my burg

Bible reading for Aug 10.  Ruth 3-4. "And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, 'May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!' Naomi also said to her, 'The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.'" (Ruth 2:20) RUTH'S PROPOSAL. Naomi and Ruth discover that Boaz is a close relative, also called a "kinsman-redeemer" [Heb., go'el ](2:20; 3:2, 12; 4:14; cf Deut 25:5-10). This kinsman had the responsibility to preserve not only the land but also the lineage of those relatives in need, in debt, or without living heirs. It was a family responsibility, but in this story it becomes a romance. Ruth "proposes" to Boaz, seeking his protection, and there is a tender connection between the two. This romance of Ruth might be better entitled, "the romance of redemption", for the strength of the redeemer provides security for the redeemed, where love can blossom. This is so pl...

Bible reading for weekend Aug 8.  Ruth 1-2. "But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.'" (Ruth 1:16-17) A ROMANCE. What a beautiful story, full of nobility and kindness in unexpected places! The Moabite woman Ruth pledges faithfulness to her mother-in-law after Naomi had told her to go back to her gods in Moab. There are seven poetic statements Ruth makes, and the central phrase is, "your God [shall be] my God" (v 16; cf Exodus 6:7). Here a Moabite woman is declaring her faith in the one true God, the Lord, a faith that should have been shared also by the people of Israel at that time, but largely wasn't. The scene of the story is Bethlehem, birthplace of the futu...

Bible reading for July 31.  Judges 14. "His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel." (Judges 14:4)  SAMSON'S LOVE LIFE. We see that Samson, who is to be a deliverer, actually succumbs to the compromising influence of their Philistine overlords. People were inter-marrying and the book of Judges shows how pagan influences have affected the people of Israel. They are being culturally absorbed. But Samson's romance will not be a "happily ever after" one. Samson's love life will cause increasing conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines, and that needed to happen.    GOD'S PLAN. In God's wise providence Samson's impulsive and sinful decisions work for the greater good of God's plan (v 4; cf 1 Kgs 12:15). We have seen this before with Joseph's brothers (Gen 45:5; 50:20) and especially in the cr...

Bible reading for July 29.  Judges 12. "Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead." (Judges 12:7) NICKELS AND NOSES. In chapter 12 we finish the story of Jephthah, followed by brief mentions of Ibzan, Elon (not Musk), and Abdon (from about 1130 to 1080 BC). As you read Judges it may seem that people are fighting all the time. These battles, however, are spread out over several hundred years, so there were often intervals of peace. But the battles become the high point, especially as the tribes are delivered from nearby oppressors. One thing we note also is the numbers of sons, daughters, donkeys, etc., some of these judges had. It represents their wealth and influence, and perhaps the blessing of God. However, it may also show how the powerful tended to gather wives and property for themselves (Deut 17:17; cf Gen 4:19), and we will see this problem arise with the later kings of Israel and Judah.   ...

Bible reading for July 28.  Judges 11. "So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD gave them into his hand." (Judges 11:32)  THE STORY SO FAR. In the past few chapters (ch 7 to 11), from Gideon to Jephthah, we have covered the period from 1210 to 1125 BC. Gideon was a commendable leader (8:35), but we see how he (or rather, his gold-laced priestly tunic) becomes an idol to the people at that time. John Calvin once wrote, “Man's nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols.”* Abimelech, one of Gideon's sons, manifests the worst traits of leadership, unlike his father. (Though it could be argued that with so many wives and so many sons, how could Gideon ever had time to nurture them in the faith?)  It seems that even justified violence (e.g., in a war of defense) can gradually lead to acceptance of violence in unjustified ways (e.g., ch 9). But Abimelech comes to the end that he deserves. "Repay no one evil for e...

Bible reading for July 21.  Judges 4 "But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died."   STRONG WOMEN. We read that the Lord raised up Deborah as a prophetess and judge in Israel, and that the death of the Canaanite king Sisera comes about by the hand of woman who knows how to wield a hammer and tent peg. When it came to the winning blow, Jael nailed it. Deborah had expected Barak to lead, and she rebuked him for his timidity (v 9). As noted in a previous post, the chariot (made of iron and pulled by horses) was a fearsome weapon against foot soldiers. It was fast, brutal (if you were in its path), and could put archers and swordsmen anywhere on the field quickly. But God gives victory in answer to his people's prayers. We'll read in the song lyrics of the next chapter about ho...

