Today is the two year anniversary of my Uncle's suicide.
Today is my Aunt's birthday.
I can't even decide if it is appropriate to call and wish her a happy birthday. Is there even a possibility of her having a happy birthday on the anniversary of her husband's death?
I've never called to wish her happy birthday before. I think it would be awkward.
I don't know how she would respond. Would it make everything worse?
I don't want to make things worse. It's a tough decision.
Am I being selfish for not wanting to call?
Is it that I don't want an awkward phone call or is it that I don't want to reopen the wounds that his death caused.
Why does Good Friday have to fall on this date this year? Why couldn't it be last weekend? Next weekend?
I know that I believe in Good Friday as being a good, yet painful thing. But is it maybe just too much for me today?
Will I handle this all better in another year? Or will I still be in this much pain?
I know that to heal a deep wound, you have to open it up and clean it out. Would calling her open it up to be cleaned out or would it just be like pouring a caustic substance into it, burning me and causing more damage? I don't think I'm ready to deal with this just yet.
My heart is still broken.
I still want to go back in time and change things. To convince him that he should do things differently. He cheated.
He cheated life. He cheated himself. He didn't get to see my sister get married. He didn't get to hold my sister's little girl. He won't see my brother graduate high school in a couple of months. There are so many things he cheated himself out of. There are so many things that he cheated us out of being able to share with him.
I want him back.
This isn't fair.
Life isn't fair.
I probably should call.
I don't want to call.
I probably won't call.
I'm not ready to face that call.
Maybe next year.
http://tribstar.com/obituaries/x1281096948/Edward-Lawrence-Allen
Friday, March 29, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Five W's And A H
First, let me say that there are many approaches to interpreting and understanding scripture. I can't say that one method is better than another, except that taking scripture out of context is never in our best interest. Often, the best method is a combination.
A good place to start with a given passage (not just a couple of verses, but a chapter or a subheading of a chapter) and ask some simple questions.
1. Who is involved here?
2. What is happening?
3. When is this happening?
4. Where in the world is this happening?
5. Why is this happening?
6. How does this apply/ affect/ parallel my life?
So, who?
I think who is a good place to begin studying a passage because it gives us names to associate everything else with. The list of characters may not just be the obvious ones though. Even when King David is lamenting to God, there are more than the two of them in the scene. There are also the people that David is praying for and those whom he is praying against. We can't rule them out as unimportant either, because they provide the reasoning for his prayers. In many books of the Bible, the author is also a character to be considered.
What happened?
Next, we need to sort out what happened. What did the main character do? What did the other characters do? Who is initiating the action? Who is responding? Is this a letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica? What motivated the author to record this information?
When makes a difference.
The Bible wasn't all written at the same time. It was written in three languages over the course of approximately 2500 years. Over that many years, leadership changed, people and countries changed power, and whole groups of people were killed. Also, consider whether the passage is found in the Old or New Testament. This makes a big difference, as it raises the question of whether the characters are anticipating the arrival of the Messiah or if they know that He has come and are following after Jesus and His disciples.
Now where was that?
A lot depends on the physical location of where the people are from and the culture they lived in. This information can tell you a lot about what their social, political, religious, and economic norms were. Physical geography can also explain why it was difficult to travel.
Why did this happen?
As you start to look over your notes about everything that happened in this passage, you may start to see patterns and draw conclusions. Especially if you study several consecutive passages, you will see a progression in the story. Some sections, like those in Numbers and 1 & 2 Chronicles, will really become more relevant as you assemble the genealogies and see where people groups moved,and split. These separations will often highlight cultural shifts and changes.
How about us?
Now that we have begun to wrap our minds around what is contained in scripture, it is time to tie it in with our lives. Looking at the conclusions we have drawn, is there anything that sounds eerily familiar? Perhaps something currently happening in your own life or something in the world outside your front door? Now, what parallels do you see - opportunities to take this newfound knowledge and apply it to your life, to help others, to guide you as you grow in your faith.
