Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Vengeance is whose?
"The Psalms urge us to “seek peace, and pursue it” (34:14), an exhortation written by one who is teaching his family the fear of the Lord. The Psalms promise that “there is posterity for the peaceable” (37:37, NRSV; “there is a future for the man of peace,” NIV). Someone may retort that the imprecatory psalms strike a different note; the point is conceded: human emotions run high when people are provoked. But, strikingly, the imprecatory psalms call on God to take punitive action in accord with his promise/principle, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay”—a major plank in the shalom position (Deut 32:35). The Writings segment of the canon advocates a strategy of desisting from personal vengeance when provoked.”— Martens, War in the Bible and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century, pp. 36-37
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Shalom and monotheism
"The legacy of biblical monotheism is shalom, not violence.
“The intent of this essay is to sort out these two contradictory interpretations. I argue here that the cross along with the resurrection is the centerpiece of the Christian gospel, that its message is fundamentally reconciliation and peace, and that the method for achieving reconciliation and peace is absorbing the violence. Christians, followers of God’s way, share this message of reconciliation and peace and both advocate and practice nonviolence. Shalom is ultimately possible because of God’s intervention. An alternate title for this essay might be: “The Legacy of Biblical Monotheism: Shalom.”—Elmer Martens in War in the Bible and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century, page 33.
“The intent of this essay is to sort out these two contradictory interpretations. I argue here that the cross along with the resurrection is the centerpiece of the Christian gospel, that its message is fundamentally reconciliation and peace, and that the method for achieving reconciliation and peace is absorbing the violence. Christians, followers of God’s way, share this message of reconciliation and peace and both advocate and practice nonviolence. Shalom is ultimately possible because of God’s intervention. An alternate title for this essay might be: “The Legacy of Biblical Monotheism: Shalom.”—Elmer Martens in War in the Bible and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century, page 33.
Monday, June 30, 2008
111111 meme
OK, I've been tagged by Jim West and Nick Norelli for the BSC 111111 meme. I am not nearly as clever as those two, and have been struggling to come up with 5 imaginary posts by 5 bibliobloggers (per the instructions here), but am drawing a major blank. But, I don't want to hear Zwingli read to me by anyone—that would be worse than having Calvin read to me :)
First the rules:
a. Tag five Biblical studies bloggers.
b. Invent fictional posts that they might have written over the last month.
c. Link to this post.
Here are my lame attempts:
Charles Halton: "Why the University of Chicago is better than Hebrew Union College and why I wish I had gone there"
Kevin Edgecomb: "I just discovered that the filioque clause is right! Now what?"
Kevin Wilson: "Why I prefer the Anchor Bible Dictionary over the New Interpreter's Bible Dictionary"
Tyler Williams: "It's those 3 X's that are blocking it, really!"
Rick Brannan: "Greek accents don't really matter; one ALLA is as good as another!"
OK, I told you they were lame...now does anybody have a good idea for a July sale? That's what I should have been doing while I was straining my poor brain for this.
First the rules:
a. Tag five Biblical studies bloggers.
b. Invent fictional posts that they might have written over the last month.
c. Link to this post.
Here are my lame attempts:
Charles Halton: "Why the University of Chicago is better than Hebrew Union College and why I wish I had gone there"
Kevin Edgecomb: "I just discovered that the filioque clause is right! Now what?"
Kevin Wilson: "Why I prefer the Anchor Bible Dictionary over the New Interpreter's Bible Dictionary"
Tyler Williams: "It's those 3 X's that are blocking it, really!"
Rick Brannan: "Greek accents don't really matter; one ALLA is as good as another!"
OK, I told you they were lame...now does anybody have a good idea for a July sale? That's what I should have been doing while I was straining my poor brain for this.
God and war
More from War in the Bible and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century
“The evidence of Exodus 15 may be multiplied throughout the Bible; whenever war is associated with God’s activities, the majesty of God receives far more attention and praise than the war that he prosecutes.”—Hess, pages 31-32
“The evidence of Exodus 15 may be multiplied throughout the Bible; whenever war is associated with God’s activities, the majesty of God receives far more attention and praise than the war that he prosecutes.”—Hess, pages 31-32
Friday, June 27, 2008
War in the Bible
I have been reading War in the Bible and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century. I have some good excerpts marked from chapter one, but forgot to bring it with me on this trip, so they will have to wait until next week.
