"Going Green"

Michael Patton @ Parchment and Pen has a nice little rant today on "Green Evangelicals." It is well worth the read and he has captured my thoughts exactly! I am sure it will create quite a long "comments" trail.

An excerpt:

I just don’t get it. I am not saying don’t recycle. I am not saying don’t have environmental concerns (when legitimate). I am not saying don’t save a whale, monkey, frog, bumblebee, a flea, or a tree (to each his own). What I am saying is don’t speak with the same volume about these things as you do about human lives—about babies, children, the unprotected innocent souls. Don’t EVER speak with the same volume. There is a dichotomy—a biblical dichotomy. They don’t even belong in the same discussion. It is comparable to the condemnation of body odor of Osama Bin Laden while defending his terrorism. There are bigger issues. Much bigger issues.

It also appears that Thomas Nelson Publishers has gone "Green." - you have to be kidding me!

Bible software

One of the best things about living as a believer in the 21st century- bible software. What use to be inaccessible or takes countless hours is now available to everyone with a computer.

Desiring God has a great post on a few bible softwares and discount offers from the companies.

On Bible Software

Bible translations

Dr. Dan Wallace has weighed in on the Bible translations (ESV, NIV and NET). It is a great read and Dr. Wallace is candid and fair.

NET, NIV, ESV: A Brief Historical Comparison

HT: Benji

.ross Retro (09.23.08)

.ross Retro will continue to post on Tuesday and it will be a glimpse into something from my past... sometimes more personal than others. It will give you an insight into things that are seared into my memory. This is one of those events!
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Bathroom Babies

Growing up with three sisters, I saw my fair share of quarrels. Many of them were ugly (the quarrels, not the sisters). They were close enough in age that they would fight about almost anything: clothes, boys, hair care products, telephone, and the television to name of a few. But, as I remember, the fiercest battles were fought over the bathroom. Time in that small, four walled sanctuary was coveted as much as the air they breathed. I don’t remember the mirror being all that big, but they managed to fill the entire reflective space with their image.

I remember one particular afternoon when my mom was at work and my two oldest sisters were both in their early teens. There must have been some special event that evening because both of them wanted to take a bath. The conversation started out as usual, both of them making their claim that it was their turn to go first.

I don’t know who initially turned the water on, but before long the bathtub was filling and my sisters were shouting. They each had the special gift of being able to say just the right thing to really upset the other. The very next sound I heard was two doors slamming shut at opposite ends of the hall. They had gotten so mad with one another that they both had retreated to their rooms. There was only one problem… the water was still running.

My mom usually came home from work about 5:00 in the evening and this day was no different. Her ritual was to walk through the front door and hang up her coat and drop her purse. Well, the moment her purse hit the ground she knew something was terribly wrong. By this time there was over an inch of water on the south end of the house.

Each of my sisters had gone to their own rooms. One ended up falling asleep on the bed and the other got lost in a book with her headphones on. Neither of them had remembered the water was running.

All in all the water ran for almost 3 hours that afternoon. The damage was severe. All of the carpet had to be replaced, as well as the floor in the bathroom. My sisters felt terrible. Neither one could remember who actually turned the water on, but it didn’t really matter anyway. The inconvenience of them having to use the “boys bathroom” for several weeks was punishment enough. Actually, we were all punished. And although my sisters still continued to fight over the years, it was never quite as intense.

I don’t they ever forgot the incident of the bathroom babies... I know I haven't.

Thoughts on Pilgrim Psalms

The book of Psalms has long since been the hymnbook of praise. Prayer, confession, admiration, and intercession are all familiar to the psalmist. The entire book was written over a thousand years and the authors range from Moses to David to the Minor Prophets. God, his work and his word are the central themes in the collection of the psalms. While the Psalms were not written in the order they appear, they were compiled in such a way as to facilitate worship.

The key to pure living all throughout the psalms is the word of God. The “law of the Lord” is celebrated as the main ingredient for righteousness. The psalms were memorized and rehearsed whenever the covenant community of believers would gather. Whether sharing a meal, burying a family member, or making sacrifices to God, the psalms have guided believers in all manners of worship.