As you get more comfortable with taking scripture apart to find deeper understanding, you can expand your reading. Good references include Biblical dictionaries, concordances, interlinear Bibles, and books that can expand your knowledge of the time and place where the passage you are studying. I won't advise against using Biblical commentaries, because they can provide direction when we are struggling to understand. Always remember that the important book in our study is the Bible and that while other books can benefit our study, they are just tools to help us in learning to understand.
A good place to start with a given passage (not just a couple of verses, but a chapter or a subheading of a chapter) and ask some simple questions.
1. Who is involved here?
2. What is happening?
3. When is this happening?
4. Where in the world is this happening?
5. Why is this happening?
6. How does this apply/ affect/ parallel my life?
So, who?
I think who is a good place to begin studying a passage because it gives us names to associate everything else with. The list of characters may not just be the obvious ones though. Even when King David is lamenting to God, there are more than the two of them in the scene. There are also the people that David is praying for and those whom he is praying against. We can't rule them out as unimportant either, because they provide the reasoning for his prayers. In many books of the Bible, the author is also a character to be considered.
What happened?
Next, we need to sort out what happened. What did the main character do? What did the other characters do? Who is initiating the action? Who is responding? Is this a letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica? What motivated the author to record this information?
When makes a difference.
The Bible wasn't all written at the same time. It was written in three languages over the course of approximately 2500 years. Over that many years, leadership changed, people and countries changed power, and whole groups of people were killed. Also, consider whether the passage is found in the Old or New Testament. This makes a big difference, as it raises the question of whether the characters are anticipating the arrival of the Messiah or if they know that He has come and are following after Jesus and His disciples.
Now where was that?
A lot depends on the physical location of where the people are from and the culture they lived in. This information can tell you a lot about what their social, political, religious, and economic norms were. Physical geography can also explain why it was difficult to travel.
Why did this happen?
As you start to look over your notes about everything that happened in this passage, you may start to see patterns and draw conclusions. Especially if you study several consecutive passages, you will see a progression in the story. Some sections, like those in Numbers and 1 & 2 Chronicles, will really become more relevant as you assemble the genealogies and see where people groups moved,and split. These separations will often highlight cultural shifts and changes.
How about us?
Now that we have begun to wrap our minds around what is contained in scripture, it is time to tie it in with our lives. Looking at the conclusions we have drawn, is there anything that sounds eerily familiar? Perhaps something currently happening in your own life or something in the world outside your front door? Now, what parallels do you see - opportunities to take this newfound knowledge and apply it to your life, to help others, to guide you as you grow in your faith.
As you get more comfortable with taking scripture apart to find deeper understanding, you can expand your reading. Good references include Biblical dictionaries, concordances, interlinear Bibles, and books that can expand your knowledge of the time and place where the passage you are studying. I won't advise against using Biblical commentaries, because they can provide direction when we are struggling to understand. Always remember that the important book in our study is the Bible and that while other books can benefit our study, they are just tools to help us in learning to understand.
Monday, March 11, 2013
The High Pressure Sales Pitch
I know that on my commute, I see a lot of people. And while that means that I have a good opportunity to share God with others. But which is the more effective way to communicate His message - a high pressure sales pitch or a peaceful example?
I could sit next to you on the bus, loudly and adamantly informing you that you need God in your life today, that you need to be in a pew on Sunday morning, and that you must join a Bible study immediately. I could keep you cornered and tell you "Turn or burn!" It's possible that I could even take out my Bible and begin quoting scripture at you. But are you going to want anything to do with that crazy lady on the bus? Probably not. At best, you're a little annoyed and have a good rant about crazy bus people for your friends. At worst, you're no longer interested in anything to do with God or His crazy people.
The philosophy that I am more comfortable with applying is that of Francis of Assisi: "Preach the gospel often, and if necessary, use words. " I know that I'm more likely to be able to explain what I believe and why in a less threatening way if you ask me a question first. Another benefit of this approach is that you are left with more questions than when you asked me the first one. This opens the door to deeper exploration and explanation.