Bible reading for July 14.  Joshua 20-21 "Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass." (Joshua 21:45)  LEVITICAL CITIES. The importance of the cities of refuge (ch 20) was emphasized previously in Numbers 35. These locations provided sanctuary for those guilty of manslaughter (without malice) who might become victims themselves of clan vengeance. In chapter 21 the Levitical cities and their pasture lands are designated. This may seem a bit dry to read, but remember, these were the national archives of Israel, to insure that provision for, and preservation of, the Levites would be maintained. God cares about justice, about boundaries, and about food upon the table. He is good, and he is good to his people. And he fulfills his promises to them (Heb 6:11-18; Titus 1:2) .       ==============   Acts 1 "He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or season...

"He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."  (Acts 28:30-31 ESV) Sermon MP3 here.  “And you will be my witnesses...  to the end of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8)...  Thirty years and 1500 miles later...  “...and so we came to Rome.”  (Acts 28:14) • Do I sincerely believe that Jesus’ death for our sins and his resurrection are true historical events? • Have I been convicted of my own lostness and turned to God in faith and repentance? • Am I committed to the world-wide expansion of this good news about Jesus? • Am I submitted to, and living for, the larger and glorious Kingdom of God or for my smaller kingdom of self? • Have I quenched or grieved God’s Spirit, who desires to give me power and boldness in witness?   • Am I prepared to give a gracious defense fo...

Philip Jenkins, the author of The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity (Oxford University Press, 2011), writes about the stunning multiplication Christian churches in the global south, primarily in Africa and South America.  Jenkins is Professor of History and Religious Studies at Pennsylvania State University and Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University.   Here are a few highlights...  In 1900, 83 percent of the world’s Christians lived in Europe and North America. In 2050, 72 percent of Christians will live in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and a sizable share of the remainder will have roots in one or more of those continents. Over the last century the center of gravity in the Christian world has shifted inexorably away from Europe, southward, to Africa and Latin America, and eastward, toward Asia. Today, the largest Christian communities on the planet are to be found in those regions. If we wa...

During drive time I'm listening to  What is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom and the Great Commission , by  Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert.  Very thankful to ChristianAudio.com for their offer of a free download on this! Here are some popular highlights, which will give a sense of the direction of this work: We believe the church is sent into the world to witness to Jesus by proclaiming the gospel and making disciples of all  nations.  This is our task. This is our unique and central calling. God does not send out his church to conquer. He sends us out in the name of the One who has already conquered. We go only  because he reigns. We are concerned that in all our passion for renewing the city or tackling social problems, we run the risk of marginalizing  the one thing that makes Christian mission Christian: namely, making disciples of Jesus Christ. If there are missiological implications from Genesis, th...

"Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be a blot radiating his dark influence outward to the very circumference of society, or he may be a blessing spreading benediction over the length and breadth of the world. But a blank he cannot be: there are no moral blanks; there are no neutral characters." (Thomas Chalmers)

This in from Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF): "The time is drawing near for the most important day in the history of Sudan. On Sunday 9th January the people will be voting for the Referendum. This is to decide whether Sudan is to remain as one country, or to divide into North and South Sudan. Tensions are extremely high and there is already a lot of conflict in the border areas. So Christians round the world have been asked to pray every day for the situation."  Pray for a fair, peaceful and representative referendum, and for Christians in north Sudan who may see reprisals if the south votes for independence.   Here is a prayer from Sudan: Father God, Lead the citizens of Sudan to become well informed as they prepare to make critical choices that will have a far-reaching impact. Fill their hearts anew with your Holy Spirit so that they may turn from all forms of violence. Inspire them to honor, respect and care for one another. As they exercise their vote, may they d...

A bridge-building God --He spoke in a known language A “heart” language --Began to explain the inexplicable Answered humanity’s most fundamental questions Is there a God, and if so, how do I relate to Him? Why am I here, and how do I relate to the people living with me? God’s starting points --Story Origins Provision Relationships Sin, grace, and atonement --Anchored firmly within the culture of the day Kingdom Culture --Relationship to earthly culture Above it (Überkultur) Vestiges remain in every earthly culture Biblical culture and not Western or Eastern --Three missionary goals Find what remains of Kingdom Culture Build a bridge from it to the Kingdom of Heaven Give way to the Holy Spirit to work Kingdom Culture in the Old Testament --Ten Commandments First four – our relationship with God Last six – our relationship with one anothe...