

Just returned from a week off the grid. Each day as a family we 1) ate all our meals together usually on a patio overlooking the mountains, 2) took a hike in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, 3) applied a passage of Scripture together as a family lesson, 4) went swimming, and 5) read books (and napped too). We did not: do internet, emails, cellphones (except one text). We did however watch a movie and some TV (HG-TV and Food channel). The kids did play DS. But the combination of reading, exercise and sharing together, in a largely unplugged situation, was marvelously refreshing. I did return, however, to 160+ pressing emails. Now, I'd like to figure how to make some alterations in my normal, daily, "plugged-in" life...

Found some good reading this week online. First two articles on NT church leadership: "It is the view of the writers of the NT that Jew and Gentile united in Christ is the people of God, the royal priesthood, the chosen portion of God, and it is the job of all of us, all of us, to be a light to the nations, to be winsome so we might win some for Christ, to be priests offering this world and all that is in it back to God for as the psalmist says--- 'the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.' With the call to come to Christ comes a call to ministry, and it does not come to just some of us. It comes with the territory." From "Neither Clergy, Nor Laity" by Ben Witherington III . "It is clear from Paul’s letter to Titus that the church was not to be a chaotic mass of people without guidance or leadership." Reid Monaghan on elders, deacons and members. On parenting: "Why are kids leaving the church? The answer lies in paren...

The assignment for one of my kids was to clip pictures from magazines which showed people in all stages of life. Problem: no old people. Now, these were not magazines like Vanity Fair or Vogue , where you would expect only beautiful people. These were magazines like Family Fun , Southern Living , and Better Homes and Gardens . Where are the older people? There were a few, but they looked... well, good for their age. Nice weight, trim, youngish, still jogging. That is, old-er with a touch of gray and a glass of wine. Are we so enamored with youth and beauty that we are afraid to publish pictures of people in wheelchairs or with walkers? (Thank you, UP !) I'm reminded of the old movie, Logan's Run, where everyone over 30 is expected to pass out of existence. They just disappear, leaving the world young and beautiful. Now that I'm a grandparent I am becoming more aware of ageism. I'm thankful that where I am, in a college town, I still get many requests to mentor...

When we were stationed at the AF Academy in Colorado, 1958-60, my dad studied silversmithing under Dick Spencer, chief of the Cherokee Bear-step clan. I recall his Indian name was Shatka, not Shapka, as cited in this article. We loved visiting his shop, and my dad learned to make silver and turquoise pieces of jewelry, many of which we still retain in the family. Dad, then a major with J/AG, is seen in this photo with Bear-step.

So we got a new -- new to us, as it were -- Kia Sedona. We seem to be still in the minivan stage of life. Meanwhile, I'm glancing over at the Honda motorcycle dealership while I'm supposed to be looking at vans. 50-something is such an awkward stage. The mid-sized SUVs, which look far cooler, are still a bit too small for the stuff we do as a family. Coolness enters into car choices, even when one has a family. The minivan has a certain profile that goes with it. When I was younger -- this was pointed out to me -- we wouldn't have bought a station wagon, since that was our parent's choice of family transportation. (Except the woodies... I had a Falcon for awhile in college & it was the vehicle of choice for our caving expeditions.) But, generally speaking, station wagons are profiled with our parents. And so our generation was sold the minivan. Station wagons all but disappeared. But what will young, 20 & 30-something parents now drive?? I guess it...

I am very keen on porches this time of year. Last night after mowing the lawn I got a glass of ice water and sat down on our front porch -- and let me say that there is an important distinction between a front porch and a rear deck -- anyway, I sat on the front porch, and one by one family members came out and sat and listened to the evening sounds of spring... like the wind rustling in new leaves, various birds calling out their end-of-day songs, and a small plane overhead coming in to land at our little airport, at the end of what must have been a great day of flight. It's like becoming aware of another world. Not of communication or electronics or obligations or worry... but a world of sights and sounds that you miss unless you do a full stop, then watch and listen.

It was a great day, though I did not do much of what I had originally planned. Slept a little later. My wife had to work. It was a beautiful morning and my daughter and I sat on the porch together -- talked and listened to the birds and did some dove calls. Had breakfast with some young friends up for the InterVarsity reunion this weekend, who spent the night with us last night. Good conversation. They took off for campus, and my kids and I finished watching The Sound of Music , which is one of the all-time best movies ever. It had really warmed up outside and so my daughter and a friend played in the sprinkler and made a mud field in the front yard. My son and I worked on reformatting a computer and I repaired a fountain pen that has not been working correctly. [See picture.] It's a beautiful green and gold Parker Striped Duofold Major, manufactured sometime betw een 1942 and 1948. Took the feed off, cleaned it, and adjusted the nib. Now it writes beautifully, as well....