So why should I make you feel threatened by Christianity when God wants to show you His love through me? I didn't learn everything I know about God in a single, isolated conversation - the knowledge I possess has been gleaned over the course of my life. To pack that much information into a half hour conversation would put anyone new to faith on overload. I'm not saying that we should sugarcoat our beliefs or mislead people. I'm not saying that we don't need to teach new believers anything about the Bible or what it says, but we also need to share what God has done in our lives.
I encourage you to take that next step toward living your life the way that God wants us to live. And remember, your life may be someone else's first encounter with God.
I could sit next to you on the bus, loudly and adamantly informing you that you need God in your life today, that you need to be in a pew on Sunday morning, and that you must join a Bible study immediately. I could keep you cornered and tell you "Turn or burn!" It's possible that I could even take out my Bible and begin quoting scripture at you. But are you going to want anything to do with that crazy lady on the bus? Probably not. At best, you're a little annoyed and have a good rant about crazy bus people for your friends. At worst, you're no longer interested in anything to do with God or His crazy people.
The philosophy that I am more comfortable with applying is that of Francis of Assisi: "Preach the gospel often, and if necessary, use words. " I know that I'm more likely to be able to explain what I believe and why in a less threatening way if you ask me a question first. Another benefit of this approach is that you are left with more questions than when you asked me the first one. This opens the door to deeper exploration and explanation.
So why should I make you feel threatened by Christianity when God wants to show you His love through me? I didn't learn everything I know about God in a single, isolated conversation - the knowledge I possess has been gleaned over the course of my life. To pack that much information into a half hour conversation would put anyone new to faith on overload. I'm not saying that we should sugarcoat our beliefs or mislead people. I'm not saying that we don't need to teach new believers anything about the Bible or what it says, but we also need to share what God has done in our lives.
I encourage you to take that next step toward living your life the way that God wants us to live. And remember, your life may be someone else's first encounter with God.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
How Should We Pray?
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Did you know that this prayer is found both in Matthew and Luke, but not in Mark? The roots for this prayer, commonly known as the "Our Father", are based in Matthew 6:5-14 and Luke 11:1-13.
Our Father, (3962)
The Greek word for Father, in this instance, is patēr, meaning father or male ancestor. The fact that Jesus uses "Our Father" and not "My Father" is significant."Our" is inclusive,meaning that we are all included - God is Father to us all. If "my" had been used instead, it would exclude us from being one of God's children.
The word used for heaven in this is "ouranos". In some cases the word simply denotes the "sky." However, in this case it is referring to heaven as the dwelling place of God.
hallowed be thy name; (37, 3686)
Hallowed, in the research I have done, means sanctified, purified, set apart, and holy. There is no one more holy than God, and in this way, He is, indeed, set apart from all others. In the same way, the name of God is to be revered.
thy kingdom come; (932)
In this case, the Greek word for kingdom is "basileia." In praying for God's kingdom to come, we are asking for his reign, his royal power to come down to us.
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (1096, 2307)
This line is asking for something really big! It is asking for God's sovereign purpose happen here like it does in heaven. :D How awesome is that? Getting to experience God's design the way He intended it to be here within each of us.
Give us this day our daily bread; (740, 1325, 4594)
This form of daily (epiousios) occurs twice in the New Testament. Both times, it is in the Lord's Prayer. It is special because it means sufficient and necessary for the day.
The form of the word bread (artos) is also special because it suggests more than just food for physical nourishment. Its greater meaning is everything necessary for a full life. This includes being spiritually fed
and forgive us our trespasses (266,863, 3956, 3784, 3783, 3783)
This line is a prayer to God to cancel or let go of all of the great debt that we owe because of our sins. We cannot be saved through ourselves, only through God.
as we forgive those who trespass against us; (3956, 3781)
Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13
We are not just asking God to forgive us the same way that we forgive others, but we are asking Him to give us the ability to forgive others in a way that we are not able to do on our own.
and lead us not into temptation, (1533, 3986)
As we continue into this line, we are asking God to keep our focus on Him so that we don't wander away. We don't (usually) want to walk away from God, but Satan can and will use every lure in his book of tricks to lead us astray.
but deliver us from evil. (4190, 4506)
Here, we are asking God to rescue us from our sins, trials, and temptations. This is the redemptive part in dealing with temptation. We can't save ourselves from our sin, but God is able to restore and heal us.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours (932, 1411, 1391)
This is an interesting thing to look at as it uses three different terms in reference to the magnificence of God. In this case, the kingdom could be heaven, but it could also be God's authority to rule over us. The use of the term power is explaining God's strength and ability to rule. Glory is used to explain the exalted majesty that is only at a level which could be held by God.
now and for ever. (165)
One of the easiest and most difficult parts to understand, this line is explaining how God is before, after, and among time that has no beginning and no end.
