books and reasoning

Hey fellas,
I was just wondering what you guys have been reading now that we can exercise our free wills in the area of book choices. I have been reading some Sherlock Holmes mysteries and find him to be quite modern! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is only ever interested in the facts, as is his main character. The stories begin and end with little attention to the human elements that are actually carrying the story along. But hey, it's still interesting and helps teach me how to do principles of Bible study since we are only ever inductive observers of the text, right?

Actually, I have been talking with my Dad about "inductive Bible study" and I don't think it's the all-encompassing rule of interpretation that I remember learning. Essentially (to borrow from Shu), it seems that we use inductive and deductive principles in complementary ways. For instance, I heard a man teaching on the "inductive method" (sounds rather Modern anyway, doesn't it?) and in the same session he encouraged reading Matthew with the theme of "King" in mind. Bringing a "king and kingdom" theme to Matthew is the practice of deductive interpretation. In other words, since I believe Matthew is proving Christ's kingship to the Jews, I see Christ's kingship being proved thoroughly in Matthew. Is this valid?

Two quick thoughts and then I leave it to discussion. First, many of our deductive ideas are derived inductively. In other words, we see many places and ways that Matthew proves Christ's kingship, and thus start looking deeper to see if it might be in places we may not have realized before. So deductive principles can come from inductive "research."

Secondly, some deductive maxims arise directly from Scripture. A clear example is John 20:31 where he tells us the purpose of his book. We thus have warrant to read the rest of the Gospel of John with this theme in mind and find it to be a true insight.

A final remark for our surmising is this: when it comes to Gospel-centered hermeneutics (from Cruver's Principle's class), does Luke 24 and other such passages give us warrant to read Scripture with the "historical-redemptive" deductive principle in mind?

Grace and the gospel

I have been with the Pynes for a week now and have been stunned by their lifestyle: doing busy insanity. Knowing others is tossed out in favor of doing things. I can see how the head of the home directs this. It is sad and I can see how much Emily has changed from this lifestyle to the point that it frustrates her. I am joyful that God has used me to influence Emily in this way, showing her the way of knowing God and others. And its not like her mom wants to be like this; she submits cheerfully to this. She would like to read books and talk to people. Nate has changed to since he has been at BBC and around Doc. Going to church was good, but first I was not prepared because the household was going nuts before hand. Then in Sunday school I hear that I need to obey the sermon on the mount. The new pastor was really good: he has a passion for God that the church needs. But I am starving for the good news that Christ has died and lives for me, that he has fulfilled the law in my place. I am weighed down beneath the law of performance, or living as doing. I want the gospel; I want the encouragement of others who are pursuing Christ. I feel physically anxious when the household explodes with activity; I cower as we eat formally; I am annoyed that they always watch sports and talk about sports. I am glad that I can be with Emily, but I will be glad to go back home where we can actually talk about eternal things. Life has been so busy so that I almost say: I want to call Emily and talk to her. But she is with me, but we don't get to talk because life has been hectic! We have been having some good talks though. Spiritual things are almost tacked on her as we wholesale buy into American Consumer Christmas. ACH! I want you guys back. I did get some cool things for Christmas, like some cool sweaters, tree id books, and a good-sized Craftsman tool set. Anyway, I love you guys. I finished the best things in life- it was good. I will blog about it later. I have to go to bed, the Pynes are and Emily is staying at her Aunt's house down here in Alabama. Bye.

Could I have your shirt sizes?

Sorry about the concrete and detailed question: Emily and I are going to get the shirts hopefully in after Christmas sales. Thanks.

Upon Graduating

As I left college, I cried ... a lot. I found myself in this bizarre state of mixed emotions about the entirety of my life. I had plans for burning out of the parking lot and never coming back, but rather I meekly creeped out in intermittent tears. I had this epiphany that most of what I worked on for the past three and a half years, I was driving away from. I cried almost the whole way to Wilkes-Barre. Just that morning, McGrew told me that I would be depressed within the next few months, though I never thought it would be the same day. I listened to the entirety of the Blue album by Weezer (for probably the 600th time). By the time I got to Hannah's, I think I looked like a blurry-eyed, cracked-out hobo. But, after she gave me a big hug and kiss, and told me I looked homeless, I came unto another epiphany. In less than four months, I'm committing myself in marriage to the most amazing girl I know, and I couldn't be happier. While I miss you guys more than you probably know, I'm marrying my best friend for the rest of my life, so in this I rejoice.

I love you guys. I miss you guys.

