Context: Leviticus 19:19, Deuteronomy 22:9-11
So, cross-breeding is bad and mixing wool with linen is also bad. Given the wisdom we've seen with the other tidbits in the OT (how to deal with mold, viral transmission, ...) , why do we blatantly ignore this one? How many people even know about this? What is the reason behind these commands?
Is there some context I'm missing (as in the case of "everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial"...), or are our hybrid grapes, apples, mules, dogs a result of direct disobedience that is building up to some catastrophic end?
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Judges 6-8 - The Right Man for the Job
What was the draw to setting up gods?
Summary:
Israelites turn to baal
Midian wipes Israel out
Gideon is called by God
Gideon gets the job done (eliminating the threat)
He dies, Israel goes back to baals...
I like the way that God tends to pick people based on their incompetencies. It's quite a testament to his power when things pull through given that the person chosen was inadequate by typical standards. 300 men against 120,000+... you've got to appreciate those odds.
Is there something different going on when Satan tempted Jesus than when Gideon tested the Spirit of the Lord? I know that the intent was different, but I think it lends to a case that the phrase "do not tempt the Lord your God" is a perversion of "Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (Luke 4:12). I get the impression that the scripture means something more along the lines of "don't push the grey line" as in Deut 6:16.
Thoughts?
Summary:
Israelites turn to baal
Midian wipes Israel out
Gideon is called by God
Gideon gets the job done (eliminating the threat)
He dies, Israel goes back to baals...
I like the way that God tends to pick people based on their incompetencies. It's quite a testament to his power when things pull through given that the person chosen was inadequate by typical standards. 300 men against 120,000+... you've got to appreciate those odds.
Is there something different going on when Satan tempted Jesus than when Gideon tested the Spirit of the Lord? I know that the intent was different, but I think it lends to a case that the phrase "do not tempt the Lord your God" is a perversion of "Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (Luke 4:12). I get the impression that the scripture means something more along the lines of "don't push the grey line" as in Deut 6:16.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
1 Cor 9:25-27: Discipline
Discipline seems like a foreign topic. Moving from dance to technology was like changing worlds. In dance, you have to take care of your body, and devote a majority of your time to improving yourself, constantly keeping movement in the back of your mind, correcting your posture, working out muscle kinks before they can become an issue, changing positions before that slight discomfort becomes a stretched ligament or tense muscle...
People think I'm naturally gifted in movement, sports and computer science. All of the freedom and agility I now enjoy are a result of years of intense training. I'm still constantly trying new things and doing things that are just a little beyond my reach or patience to improve.
Paul speaks to two steps in these verses. Train to win. Apply your skills to win. I like the bit about it not being aimless. It seems that a well defined goal and a fair amount of discipline are essential to being effective. Perhaps that ever-delayed daily devotional or often shunned ministry opportunity are things that require a examples of a lack of discipline.
Thoughts?
People think I'm naturally gifted in movement, sports and computer science. All of the freedom and agility I now enjoy are a result of years of intense training. I'm still constantly trying new things and doing things that are just a little beyond my reach or patience to improve.
Paul speaks to two steps in these verses. Train to win. Apply your skills to win. I like the bit about it not being aimless. It seems that a well defined goal and a fair amount of discipline are essential to being effective. Perhaps that ever-delayed daily devotional or often shunned ministry opportunity are things that require a examples of a lack of discipline.
Thoughts?
1 Cor 9:7-14 - Get Some
vs 9, Don't keep the workhorse from enjoying the hope and results of its labor as it works.
For me, this touches on one of the issues I've had as an artist in the church. When I danced for various studios, I expected compensation for my efforts. When I danced, sang, played the drums and so on for the church, I always had issues with accepting compliments/gratification. For some reason, I had it in my head that it was wrong to accept gifts or payment for the services I provided. Even outside the church, I had a really difficult time accepting cash from someone I helped out with computer issues. This passage sort of sets my mind at ease because it sounds like he's saying not only is it acceptable to accept gratuities, those who devote the energy they would have otherwise spent in search of funds for food have the right to such payments. Granted, it's a right he wouldn't demand, nor would I, but it means that I don't have to feel bad about gifts.
Thoughts?
For me, this touches on one of the issues I've had as an artist in the church. When I danced for various studios, I expected compensation for my efforts. When I danced, sang, played the drums and so on for the church, I always had issues with accepting compliments/gratification. For some reason, I had it in my head that it was wrong to accept gifts or payment for the services I provided. Even outside the church, I had a really difficult time accepting cash from someone I helped out with computer issues. This passage sort of sets my mind at ease because it sounds like he's saying not only is it acceptable to accept gratuities, those who devote the energy they would have otherwise spent in search of funds for food have the right to such payments. Granted, it's a right he wouldn't demand, nor would I, but it means that I don't have to feel bad about gifts.
Thoughts?
Monday, August 27, 2007
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
In 1Cor6, we're told not only that we need to be wise enough to be capable of judgement, but that we should indeed judge to settle our disputes.
In 1Cor4, we're told not to judge anything til the appointed time.
In 1Cor4, we're told not to judge anything til the appointed time.
- What does Paul mean when he says that he may not be innocent, but that he has a clear conscience?
- Does 1Cor6 mean that, sheesh, if you have to have a judgement, do it yourselves as a last measure as in the way he says, if you can't avoid sexual immorality, get a wife?
- Is 1Cor6 speaking about the affairs of man vs 1Cor4's judging of the heart?
Monday, July 16, 2007
1 Corinthians 10:23
Am I taking this out of context, or does it really mean that everything is permissible? Regardless, with this mindset, it makes it a lot easier to witness to people without feeling on-edge because of their fornication or addiction problems.
What about 31-33? Can you see this applying to being a manic driver, taking advantage of many to shave that 3 minutes off your travel time? What other group situations can you apply this too?
*Updated: So, everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial appears to be specifically speaking towards meat consumption. At the time, a lot of the meat that was purchased at the Corinthian market had been previously sacrificed to idols, so the believers there were unsure of where the boundaries were.
What about 31-33? Can you see this applying to being a manic driver, taking advantage of many to shave that 3 minutes off your travel time? What other group situations can you apply this too?
*Updated: So, everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial appears to be specifically speaking towards meat consumption. At the time, a lot of the meat that was purchased at the Corinthian market had been previously sacrificed to idols, so the believers there were unsure of where the boundaries were.
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