Magary says, "Keep your Hebrew healthy."

Thoughts from Preaching the Old Testament, Keeping your Hebrew healthy by D. Magary.

Tips for retention:

We will propose strategies on two fronts. Strategies for review will address the importance of revisiting the fundamentals of the language, especially vocabulary and grammar. Strategies for use, or text-focused strategies, will speak to the importance of regular Hebrew use and engagement with the biblical Hebrew texts. (p 33)

Not the flash cards and the audio CD's again! It must be done, it must be done. Remember the alphabet song.

On the importance of using Hebrew:

The most important thing pastors and teachers do in any given week is communicate to people what God has said. The most sacred moments they spend in ministry are the moments in which they are proclaiming the Word of God-the most important words ever written! The man or woman who has the responsibility to communicate to others what God has said needs to know exactly what God has said! A challenge far greater than learning Hebrew is keeping it vital and healthy for use in lifelong ministry. The whole point of studying Hebrew and Greek in seminary is to be able to have direct access to the biblical text-the very foundation for Christian faith and practice-in the languages in which God's Word was originally written. (p 30)

Magary gives excellent, practical advice for his two pronged approach of review and use. He also really appeals to the importance of keeping your Hebrew up (or in my case, elevating it to acceptable levels). One final exhortation:

Everything in the text matters! Every word is important. Every structure reflects a choice that an author has made. Nothing is superfluous. Every component of the text has its function. Knowing how to navigate the Hebrew text by reading and understanding what is actually there makes the difference, at least for a pastor, between preaching the text and preaching the translation. As we have already noted, translators make hundreds of decisions, many of which affect the interpretation of the passage. If the only access one has to the biblical text is through a translation, what does one do where translations differ? (p 52)

This is a good word to not let your languages slide.

Romans 15 - why go?

i see
Originally uploaded by Jane Costa Lima.

Why go to places where Christ isn't proclaimed? Paul had this hope:

Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.
Romans 15:21 (ESV) cf. Isaiah 52:15

This 'is' my body: sympathy for a former president

Bread & Wine
Originally uploaded by cas lad.

Since the question of what is meant by Jesus' words, "This is my body," was brought up during our Life Builders time, I thought this would be a good opportunity to take a more careful look at this debated statement. Without sounding too Clintonian, our first stop is to examine the word 'is'.

From Carson, Exegetical Fallacies, pp 57-58

Few words with broad semantic range cause more interpretive difficulties than the copula eimi (to be). Caird (Language and Imagery, p. 101) provides a useful list of what he calls the “main types” of copula usage in Greek:

a) Identity: “Is the law sin?” (Rom. 7:7)
b) Attribute: “No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18)
c) Cause: “To be carnally minded is death.” (Rom. 8:6)
d) Resemblance: “The tongue is a fire.” (James 3:6)

This is very helpful and is obviously pertinent to any consideration of the four most disputed words in the Bible, “This is my body.” Several branches of Christendom treat “is” in the sentence as a statement of identity; but quite clearly the semantic range of “to be” is broad enough that identity cannot legitimately be presupposed: it must be argued. ... Caird proceeds to argue that the statement “this is my body” cannot be one of identity, because “Jesus cannot be supposed to have identified the bread in his hands with the living body of which those hands were part.” But if “body” in this instance has a slightly different referent that the body of which the hands are a part, then “is” is being used metaphorically, and all metaphors belong to class d.

To restate: if we agree with the various classifications of 'is' above, then unless Jesus is referring to the bread and wine in the same way he would refer to his hand, the 'is' must fall into category d. Even if you believe in transubstantiation, there is a difference in Jesus' physical body and communion elements: Christ's body contains both the accidents (form) of flesh and blood and the substance of flesh and blood, while the communion elements retain the accidents of the bread and wine. The argument in transubstantiation is whether the substance has changed. But the point is this: clearly there is a difference between Christ's blood and wine.

From the Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org)

Finally, Transubstantiation differs from every other substantial conversion in this, that only the substance is converted into another — the accidents remaining the same — just as would be the case if wood were miraculously converted into iron, the substance of the iron remaining hidden under the external appearance of the wood.

Again, there is a difference between an iron bar and an iron bar that has all the appearances of wood. The 'is' in "This is my body" is in category d.

