MANY YEARS AGO when I used to work for a local heresy store (AKA, local “Christian” bookstore) I had just about every study and translation of the Holy Bible that were marketed at the time. When a new cool study Bible or translation came out I would buy it or received it free by the Bible publisher.
After years of saturating my life with so many Bibles translations I got so burned out with Bible translations in general that I later decided to give most of my Bibles away and keep a few good one.
Now my primary Bible is an ESV Thinline that has no red letters, no center-column references, and no study notes. It is just a Bible with the plain ESV text. I kept two study Bibles; The Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible (NIV) and the Reformation Study Bible (ESV) and I intend NOT to over saturate my life again with so many.
Since my primary text is the English Standard Version it doesn’t mean that I don’t reference other translations or study why different translations translate verses differently, but I think it has helped me get over the Bible translation overload that I have experienced.
Now there is a new trend in Bibles and that is the Bible on portal devices like iPads or iPhones. I have to admit I don’t carry the Bible to church much anymore because I have the Reformation Study Bible (ESV) on my iPhone. It nice to carry the word of God everywhere I go and I can quickly find scripture on my iPhone to read as the Pastor cites a text that he is going to read.
However, Mike Wittmer has some questions about those who carry the Bible on portal devices on his blog, Don’t Stop Believing. In his post, iBible, Mike makes good points about distractions of these devices and I do take his observation seriously, but I do take comfort that God’s word is still God’s word regardless if it is paper or digital. Mike begin his entry:
I have noticed that fewer people are bringing their Bibles to church. Some may leave them at home because they know the preacher’s text will appear on the PPT screen, while many others actually are carrying their Bibles to church—on their cell phones. This is definitely more convenient than lugging The American Patriot’s Study Bible to church (and safer theologically as well), but I have a few questions about this new trend. I don’t have a cell phone (except a trac fone which I use for emergencies), so I am asking input from those of you who do.
1. Is it hard to concentrate when reading the Bible off your cell phone or book reader? You know that you are one click away from checking email, surfing the Internet, returning a text, or bombing angry birds. Do these temptations distract you from focusing . . .
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)
HELLO READER OF After Skubalon, Light’s blog,
I wish to give a plug for a new book that I am looking forward in reading and that book is Three Free Sins – God’s Not Mad at You by a man that I respect greatly, Steve Brown.
According to the Three Free Sins’ web site, Dr. Steve Brown ~
“[I}s a broadcaster, seminary professor, author, and founder and president of Key Life Network. He previously served as a pastor for over twenty-five years and now devotes much of his time to the radio broadcasts, Key Life and Steve Brown Etc. Dr. Brown serves as Professor Emeritus of Preaching at Reformed Theological Seminary teaching at the campuses in Atlanta, Orlando and Washington, D.C. He sits on the board of the National Religious Broadcasters and Harvest USA. Steve is the author of numerous books…”
It seems that the thrust of this book is that too many Christians think that the goal of the Christian life is to “manage our sins” on our own strength thinking it will make God more please with us. In fact, God is not going to be satisfied with us because He is only satisfied with us because of Christ perfect work on our behalf.
Even those of who are Reformed in theology often forget that we ARE sinners saved by GRACE and grace ALONE and we also often forget the Reformed mantra “Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude.”
I have two points to make in addition on what I am reading on Three Free Sins’ website and that is (1) I think that many Christians are so obsessed trying to manage their sins (and other people’s sins) that they will make up false moralities so that they can be overachiever in their sin managements. And (2), I think when Dr. Steve Brown says, “that God is NOT mad at you” it is because that the true Christian is “in Christ.”
FIVE THINGS I didn’t know about John Calvin. Well, actually, I did know a couple of these. Check out the LogosTalk blog below:
1. Calvin suffered.
He was in constant pain: “headaches, insomnia, shortness of breath (probably due to advanced tuberculosis), coughing fits, hemorrhages, fevers, colitis, kidney stones, hemorrhoids,” according to Alexandre Ganoczy, and “bleeding from the stomach, fever, muscle cramps, nephritis, and gout” to name just a few. Calvin was more than a preacher and theologian—he was a pastor, too. He knew what it meant to suffer, and his writings bear this out.
2. John Calvin and Ignatius of Loyola were classmates at the University of Paris.
Why is this interesting? Because Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus—more commonly known as the Jesuits. The Jesuits were the driving force behind the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation. It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that, as the Reformation unfolded, no group opposed Calvin and his successors more than the Jesuits.
3. Calvin had a religious conversion.
Everyone knows the story of Luther’s conversion—his near-death experience and his commitment to a life of study. But did you know Calvin had a << Click HERE to read the rest on LogosTalk’s Blog >>
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:1-7) [- emphasis mine]
WELL! I MADE it through another Christmas season. A season that I am not found of; however, I do enjoy Advent as it is celebration at church.
I know the traditional manage scene at many Christmas programs are more traditional than fact and Theology Mom has some angles of the “manager” and the “inn” of the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke that I was not aware of, enjoy!
:: COMING SOON ::
Hello readers of After Skubalon, Light!. This BLOG is getting a new facelift. Let me know what you think.
What’s It Like to BASE Jump the New River Gorge Bridge?
A VERY INTERESTING story on World Mag site about Phil Vischer, creator of VeggieTales that brings back memories of my Christian Bookstore days.