Psalms 120-134 are called the “Pilgrim Psalms.” As the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem for the annual feasts of the Temple, these psalms marked the physical and spiritual “steps” of this journey. Psalm 122 marks the arrival in Jerusalem. Psalms 123-134 lead the worshipper to the Temple. They were meant to be read aloud and evoke preparation for this very sacred time.

In the psalms, we see man standing before God in worship, doubt, celebration and mourning. The soul of the believer is poured out before the creator in way that remains relevant 3000 years later. The psalms instruct us on the faithfulness of God and encourage us to honestly lay our lives before his throne. We are taught to pray and sing and dance and cry out to our Lord and Savior. Thanks be to God for the psalms of the Bible.

*NOTE: thank you!

A look at 2 John - Part 3

Love
If someone were to ask you what the book of 2 John was about, the answer would be “truth and love.” I guess if someone were to ask you what being a Christian was all about, the answer would also be “truth and love.” Truth and love go hand and hand. They are weaved throughout the words and pages of scripture. In fact, in John’s writings alone (John, 1, 2, 3 John, Revelation), he uses the word love 117 times. He uses the word truth 47 times. These are major themes from the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20). It is good to be reminded that this man who spent 3 years with Jesus writes, “Love means doing what God has commanded us…” (v.6). And what is it that God has commanded us to do? “Love one another” (v.6). Where did John get this? Look at John 13:34 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Love always involves the truth. This is especially true for Christians. We all have a variety of relationships. We are children and brothers and sisters and cousins and friends. We all have people that we are close to. There are also people that we come into contact with everyday at school or work. I believe that John is telling us that we are to love them all. That doesn’t mean that we are never going to mess up and say or do the wrong thing sometimes. Perfection is not the point.

The love that John is talking about is not complicated. I think it is as easy as sharing your life with those around you. And to the degree that your life reflects the truth of Jesus Christ, you will be loving as Christ loved. When our life is filled up with the truth of Jesus Christ we are better able to pour love into those around us. I am not talking about some weird kind of mushy love. I am talking about being yourself, with all of the gifts and ability and personality that God gave you. And then unselfishly sharing yourself with others.

Questions
1. Who in your life is hard to love?

2. Think of one thing that you can do to show that person love.

3. Spend some time praying and thanking God for the truth of his Son Jesus Christ.

My Friday (09.19.08)

The day started out uneventful. I got up early, the kids got ready for school and then Leslie, Katherine and me went on our Friday morning breakfast date. We splurged this morning and split an order of the cinnamon rolls. After breakfast we went to Walmart and bought Jay a mouthpiece in preparation for his first flag football game tomorrow.

After we got home, Katherine watched some PBS, Leslie made some phone calls and I caught up on some reading. Trying to make my way through Jack Welch's book Winning. Enjoying the book immensely and at the same time reminding myself, "the church is not a business..."

My M.O. is that I usually go to bed late on Thursday night (catching up on emails, TiVo and blog reading), especially after a late elders meeting. Then, I wake up early on Friday mornings - all in preparation for a "day off nap." I love those.

After a great nap, I mowed the yard, picked Jay up from school, finished the yard and then Jay and I played catch for about an hour while Katherine jumped on the trampoline. At about 5:45, Maggie was picked up by some of her friends and they all headed to her friends house to eat pizza, do hair and then off to their first middle school dance.

Now, I must pause here for a moment... I've stated before the 'transition' of becoming a parent of a middle school'er has been hard. This is just another step. Wow... it was just yesterday that Maggie was Katherine's age and watching PBS after Friday morning breakfast dates. The time has just flown by.

Maggie headed to the dance and Leslie, Jay and Katherine and me went to the Olive Garden to take advantage of two free kids meals. On the way home we stopped to get some ice cream and were joined by the Wrights for ice cream, story-telling, and kids playing. A great evening!

Maggie rolled in about 11 after hanging out with friends and their moms at the Whataburger for the '6th grade girls post-dance tradition.' She had a great time and didn't dance with any boys.

The house is quiet now and I'm headed to bed. I love taking Fridays off and usually have a great day of thinking, reading, napping and resting in preparation for Sunday. Today was a great Friday.


As always: *Propers to Todd Wright for the “My Friday” movement.

Michael Phelps: the early days

This was too good to pass by.