The Unity Factor - review

The Unity Factor by Larry Osborne is a book on having and maintaining unity in church leadership.

Osborne sets the stage:

When I arrived at the church, I was armed with books and ideas on growth, evangelism, and reaching the community. Unity was the last thing I was worried about. If you'd told me to slow down and focus on camaraderie and unity, I'd have chided you for your inward, even self-centered, approach to ministry. We had a world to conquer. But it soon became painfully obvious that we were never going to change the world out there when we couldn't get along in here. p. 11

Osborne gives some great advice on church leadership and cultivating unity. One of his better points is on training the church leadership. Purposely training leadership, helps makes their service a time of spiritual growth instead of a valley where they feel distant from God. Growing leaders think about what is best for the people, not lobbying for particular pet items. Osborne also helps the pastor to negotiate change, think about their compensation, get good feedback, and see their own church dynamic appropriately. This book really scratches where quite a few pastors and other leaders itch.

This was a good dose of practical insight that is helpful whether you are in a large or small church. He really injects some sanity into some very frustrating situations - for the pastor, for church leadership, and for the church.

The Reason for God - review

The Reason for God by Timothy Keller offers, as the title says, reason for belief in an age of skepticism. What I particularly like about this book is the focus not on the existence of some higher power, but that the Lord God of the Scriptures can be believed in and trusted. This is really an apologetic for Christianity and, more specifically, the Gospel.

The book goes in essentially two parts: answering objections and offering positive evidences. For the first half, Keller offers answers for: the exclusivity of Christianity, the problem of suffering, the moral strictness of Christianity, injustice caused by Christians, a good God sending people to hell, science disproving Christianity, and the trustworthiness of the Scripture. The second half offers reasons to believe in the Lord God: clues of God, knowledge of God, problem of sin, differences between 'religion' and the Gospel, the purpose of the cross, the reality of Jesus' resurrection, concluding with a brief summary and a some direction on where to go next.

As with Tim Keller's sermons, his insights into culture are penetrating and his application of the Gospel is pervasive. Here is an excerpt from the chapter on Religion and the Gospel:

Religion and the gospel also differ fundamentally in how they treat the Other - those who do not share one's own beliefs and practices. Postmodern thinkers understand that the self is formed and strengthened through the exclusion of the Other - those who do not have the values or traits on which I base my own significance. We define ourselves by pointing to those whom we are not. We bolster our sense of worth by devaluing those of other races, beliefs, and traits. This gospel identity gives us a new basis for harmonious and just social arrangements. A Christian's worth and value are not created by excluding anyone, but through the Lord who was excluded for me. His grace both humbles me more deeply than religion can (since I am too flawed to ever save myself through my own effort), yet it also affirms me more powerfully than religion can (since I can be absolutely certain of God's unconditional acceptance). p 181

As a Tim Keller fan, it comes as no surprise that I would highly recommend this book.

I also recommend visiting Steve McCoy's collection of articles and sermons of Tim Keller.

Robinson Crusoe (audio) - review

Robinson Crusoe
Originally uploaded by Dunechaser.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is a novel about the adventures of a sailor that spent much of his time marooned on a deserted island.

Random comments:
* It is VERY detailed. Almost everything is fully described and then reflected upon.

* Action is foreshadowed and developed slowly.

* What I didn't realize that so much (or any!) of the story had to do with Crusoe's conversion to Christ.

* The reader had a slightly off beat cadence. You get used to it.

* This is the sort of book that makes a great audio book. Librivox rocks!

* After 13+ hrs of audio, I learned that there is a part two. I didn't feel angry or betrayed, but I certainly didn't feel happy. It was a bit surreal.

The Religious Affections (audio) - review

The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards is a treatise on the nature of religion (religion used in a positive way), the heart, revival, true conversion, and the affections.

Note about audio books: This was a 15 hr audio reading that was one of the free monthly books on christianaudio.com. I like audio books when they are telling a story, but not as much when you need to listen (or read) carefully. Some may wonder why I listened to Edwards instead of reading him. I would have mush rather read Edwards than listened to him, but the car is not the place to read and so my choice was listen to him or not listen to him. And I would choose 'listen to him' all over again if I had to. (I do hope to read the book sometime too.)