Vischer acknowledge that looking . . .
“back at the previous 10 years and realized I had spent 10 years trying to convince kids to behave Christianly without actually teaching them Christianity [emphasis mine]. And that was a pretty serious conviction. You can say, ‘Hey kids, be more forgiving because the Bible says so,’ or ‘Hey kids, be more kind because the Bible says so!’ But that isn’t Christianity, it’s morality.”
I really hope that this trend of thinking continues within American Christianity because the so-called “christian” media promoted Christianity as morality for so many years most believe that Christianity is about morals, AND DON’T GET ME STARTED WITH MCGEE AND ME. UGH!
Click HERE to read the entire article >>>
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The Movie, Machine Gun Preacher, tells the “true” story of a criminal turned missionary in east Africa. This is a movie that I would love see but I believe with its limited release I will have to wait till it is out on Blu-ray.
Check out the trailer below::
“I want to say I envy the Catholic priest, because when they have someone in confession it’s all kept secret. When I have somebody asking me for advice, it spreads worldwide and it’s misunderstood.” – Pat Robert responding to his response to a question on marriage and alzheimer.
I have many friends that think of me as a “religious” guy and I really hate the word religion because of its broad associations in the mind of my friends. I fear that my friends might think that I may common opinions or worst common theology with someone like Pat Robertson.
I denounce Pat Roberts especially when come to his theology!
When friends ask me about my “religion” I do tell them I am a covenant Christian or Christian reformed. I emphasize the word covenant or reformed to give myself an opportunity to explain to them how I am distinct from the nutjobs like Pat Robertson and I don’t consider myself part of the “mainstream” of American Christianity culture. Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt, not going back.
I know that I haven’t been been blogging for a while. I am so busy with life but I still tell myself that I will get back to posting to After Skubalon, Light’s blog.
I recently got a notification that the Radio/Podcast broadcast Sinners and Saints is back. I posted their two now podcast on this site for your enjoyments:
Episode One::
Episode Two::
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OUR MIGHTY GOVERNMENT is hard at work micro-managing every aspect of our lives here in the land of the free.
They are in our gas tanks, our light bulbs, our toilets, our washing machine, and our showerheads. In some area of the country they are hard at work trying to regulate the color of the our homes, and the color of cars we drive (no black cars or dark color roofs because it can raise the earth’s temperature).
There has been proposal to install “smart meters” on our houses (they are really stupid meters) to regulate the temperature of our homes and dictating when we can or can’t run household appliances, like a dish washer.
NOW, JUST LIKE OUR SUVS, THEY HAVE ICE MAKERS IN OUR FRIDGE AS THEIR NEW TARGET. OH SKUBALON!! WHEN WILL IT STOP!
Check out the article below::
EDITORIAL: Global-warming zealots to ban ice makers
Energy efficiency standards to expand scope of product confiscation
By THE WASHINGTON TIMES – 1:00 a.m., Saturday, April 23, 2011Ice makers are the latest target in the left’s ongoing war against the conveniences of modern life. Earlier this month, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a report that may condemn this essential household item to the contraband list that already includes functional light bulbs, toilets, washing machines and showerheads.
Those looking for an easy way to cool down their drinks with ice cubes are guilty of increasing their refrigerator’s energy consumption by about 12 to 20 percent. That’s unacceptable to global-warming alarmists at the Department of Energy (DOE) who are hard at work finalizing regulatory standards for the fridge. The proposed changes will increase prices by an estimated $2 billion per year, but DOE justifies this added expense by claiming consumers would save $37 in electricity costs over the lifetime of a typical side-by-side.
Paying more up front to obtain paltry energy savings might << Click HERE to continue on the sources website >>
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Our pastor preached on Luke 24:28-45 on Easter Sunday (yesterday). The scripture text preceding (which the pastor reviewed) happens to be one of my favorite scripture text, which is the Road to Emmaus. If I were able to go back in time to witness any events in biblical history this event would definitely be on the top of my list.
The fact that Christianity is historical “religion” and the fact that it can be reason on a historical claim brings me comfort. Christianity is NOT, “first and foremost, a message about moral transformation. It is divine revelation, and it is truth claim that is grounded in human history, and recorded in scripture (which we claim to be the revealed word of God); and we are saying that what has happen history and what is revealed in scripture connect.” {Ken Jones, White Horse Inn – April 24th Podcast}
Below is the account of the Road to Emmaus as recorded in Luke 24:13-35 (ESV) ~
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and chow our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
My name is Timothy but I will be known as Timotheus on this blog. I am a Reformed Christian man living in Charleston, West Virginia (USA).
My blog will have entries of my personal, theological, philosophical, and political views from a Reformed perspective (or as I currently understand it).
To learn more about Reformed Theology read the article Reformed Theology by the late James Montgomery Boice by CLICKING HERE!.
If you wish to read more about ME please CLICK HERE!
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Recent Comments
24th Jan 12
4. Calvin was deeply influenced by Augustine. This is no surprise as I read and used 'Bondage' and Institutes for my ...
31st Dec 11
I like the new blog look. For several days I could not see your blog. I will admit, I thought ...
6th Oct 11
Some truth there. Amusing.
6th Oct 11
Good advice.
1st Jun 11
'There has been proposal to install “smart meters” on our houses (they are really stupid meters) to regulate the temperature ...