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Check it out here.
Category Archives: being a disciple
Loving the Bible
This was reportedly said by Charles Spurgeon: “By this the elect of God are known—that they love the Word of God”
I have been a student of the Bible for 35 years now. I try to read it every day and to one degree or another I am successful. It is my source of certainty about the knowledge of God. Yes, I said certainty.
When I was in seminary a while back I was struck to discover that textual criticism had failed as a tool to disprove the Bible, but rather, thanks to the work of textual critics, I can have more trust in the Bible.
Recently I’ve been studying about Islam for a program I’m in. I’m not studying Islam, I’m studying about Islam. As I have read about its early history, I have been struck by the apparent weakness of its core document. It is a document that, according to what I am learning, can not stand the test of textual criticism as the Bible has.
If you are a disciple of Jesus, you are a learner (that’s what the word means), you should cultivate a love of the Bible, what Spurgeon called the Word of God.
Tragically, studies show many Christians, and, sadly even their pastors, do not share this love of the Word of God. Too bad more Christians aren’t disciples.
Don’t study about God, study God. Be a learner. Be disciplined. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you cultivate a love of the Word He breathed into existence.
Looking back to Sarajevo
On this trip I was on my own a lot and was able to explore beautiful Sarajevo on my own terms.
Here are a series of pix I took in a neighborhood up the hill from Old Town. They are of a kind of neighborhood mosque with many graves from 1992-1995 and the main mosque in the Old Town.
My assumption is that these died in the siege during the war when Serbs bombarded the city from the surrounding mountain tops.
Down the hill, I went to the main mosque, it’s minaret was visible down this alley…
And upon entering you are given the rules…
On Fridays this mosque is filled with Muslims…
Walking by the side I noted the extra prayer rugs stacked in the window…
Martin Luther said that Muslims (among many others including Jews and many “Christians”) worship the same God, but they worship him incorrectly. As I study Islam (for my Cross Cultural Studies program) and read from many sides of this discussion, it seems Luther makes a sound argument. The enemy of God wishes to keep people away from him and the best way is a way that looks right while being wrong. A one degree error send KAL 007 into Soviet airspace and hundreds died when the Soviets shot it down. Worshipping the right God the wrong way, through works, may look good, but is not His way.
We depend on grace alone, trusting in the final and complete work of Jesus: death, burial and resurrection. In Christ alone.
Allow not a desire for pluralism to water down the way and the truth.
Home
Not unpacked: either baggage
or in my head, but it is so good to be home after a great trip. Some fresh thoughts on disciple making are brewing after this trip.
Mátrakeresztes
3rd annual CEO leaders retreat for laughter, rest and reflection…
Filed under being a disciple, disciple making, photos along the way
controlling what you read? thinking about how to read the Bible
I believe that we should have a strategy for Scripture reading as part of our greater plan to train our hearts and minds as disciples of Jesus. But, I want to make the case for NOT controlling all of our reading. I think it is natural for us to gravitate to that which is helpful and encouraging, and this is fine. But, I think if we are in control of what we read, we are probably missing some blessing from the Bible’s vast resources that we may miss. This is why I am a big advocate of the Bible reading plans available out there. I am very thankful that today we have the YouVersion Bible application.
Here are three lists that I think are particularly helpful:
The first step I’d take is The Essential 100, I like it because it give a big picture of the Bible, a great place to start if you’ve had trouble developing the habit of daily Scripture reading.
The second step I’d take is The Essential Jesus. Now that you have begun the habit, this is a great way to get to know Jesus by reading some familiar texts about Him.
The best step, in my current thinking, is The M’Cheyne Reading Plan which takes you through the Bible in one year (and the New Testament twice).
By reading texts not of your choosing, by relinquishing control of what you read, God the Holy Spirit can show you things that you may not see otherwise. As we begin a new year, let’s renew our efforts to know God better and let Him speak through His word.
Oh, the YouVersion has apps for both iPhone and Android.
Good Reading!
kingdom travelin' 