A brief enticement to get us all to read the book:

The first foundation of the delight a true saint has in God, is his own perfection; and the first foundation of the delight he has in Christ, is his own beauty; he appears in himself the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. The way of salvation by Christ is a delightful way to him, for the sweet and admirable manifestations of the divine perfections in it: the holy doctrines of the gospel, by which God is exalted and man abased, holiness honored and promoted, and sin greatly disgraced and discouraged, and free and sovereign love manifested, are glorious doctrines in his eyes, and sweet to his taste, prior to any conception of his interest in these things. Indeed the saints rejoice in their interest in God, and that Christ is theirs: and so they have great reason, but this is not the first spring of their joy. They first rejoice in God as glorious and excellent in himself, and then secondarily rejoice in it, that so glorious a God is theirs.—They first have their hearts filled with sweetness, from the view of Christ's excellency, and the excellency of his grace and the beauty of the way of salvation by him, and then they have a secondary joy in that so excellent a Savior, and such excellent grace are theirs.

Stop Dating the Church! - review

Stop Dating the Church!: Fall in Love with the Family of God by Joshua Harris shows Christ's love for His church and how we should love the church as well.

This book was rather helpful in addressing problems such as church-hopping, the importance of fellowship, and getting little out of our corporate worship times. It is short, begins each chapter with a solid illustration, and outlines the salient points in good fashion. Harris does help us to love the church more and to see how beautiful she really is.

It is worth noting, however, that if you come from an abusive or controlling religious environment, this book is addressing a laissez faire attitude towards church. Harris' chapter on "Choosing Your Church" is quite important and should not be skipped.

The Roots of Endurance - review

The Roots of Endurance by John Piper contains three short biographies of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce.

This book is the product of Piper's biographical sketches from Desiring God's annual pastor's conference (John Newton, Charles Simeon, William Wilberforce). These biographies are different than a 'normal' biography in that Piper is always asking what drove these men. Some of the entertaining details are lightly addressed while personal writings are emphasized to show how these men saw their lives in light of the Sovereign Lord. Well worth either reading or listening to.


"For a nominal Christian is content with proving the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. But the true Christian loves it, delights in it, glories in it, and shudders at the very thought of glorying in anything else." - Charles Simeon (p 114)

The Word Became Fresh - review

The Word Became Fresh by Dale Ralph Davis is a guide for how to preach from Old Testament narrative sections (places like 1 & 2 Kings, Judges, parts of Exodus, etc.). Davis has an easy-going style to a topic that befuddles and frightens many would be expositors.

My opinion on this book is mixed. First the bad - it is hard (at least for me) to find a way forward in going from OT narrative to sermon from Davis. He tends to give some vague, general direction, provides a partial example, and then leaves it. There are portions where Davis seems more concerned about being humorous or provocative rather than helpful.

The good, but with some caveats:
(1) A strength of the book is the use of vivid (non-biblical) illustrations to highlight certain points. (While one could almost purchase this book his illustrations, I didn't, but it is a nice bonus.)

(2) Davis has a high view of Scripture that includes reading and preaching the text on it's own terms. Davis' example of Jael (Judges 4-5): Jael kills Sisera in a very deceptive way, but rather than condemning her actions, she is praised in the following chapter in Deborah's song. Therefore, while it may seem quite harsh, we must deal with her assassination of Sisera in a positive light (Judges 5:24-27) (pp 71-74).

(3) Davis does a good job of looking at specific passages and showing how he would preach parts of them. Unfortunately, he leaves most of the tension he creates unresolved, letting the reader wonder how to go forward.

(4) It is a nice read; Davis has an easy style that is very accessible.

(5) The section on Quirks (noticing features of the text) was short and quite helpful. Davis gives some big picture thoughts on specific books that are insightful too. There are good nuggets throughout the book, but again, they must be mined.

If you are looking for some real help on preaching OT narrative, I would suggest Steven Mathewson's The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative. Davis' book is a good primer or supplement, but not a one-stop book on the subject. Davis sums the book up nicely when, in explaining why he using Genesis 12 as the basis for his entire section on theology, says, "I'm writing the book and should be allowed to do what I want." (p 31) Indeed, he takes this liberty throughout. Also, this book could have used a Scripture reference at the end, since that would have emphasized the book's real strong point - Davis' own (albeit partial) expositions of particular texts. In the end, I would travel to hear Davis speak; I bet he is quite engaging. But adjust your expectations when you purchase this book.