Meanwhile, here's a good quote from chapter 2, by Rick Hess (page 25):
<idle musing>
I am always amazed by how difficult this concept is for people to grasp. For some reason the secular/sacred dichotomy of modern/post-modern life gets projected backwards onto texts and history. Of course, I would argue that the dichotomy is a false one even today :)
</idle musing>
Meanwhile, here's a good quote from chapter 2, by Rick Hess (page 25):
...no ancient war was entirely secular. Despite the horror of battle, the ancient world understood all its wars to be sacred, if not holy. That is, war involved the powers of heaven as well as earth. Therefore, every war that was prosecuted by an ancient people, whether great or small, was dependent on the favor of the gods for its success. The case was no different in Israel.
<idle musing>
I am always amazed by how difficult this concept is for people to grasp. For some reason the secular/sacred dichotomy of modern/post-modern life gets projected backwards onto texts and history. Of course, I would argue that the dichotomy is a false one even today :)
</idle musing>
Bang! Bang! Another one bites the dust
OK, bad title, but I have to agree with Scot McKnight on this one. The Supreme Court might be legally right, but they are wrong.
<idle musing>
"As long as their is sin in the world, there will be violence." I just read that yesterday in a book. But, do we have to make the tools of violence so readily available? Does anyone really need an automatic weapon? That is hardly a hunting weapon—at least not unless you are hunting humans!
</idle musing>
The Supreme Court decision is a classic example of being legal and right but dead wrong, in my opinion of course. Like the priest and levite who chose to avoid touching what they thought was a dead corpse but, in avoiding contracting impurity, missed the whole point of the law — to love God and to love others.
<idle musing>
"As long as their is sin in the world, there will be violence." I just read that yesterday in a book. But, do we have to make the tools of violence so readily available? Does anyone really need an automatic weapon? That is hardly a hunting weapon—at least not unless you are hunting humans!
</idle musing>
lost post
I ran across this yesterday, it was supposed to have been posted a week ago Wednesday, which explains why there was no post that day :)
Again, from Absolute Surrender:
All the feebleness in the Church is owing to the refusal to obey its God.
And why is that so? I know your answer. You say: “We are too feeble and too helpless, and we try to obey, and we vow to obey, but somehow we fail.”
Ah, yes; you fail because you do not accept the strength of God. God alone can work out His will in you. You cannot work out God's will, but His Holy Spirit can; and until the Church, until believers grasp this, and cease trying by human effort to do God's will, and wait upon the Holy Spirit to come with His omnipotent and enabling power, the Church will never be what God wants her to be, and what God is willing to make of her.
Again, from Absolute Surrender:
All the feebleness in the Church is owing to the refusal to obey its God.
And why is that so? I know your answer. You say: “We are too feeble and too helpless, and we try to obey, and we vow to obey, but somehow we fail.”
Ah, yes; you fail because you do not accept the strength of God. God alone can work out His will in you. You cannot work out God's will, but His Holy Spirit can; and until the Church, until believers grasp this, and cease trying by human effort to do God's will, and wait upon the Holy Spirit to come with His omnipotent and enabling power, the Church will never be what God wants her to be, and what God is willing to make of her.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
ATLA morning
Here are a couple of pictures. This is not a fancy display; I didn't even bring our pull-up banner because United would have charged me $25.00 to check it.
Death or death?
From My Utmost for His Highest:
We have to recognize that sin is a fact of life, not just a shortcoming. Sin is blatant mutiny against God, and either sin or God must die in my life. The New Testament brings us right down to this one issue— if sin rules in me, God’s life in me will be killed; if God rules in me, sin in me will be killed. There is nothing more fundamental than that. The culmination of sin was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and what was true in the history of God on earth will also be true in your history and in mine— that is, sin will kill the life of God in us. We must mentally bring ourselves to terms with this fact of sin. It is the only explanation why Jesus Christ came to earth, and it is the explanation of the grief and sorrow of life.
Moonlit walks
<idle musing>
Because I am away from home, I can't take my daily walk with Debbie. We usually take a walk around midnight or so, covering about 2 miles while we talk, sing, and pray together. I really like those times and miss them when we don't walk. There is something special about the outdoors after midnight.
