Growing With Grace
My other blog, New This Year, deals with more general issues of personal and spiritual development.
Abraham: Following God (book review)
- Created on Tuesday, 23 April 2013 10:22
Abraham: Following God provides a thorough and congregation-wide study. PROS: I appreciate the approach: videos, images, handouts, outlines, and small group materials are all provided. Its depth also recommends it: explanations of Hebrew words, references to Archaeological sites, cross-references to other relevant passages in both Old and New Testaments,and hyperlinks to articles available on the internet. CONS: (1) The extensive use of technology while excellent requires expertise that may be beyond some congregations/pastors/small group leaders/teachers and may put off the less savvy. (2) While the cost of $85 is reasonable for the congregation edition, I think the $20 for the individual edition is high. A typical E book on Kindle/Nook costs less than $10. The individual edition should be priced no higher than $10, and likely lower ($5). In summary, the material is excellent. The congregational cost is fair, but the individual is too high. Overall, I recommend it.
A Time For Everything Including Silence
- Created on Thursday, 28 February 2013 18:51
In the 1960's, the Byrds had a hit with 'Turn, Turn, Turn' which is a paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 8. The Byrds however omitted verse 7b: 'A time to be silent and a time to speak.' Everyone knows there are times when we are best served by keeping our mouths shut. Everyone also knows there are times when we need to speak up. Wisdom is knowing which is which.
We should be silent when what we would say tears others down. We should be silent when the situation calls for listening. We should be silent in order to better hear others, especially God. These are times for silence.
We should speak up when we are in need, crying out to God. We should speak out when others are in need or are being oppressed. These are times for speech.
God grant us the wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent. Give us the discipline require for silence and the courage required for speech.
Silence is not Golden (but should be)
- Created on Wednesday, 20 February 2013 11:23
Silence is rarely golden in our world and that's why there is so little silence. Our world determines a thing's worth according to the law of supply and demand. Gold is in short supply. God is in high demand. God is very expensive. Silence is currently in short supply, but is not valued like gold. When something in short supply is not extremely valuable, then it must not be in demand. There is little demand for silence.
Lent is a time to rediscover and revalue silence so that, someday, we will demand more silence. Silence will be golden.