Cora laughing

A short video of Cora laughing at some foil paper Carrie is crinkling. Hopefully we can all get some joy from watching a child and her innocent delights.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God - review

Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God by Larry Osborne takes a hard look at what disciple is and (especially) isn't.

Here are some of the issues Osborne goes after:

* Does being a disciple mean being smart and well read?
* How relationships are different and we all don't relate to the Lord in the exact same way?
* How two people can be totally different and still please God.
* Is it a sin to be average?
* The linear model for growth doesn't fit everybody.
* Why be in a small group? (His thought on connectivity was excellent!)
* The dimmer switch principle: obeying the light we have.
* Trusting Holy Spirit to work in us.
* How God uses unlikely people.
* Can faith and doubt co-exist?
* What is zeal and how important is it?
* Why extra rules undercut true growth.
* How Best Practices can be a curse.
* Projecting your gift on everyone else (and why that's bad).
* How important is balance? (hint: it's not)
* Not trusting inner peace, results, or failure.
* The danger of turning tools into rules.
* The Potential trap.
* Overrated accountability groups meet glass house living.
* Not putting God as our number one priority (He's in the middle of every priority.)

Osborne bring quite a bit of balance to well-meaning, but often hurtful models and advice. The talks I heard at a conference were an overview of his book. While I appreciated much of what he said, I would have liked more of a way forward. There are a couple of friends that I hope to discuss this book with that would be able to give some perspective on how we view growth at our own church.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ - review

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper is book designed to guide us toward valuing Christ above all things.

A powerful book that focuses the senses of our mind and heart upon our Savior, Jesus Christ. A taste, if you will from Piper's chapter, The Incarnate Wealth of the Compassion of God:

"It is he who made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture" (Psalm 100:3). There is one ultimate owner in the universe, God. All others are trustees. Neither we nor what we have is finally our own. It is all a trust to be used for the aims of the owner. In a sense, therefore, all sin is embezzling.

But, strikingly, the New Testament describes the wealth of God not mainly in terms of what he created and owns, but mainly in terms of the glory he has from all eternity. Repeatedly we read of "the riches of his glory" or "his riches in glory" (for example, Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:27). If God were only rich because he made and owns all things, he would have been poor before creation. But that means he would have created out of need and would be dependent on his creation. But that is not the picture of God we find in the Bible. God did not create to get wealth; he created to display wealth - the wealth of his glory for the enjoyment of his people (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). (pp 83-84)

Piper gives us meditations of our Lord for us to dwell on and to savor.

Genesis 29 - Fragile structures of hope

Four Brothers
Originally uploaded by caaz-izzi.

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben [‘see, a son'], for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon [sounds like ‘heard’]. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi [sounds like ‘attached']. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah [sounds like ‘praise']. Then she ceased bearing.
Genesis 29:31-35 (ESV with notes inserted in brackets)

Leah is driven to desperation. She was swapped out for her sister on Rachel’s wedding night. She is hated by her husband, not the least of the reasons being his increased service to her father (7 more years). In her mind, hope resides in her husband’s love; his love will come through Leah giving him sons.

Sons she gives him, and with each one she again thinks, “This will be the time he loves me.” Their names reflect her desperation: Reuben – ‘see, a son’ – a demonstration of her hope, Simeon – ‘heard’ – God has heard and has given her a son to please her husband with, Levi – ‘attached’ – now Jacob will be attached to me. Every son’s name now mocks her attempts to find hope.

Where do we find hope? In the if only’s? If only I had this, if only I had that, then I’d have all I ever wanted. Peering from the outside in, Leah looks ridiculous. But we have the same issues. Our precious hope is placed in schemes that are so fragile and so outlandish that they border on lunacy when revealed.

Leah, I believe, learns true hope in her last son. “This time I will praise the Lord.” Isn’t interesting that the son that becomes the catalyst for her true hope in the Lord, is the very son whose lineage leads to our Savior? The Lion of Judah is the one upon whom our hope should rest.