This time of year is especially nice. Monday night the moon was about 1/2 full and it was clear. The fireflies have started coming out now, and they were flashing all over the woods. It was almost like a Christmas display. Tuesday night the sky was mostly cloudy, but that made the moon all the more interesting as it would try to peek through the clouds. Sometimes it almost looked like a fire burning a hole through them.
</idle musing>
Because I am away from home, I can't take my daily walk with Debbie. We usually take a walk around midnight or so, covering about 2 miles while we talk, sing, and pray together. I really like those times and miss them when we don't walk. There is something special about the outdoors after midnight.
This time of year is especially nice. Monday night the moon was about 1/2 full and it was clear. The fireflies have started coming out now, and they were flashing all over the woods. It was almost like a Christmas display. Tuesday night the sky was mostly cloudy, but that made the moon all the more interesting as it would try to peek through the clouds. Sometimes it almost looked like a fire burning a hole through them.
</idle musing>
Thoughts on travel
Well, I finally arrived at the hotel tonight. I arrived at the airport in South Bend (Indiana) around 3:00. I got a ride from Debbie's parents, since the hood still hasn't arrived for our car yet—although it is supposed to arrive on Thursday. I went to check in and the auto check-in wouldn't let me. It said something about overbooked flight or missing connecting flight. Immediately visions of staying the night at the airport flash to my mind :(
Well, turns out that the weather—lots of thunderstorms—had backed up South Bend and Chicago. My flight to Ottawa from Chicago would be gone by the time I left South Bend. But, they put me on a later flight. Problem solved. The flight, which was supposed to leave at 4:08, ended up leaving at 5:30. When I got to O'Hare, the flight I was originally booked on was still in the gate, so I could have made it. Instead I sat in the airport for an extra 2 hours. No problem though, I just caught up on some blog reading.
The flight to Ottawa was pretty uneventful, but the guy next to me was reading a Dan Brown type novel. He glanced over at what I was reading—the Greek New Testament. He went back to his novel. Too bad! It could have gotten interesting :)
Because I had shipped books ahead of me, they sent me to customs. I sat there for a long time while they grilled some people in front of me. I was wondering what I would be in for when all of a sudden a new customs officer appears with two people in tow. Apparently they had tried to bring meat into the country without declaring it. From Iraq! Uh-oh! They're probably still there, or in jail.
When they got to me, the customs woman asked me why I was here, what I had shipped, why I had shipped it and then let me go. I offered to show her the book I had in my backpack: Ashkelon 1, but she wasn't interested. I told her I was proud of it and that it was just published. She reluctantly agreed to let me show it to her, but she didn't seem impressed by its 7 pounds of mass. Oh well.
One advantage of catching the later flight was that I ran into the guys from TBN and we shared a cab. Since it was around 11:00 at night, I didn't see much of the city, but it looks nice. Hopefully I can walk around some while I am here.
When I got to my room and opened my suitcase, I noticed that they had rummaged through it. I had a brand new bottle of contact lens solution in a side pouch. The unzipped the pouch and moved it. It was still sealed, or I bet I wouldn't have it anymore. They also took my toothpaste! I've never had that happen before. Oh will, it has been a long day with 8 hours in airports, so I think I will head for bed. The hotel has a workout room that I will use in the morning.
Well, turns out that the weather—lots of thunderstorms—had backed up South Bend and Chicago. My flight to Ottawa from Chicago would be gone by the time I left South Bend. But, they put me on a later flight. Problem solved. The flight, which was supposed to leave at 4:08, ended up leaving at 5:30. When I got to O'Hare, the flight I was originally booked on was still in the gate, so I could have made it. Instead I sat in the airport for an extra 2 hours. No problem though, I just caught up on some blog reading.
The flight to Ottawa was pretty uneventful, but the guy next to me was reading a Dan Brown type novel. He glanced over at what I was reading—the Greek New Testament. He went back to his novel. Too bad! It could have gotten interesting :)
Because I had shipped books ahead of me, they sent me to customs. I sat there for a long time while they grilled some people in front of me. I was wondering what I would be in for when all of a sudden a new customs officer appears with two people in tow. Apparently they had tried to bring meat into the country without declaring it. From Iraq! Uh-oh! They're probably still there, or in jail.