Amen. (281)
A nearly universal word, amen is more than just the ending of a prayer. It is a statement of faith in and of itself. Meaning either "so be it" or "may it be fulfilled", it adds emphasis and response to the rest of the prayer.
Numbers given in parenthesis refer to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Definitions are from Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words and other sources used by greek-dictionary.net and blueletterbible.org .
This has taken several months of research, however, I would appreciate honest evaluation and correction.
Our Father, (3962)
The Greek word for Father, in this instance, is patēr, meaning father or male ancestor. The fact that Jesus uses "Our Father" and not "My Father" is significant."Our" is inclusive,meaning that we are all included - God is Father to us all. If "my" had been used instead, it would exclude us from being one of God's children.
The word used for heaven in this is "ouranos". In some cases the word simply denotes the "sky." However, in this case it is referring to heaven as the dwelling place of God.
hallowed be thy name; (37, 3686)
Hallowed, in the research I have done, means sanctified, purified, set apart, and holy. There is no one more holy than God, and in this way, He is, indeed, set apart from all others. In the same way, the name of God is to be revered.
thy kingdom come; (932)
In this case, the Greek word for kingdom is "basileia." In praying for God's kingdom to come, we are asking for his reign, his royal power to come down to us.
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (1096, 2307)
This line is asking for something really big! It is asking for God's sovereign purpose happen here like it does in heaven. :D How awesome is that? Getting to experience God's design the way He intended it to be here within each of us.
Give us this day our daily bread; (740, 1325, 4594)
This form of daily (epiousios) occurs twice in the New Testament. Both times, it is in the Lord's Prayer. It is special because it means sufficient and necessary for the day.
The form of the word bread (artos) is also special because it suggests more than just food for physical nourishment. Its greater meaning is everything necessary for a full life. This includes being spiritually fed
and forgive us our trespasses (266,863, 3956, 3784, 3783, 3783)
This line is a prayer to God to cancel or let go of all of the great debt that we owe because of our sins. We cannot be saved through ourselves, only through God.
as we forgive those who trespass against us; (3956, 3781)
Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13
We are not just asking God to forgive us the same way that we forgive others, but we are asking Him to give us the ability to forgive others in a way that we are not able to do on our own.
and lead us not into temptation, (1533, 3986)
As we continue into this line, we are asking God to keep our focus on Him so that we don't wander away. We don't (usually) want to walk away from God, but Satan can and will use every lure in his book of tricks to lead us astray.
but deliver us from evil. (4190, 4506)
Here, we are asking God to rescue us from our sins, trials, and temptations. This is the redemptive part in dealing with temptation. We can't save ourselves from our sin, but God is able to restore and heal us.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours (932, 1411, 1391)
This is an interesting thing to look at as it uses three different terms in reference to the magnificence of God. In this case, the kingdom could be heaven, but it could also be God's authority to rule over us. The use of the term power is explaining God's strength and ability to rule. Glory is used to explain the exalted majesty that is only at a level which could be held by God.
now and for ever. (165)
One of the easiest and most difficult parts to understand, this line is explaining how God is before, after, and among time that has no beginning and no end.
Amen. (281)
A nearly universal word, amen is more than just the ending of a prayer. It is a statement of faith in and of itself. Meaning either "so be it" or "may it be fulfilled", it adds emphasis and response to the rest of the prayer.
Numbers given in parenthesis refer to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Definitions are from Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words and other sources used by greek-dictionary.net and blueletterbible.org .
This has taken several months of research, however, I would appreciate honest evaluation and correction.
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