Exodus 22 - Immigration

Immigration
Originally uploaded by lcars.

You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Exodus 22:21 (ESV)


Nothing earth-shattering here, but it does seem to me that, as followers of Christ, there should be sense of kindness and compassion when we talk about the immigration issue. On the practical side, I, for one, am glad that people want to come to the US. Normally difficult to reach people are just a car's drive away (maybe closer). And some of the immigrants are believers, going to the cities that most Christians are stumbling over themselves to get out of. (But that would have to be for another passage I guess.)

Everyday Theology - review

Everyday Theology by Charles Anderson, Michael Sleasman, and Kevin Vanhoozer is a compilation of papers that gives theological insight on specific culture issues. While my number one reason for buying this was because I went to graduate school with the people that wrote the articles, I was very encouraged by the depth and for providing a way forward when we think about cultural issues from a theological standpoint.

How to read cultural texts and trends:
By trying to avoid summarizing Vanhoozer's initial article, I will simply give his own methodological guidelines to interpreting culture (pp 59-60). These are very insightful and quite helpful as we engage the world around us.

1. Try to comprehend a cultural text on it's own terms before you "interpret" it.
2. Attend to what a cultural text is doing as well as saying by clarifying its illocutionary act.
3. Consider the world behind, of, and in front of the cultural text.
4. Determine what "powers" are served by particular cultural texts or trends by discovering whose material interests are served.
5. Seek the "world hypothesis" and/or "root metaphor" implied by the cultural text.
6. Be comprehensive in your interpretation of a cultural text; find corroborative evidence that makes best sense of the whole as well as the parts.
7. Give "thick" descriptions of the cultural text that are nonreductive and sensitive to the various levels of communicative action.
8. Articulate the way of being human to which a cultural text directly or indirectly bears witness and gives commendation.
9. Discern what faith a cultural text directly or indirectly expresses. What convictions about God, the world, and ourselves does a cultural text and/or trend commit us?
10. Locate the cultural text in the biblical creation-fall-redemption schema and make sure that biblical rather than cultural texts have the lead role in shaping your imagination and hence your interpretative framework for your experience.

Interpreting trends:
After Vanhoozer's introduction, the book is then a series of papers that cover: grocery store magazines, Eminem, UN's declaration of human rights, megachurch architecture, Gladiator, busyness, blogging, transhumanism, designer funerals, and weddings. This book gives quite an assortment and quality analysis. Reminds me of a former Christian adviser that gave incredible insight on how air conditioning has impacted society.

This book is a truly helpful collection of essays and not from all the same authors we always read (Vanhoozer excepted). Excellent stuff - especially nice is the glossary at the end. Some discussion questions would be nice, but I guess if you have this be a discussion book, then most of the questions might just present themselves. Also, it is too bad that the website didn't quite pan out. This could certainly be an ongoing series; there is always a need to examine and interpret culture through a Christ-centered lens.

Gems to Treasure of Seashells and Friendship

Gems to Treasure of Seashells and Friendship by Harlan Wittkopf is fun gift book about, well, seashells and friends. If you enjoy combing the beach or if you have a nature loving friend, this would be an excellent present.

We had an interesting discussion before this book was published regarding seashells and Scripture. Because of his seashell books and his love for Christ, Harlan has keyed in on the few texts that talk about beach. Our discussion centered around Deuteronomy 33 -

And of Zebulun he said,
“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents.
They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices;
for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.” [vv 18-19 (ESV)]

Since the region these tribes were to inhabit was the Cis-Jordan side of Northern Israel (even though the tribes failed to conquer it), the hidden treasures of the sand is more than likely - seashells - spiny dye-murex shells to be a bit more exact. The treasure is in the bit of liquid these mollusks contain that can be used to make a deep scarlet/indigo dye. While some have alluded that the "hidden treasure" refers to glass (from sand) or treasure from sunken vessels, the fame of the city of Tyre (along the coast of northern Israel) is Tyrian Purple. The Phoenician people, who settled the region, derive their name from this color. The Minoans apparently loved it, the Romans loved it, and certain Roman Emperors forbade anyone else wearing it.

Just a little bonus on Deuteronomy 33.

Thanks for the book Harlan - we love it!

Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor - review

Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson is a biography of the life of Tom Carson (Don Carson's father). Carson's aim in this book is to "convey enough of his (Tom Carson's) ministry and his own thought that ordinary ministers are encouraged, not the least by the thought that the God of Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon, and Piper is no less the God of Tom Carson, and of you and me." (p 11)

This book was written in a style like that of historian/author David McCullough, using original material in a way that gives a good picture of what is happening but doesn't bog the reader down by being uninteresting. However, Carson also used parts of Tom's life to insert teaching points for his readers. One example of this was regarding Tom's discouragement and work ethic:

I (Don) must learn to accept myself not because of my putative successes but because of the merits of God's Son. The ministry is so open ended that one never feels that all possible work has been done, or done as well as one might like. There are always more people to visit, more studying to be done, more preparation to do. What Christians must do, what Christian leaders must do, is constantly remember that we serve our God and Maker and Redeemer under a gospel of grace. Dad's diaries show he understood this truth in theory, and sometimes he exulted in it (as when he was reading Machen's What Is Faith?), but quite frankly, his sense of failure sometimes blinded him to the glory of gospel freedom. (pp 92-93)

This is the sort of book that once I began reading I couldn't put it down. And, since it was rather short, was readily consumed. Part of the intrigue for me, I imagine, is that I have read quite a bit of Carson's books and was a student of his in seminary. Carson's goal of encouraging 'ordinary pastors' was successful, if at least one other ordinary pastor was encouraged. Eye-opening on the state of French Canada during the 40's to 80's for sure, but more than that, this was a call to faithfulness. Often times we read biographies of individuals whose 'big splash' is seen by all. The Tom Carsons of the world may not receive such accolades on our earthly bookshelves, but they will certainly be known in glory.

Being As Communion - review

Being As Communion by John D. Zizioulas is an Orthodox (in the denominational sense, used in this way throughout the review) treatment uniting the issues of ecclesiology and trinitarian theology. He prefaces the reader,

The Church is not simply an institution. She is a "mode of existence," a way of being. The mystery of the Church, even in its institutional dimension, is deeply bound to the being of man, to the being of the world and to the very being of God. (p 15)

Zizioulas takes his readers on a journey that addresses such issues as what personhood has to do with being, what relationship does truth have with the 'logos', with salvation, with the person, with the body of Christ, and with the Eucharist. He contemplates the difficulty in regarding the Church as the Body of Christ, while there are substantial divisions and differences between not only local congregations, but even on the denominational level. The depth to which Zizioulas goes in his investigation and analysis is impressive, but it often makes his discussion difficult to follow (not to mention his frequent use of Greek and Latin terms).

Being As Communion was not a real helpful or accessible book for me; I got it because sections discussing the Trinitarian nature of God were insightful during seminary. The primary problem (I assume) is that I am not Orthodox and this book seems to be an in-house Orthodox discussion. Zizioulas goes to great length to define some terms and concepts, but leaves others untouched. His implications necessitate an adoption of an Orthodox theology, which is quite different from how I see the nature of God, Church, Christ, ministry, etc. While challenging (and in that sense 'fun' at times), ultimately Zizioulas offers the uninitiated (or maybe the lazy) only pieces, not a nice whole.

Another home

A friend of mine, Tim, has a post about his wife's grandmother's (Mormor) funeral:

In the last months of her life, Mormor often prayed – “Jesus, just take me home”. You see, this world is not our home. To those who don’t know Jesus, this world is as close to heaven as you’ll ever get. But to those who know Jesus, this world is as close to hell as you’ll ever get.

I had the privilege of spending a week at Shepherd’s Home – a home for mentally and physically handicapped adults. The man who ran it asked me – what do you think we have to clean the most around here. I had no idea. He said – the windows. Because everyone here knows Jesus is going to return in the clouds, just as he left – and they will meet him in the air and get new bodies – and they press their hands and face up to the windows watching for Him.

We are not home yet. But Mormor is. She has fought the good fight – she’s finished the race – and now she is Home. I’m going to miss you Mormor, we all are. But we are so happy for you. Thank you for the life you lived, the way you loved, the prayers you prayed, and the example you set.

May we all have dirty windows as we spend our time here doing the work God has set out for us.