When they got to me, the customs woman asked me why I was here, what I had shipped, why I had shipped it and then let me go. I offered to show her the book I had in my backpack: Ashkelon 1, but she wasn't interested. I told her I was proud of it and that it was just published. She reluctantly agreed to let me show it to her, but she didn't seem impressed by its 7 pounds of mass. Oh well.
One advantage of catching the later flight was that I ran into the guys from TBN and we shared a cab. Since it was around 11:00 at night, I didn't see much of the city, but it looks nice. Hopefully I can walk around some while I am here.
When I got to my room and opened my suitcase, I noticed that they had rummaged through it. I had a brand new bottle of contact lens solution in a side pouch. The unzipped the pouch and moved it. It was still sealed, or I bet I wouldn't have it anymore. They also took my toothpaste! I've never had that happen before. Oh will, it has been a long day with 8 hours in airports, so I think I will head for bed. The hotel has a workout room that I will use in the morning.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Strawberries
It's that time of the year again. A bit later than normal this year because it has been so cold, but that worked out better for me with our wacky schedule this year. Saturday I picked about 40 pounds of strawberries—20 pounds for freezer jam and 20 pounds sliced and frozen. I wanted 50 pounds, but because it is toward the end of the season, the berries were smaller and it took longer than normal to pick.
We still don't have a car, and the patch is about 15 miles away, so Jon loaned me his car. I couldn't have fit that many strawberries onto the bike trailer without crushing them. I certainly didn't want strawberry juice :)
I got to the patch around 9:00 and had picked about 15 pounds when it got cloudy and windy and looked (and sounded) like it was going to rain. In fact, it did start to sprinkle and most people quit and went home. Not me. Instead I asked God to send the storm south of us and let me finish picking. Sure enough, that storm went south of us and I kept on picking. A bit later, when I had about 35 pounds, it started to look like rain again, but I kept on praying. When I hit 40 pounds, my back was starting to hurt and I decided to quit.
I was carrying the flats up to the stand to pay for them when it started to rain. By the time I had the fourth flat there, it was pouring rain. Next time, I will remember to ask God to keep the rain away until I have them paid for! Oh well, I didn't melt, nor did the strawberries.
The rest of the day was spent making jam, slicing strawberries and freezing them. We finished at about 11:00 PM. Long day, but it will be well worth it this winter when Debbie makes shortcake. But, right now I don't want to see another strawberry for a while...
We still don't have a car, and the patch is about 15 miles away, so Jon loaned me his car. I couldn't have fit that many strawberries onto the bike trailer without crushing them. I certainly didn't want strawberry juice :)
I got to the patch around 9:00 and had picked about 15 pounds when it got cloudy and windy and looked (and sounded) like it was going to rain. In fact, it did start to sprinkle and most people quit and went home. Not me. Instead I asked God to send the storm south of us and let me finish picking. Sure enough, that storm went south of us and I kept on picking. A bit later, when I had about 35 pounds, it started to look like rain again, but I kept on praying. When I hit 40 pounds, my back was starting to hurt and I decided to quit.
I was carrying the flats up to the stand to pay for them when it started to rain. By the time I had the fourth flat there, it was pouring rain. Next time, I will remember to ask God to keep the rain away until I have them paid for! Oh well, I didn't melt, nor did the strawberries.
The rest of the day was spent making jam, slicing strawberries and freezing them. We finished at about 11:00 PM. Long day, but it will be well worth it this winter when Debbie makes shortcake. But, right now I don't want to see another strawberry for a while...
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Eisenbrauns 10 day sale
1000 years ago this year the scribes finished copying the Leningrad codex. Eisenbrauns is celebrating the milestone with a sale on the facsimile edition and the smaller Dothan edition, both at 40% off.
Of course, you can't just run those two by themselves, so we threw in 8 other titles for you at savings from 40-50% off:
"Biblia Hebraica Leningradensia: Prepared according to the Vocalization, Accents, and Masora of Aaron ben Moses ben Asher in the Leningrad Codex with Adaptations to Halakhic Requirements"
by Aron Dothan
Hendrickson Publishers, 2001. Cloth. English.
ISBN: 1565630890
List Price: $49.95 Your Price: $29.97
"The Leningrad Codex: The Facsimile Edition"
Edited by David Noel Freedman, Astrid Beck, and James A. Sanders
Eerdmans, 1998. Cloth. English.