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." - semisonic.

Life Sucks

In reflecting upon my college career and in looking towards the future, I spent this morning thinking about what life is about. I turned to the book of Ecclesiastes. For this first time in a long time I had the privilege of time to read the entire book and as I did I was greatly struck by a few things I would like to share:

A few recurring elements appear throughout the book, the most prominent of which is to eat and drink and enjoy one's toil on earth. Solomon elucidates how the years he spent in mirth and in pursuit of possessions did not satisfy. The same circumstance betakes the poor and the rich, the happy and the sad-death. He posits that there is greater benefit in wisdom than in folly, yet both the wise and the foolish perish. He praises an understanding that there is a time in life for everything.

Let me bring us to a crossroads here, for as never before we are all at one. This book, almost like counterpoint in music, has two themes that weave in and out of each other. Life and enjoyment. In the words of a wise man "life sucks." Solomon agrees. Yet there are elements to be enjoyed.

This is a bit incoherent, perhaps reflecting my post-traumatic college stress syndrome. What I mean is this. As Solomon claims in chapter 12, the days of our youth have been fun. The Lord has seen fit to bless us with great times and even better friends, each other. Yet life is no longer on the horizon, it is knocking at the door, and life is/will be difficult. I exhort myself and you all to two things:
1. Remember your Creator (12:1) because in the day of joy as in the day of adversity, God has made both (7:14). The end of Solomon's thoughts is this-fear God and follow his commandments, this is the duty of man (12:13).
2. Enjoy life, especially with your wife (9:9)! Vanity encircles so many of life's pursuits but with the fear of God as the engine, cannot joy be the caboose? In nearly every chapter, Solomon highlights eating and drinking (champagne anyone?) and enjoying our toil. While we are leaving many of the follies of k suite behind, let us remember that life can be enjoyed. Whether it is wedding plans, or seminary classes, or babies (cigar anyone?) or even trials, the Lord is in them and they can be enjoyed?

These are just some ruminations of an over-caffeinated ex-college student. Please inform my thinking on this boys.

Wedding Plans

For you guys who have been planning weddings, how did you keep from going insane? How do we keep an eternal perspective and encourage our financees to do the same?

Exhortation to my Graduating Brethren

Well you guys did it! This is your final week as BBC students. Enjoy the time you have left and know that I am proud of each and everyone of you. But during this time of celebration and much joy I exhort you and not only you but for myself the words of Paul found in 2 Timothy 4:2-5, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

Asinine articles in the Anchor-A response (though it does not merit one) to THE IRRESISTIBLE REVOLUTION

Heard this before??? Any monkey with a typewriter could produce such dribble. Such an excellent example of why the Emergent Church is not relevant could not have come if Brian McClaren himself sent us some heresy.
The author of this masterwork, Shane Claiborne, is the quintessential post-modern moron. His initial observation does indeed carry a degree of credence. Claiborne notes that in America being a follower of Christ has become a culture that is in many ways devoid of its namesake. Yet his solution for this only plunges America further into a cultural quaqmire and even further from real truth. Like many other emergent ex-potheads, Claiborne advocates a "revolution." Certainly, if enough textual gymnastics are done, one could arrive at this term. Yet taking up our cross for Claiborne is tied to philanthropic works. In claiming that Christ was homeless he has reduced the pristine Savior God being incarnate on earth and has conjured up a view of Christ sleeping on cardboard with a scruffy beard and smelling of urine. I do not mean to demean the homeless. They can be at times victims of circumstances I cannot even pretend to comprehend. Yet is this not a wonderful, and by wonderful I mean wonderfully non-biblical, misuse of terms. Indeed the earth was not Christ's home, as it is not ours. But for a man who works among the homeless in Philadelphia, why relate Almighty God to their struggles in a way that debases Him.
Our esteemed author has indulged in such escapades as working alongside Mother Theresa among the poor and travelling to Iraq. I applaud such efforts on his part, but does this make him qualified to give insight into the life of Christ? As odd as this sounds, perhaps a studied look at the life of Christ from oh, say...Scripture, might actually carry more force.
Fundamental Christians are far too comfortable in their American Christianity and do far too little to influence the destitute and hurting around them. But this touting of an organic, post-modern, psuedo-revolutionary ideal is not the answer. Christ didn't garden and the revolution that He calls men to is not to live differently because that is what is cool among emerging Christinans but because we are not of this world and should not love the things in it. We love others, not because my steroid free tomatoes tell me too, but because Christ first loved me...how's that for revolutionary.