ISBN: 0802837867
List Price: $275.00 Your Price: $165.00
"Deuteronomy"
Edited by Carmel McCarthy
Biblia Hebraica Quinta - BHQ
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2007. Paper. Hebrew.
ISBN: 9781598561982
List Price: $99.00 Your Price: $59.40
"Ezra-Nehemiah: Biblia Hebraica Quinta"
Edited by David Marcus
Biblia Hebraica Quinta - BHQ 20
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2006. Paper. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052806
List Price: $98.00 Your Price: $58.80
"General Introduction and Megilloth: Biblia Hebraica Quinta"
Edited by Adrian Schenker, et al.
Biblia Hebraica Quinta - BHQ 18
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2004. Paper. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052784
List Price: $98.00 Your Price: $58.80
"Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: Large Format"
Edited by K. Elliger and W. Rudolph
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 1987. Cloth. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052180
List Price: $79.99 Your Price: $47.99
"Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: Paperback Edition"
Edited by K. Elliger and W. Rudolph
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2001. Paper. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052229
List Price: $34.99 Your Price: $19.94
"Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: Small format"
Edited by K. Elliger and W. Rudolph
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 1987. Cloth. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052199
List Price: $69.95 Your Price: $38.47
"Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon Old Testament: Study Edition, 2 Volume Set"
Edited by Ludwig Koehler and Walter Baumgartner
Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament - HALOT
Brill Academic Publishers, 2002. Cloth. English.
ISBN: 9004124454
List Price: $249.00 Your Price: $174.05
"The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon with an appendix containing the Biblical Aramaic: Coded with the numbering system from "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible""
by Francis Brown, et al.
Hendrickson Publishers, 1995. Cloth. English and Hebrew.
ISBN: 1565632060
List Price: $34.95 Your Price: $17.48
Of course, you can't just run those two by themselves, so we threw in 8 other titles for you at savings from 40-50% off:
"Biblia Hebraica Leningradensia: Prepared according to the Vocalization, Accents, and Masora of Aaron ben Moses ben Asher in the Leningrad Codex with Adaptations to Halakhic Requirements"
by Aron Dothan
Hendrickson Publishers, 2001. Cloth. English.
ISBN: 1565630890
List Price: $49.95 Your Price: $29.97
"The Leningrad Codex: The Facsimile Edition"
Edited by David Noel Freedman, Astrid Beck, and James A. Sanders
Eerdmans, 1998. Cloth. English.
ISBN: 0802837867
List Price: $275.00 Your Price: $165.00
"Deuteronomy"
Edited by Carmel McCarthy
Biblia Hebraica Quinta - BHQ
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2007. Paper. Hebrew.
ISBN: 9781598561982
List Price: $99.00 Your Price: $59.40
"Ezra-Nehemiah: Biblia Hebraica Quinta"
Edited by David Marcus
Biblia Hebraica Quinta - BHQ 20
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2006. Paper. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052806
List Price: $98.00 Your Price: $58.80
"General Introduction and Megilloth: Biblia Hebraica Quinta"
Edited by Adrian Schenker, et al.
Biblia Hebraica Quinta - BHQ 18
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2004. Paper. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052784
List Price: $98.00 Your Price: $58.80
"Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: Large Format"
Edited by K. Elliger and W. Rudolph
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 1987. Cloth. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052180
List Price: $79.99 Your Price: $47.99
"Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: Paperback Edition"
Edited by K. Elliger and W. Rudolph
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2001. Paper. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052229
List Price: $34.99 Your Price: $19.94
"Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: Small format"
Edited by K. Elliger and W. Rudolph
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 1987. Cloth. Hebrew.
ISBN: 3438052199
List Price: $69.95 Your Price: $38.47
"Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon Old Testament: Study Edition, 2 Volume Set"
Edited by Ludwig Koehler and Walter Baumgartner
Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament - HALOT
Brill Academic Publishers, 2002. Cloth. English.
ISBN: 9004124454
List Price: $249.00 Your Price: $174.05
"The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon with an appendix containing the Biblical Aramaic: Coded with the numbering system from "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible""
by Francis Brown, et al.
Hendrickson Publishers, 1995. Cloth. English and Hebrew.
ISBN: 1565632060
List Price: $34.95 Your Price: $17.48
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