What is evil? Is the devil real? Is there a head bad guy?
Are there still evil spirits today like the ones Jesus "cast out"?
Is that what mental illness is? Then why does medication sometimes help? (Like for my depression.)
When did Jesus realize that he was going to be crucified? I find it hard to believe that he knew when he was 12. We that revealed to him in the dessert? Or was it a slower process that eventually showed him there was no other way?
How did all those people recognize him without tv? He must have been so inviting, so charismatic.
What classes do I need to get a el ed cert in Illinois?
Any ideas?
Monday, January 10, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
So one of my New Year's Resolutions is to spend more time in the Bible and to keep better track of that growth and our family. To not forget, I guess. So I'm going to try to do that here. Comment if you want, ignore it if you want, whatever. Trying to catch up feels hard, so I'm just going to start now.
I'm reading Conversations with Scripture: The Gospel of Mark by Borg. It is great. Scott and I have been looking at the Bible differently from how we have in the past. Looking at is a literature, as story. Trying to see the more, not just the facts or events, but what the writers mean. It makes me love the Bible more and eager to discover what I've missed. For example the author of Mark tells the disciples that they are blind, have eyes but cannot see. Then there is the story of Jesus restoring sight to a blind man. Then the journey to Jerusalem, and right before they get there, he heals blind Bartemeaus. Two example of Jesus helping the blind to see.
I was also struck today by how three times Jesus pulls the disciples aside and tells them what will happen in Jerusalem. Just like I would try to prepare my kids if something different or scary were about to happen. And in Mark at least, he says "son of Man" and speaks in 3rd person. Maybe because it was too scary even for him to say "this will happen to ME, I will die"? I don't know.
One other realization I had recently that I want to remember. I was listening to a Donald Miller lecture. He was talking about how physicists don't really know what light it. It doesn't have matter. It isn't made of particles. If you put it in a vacuum it will go on forever, so it transcends time. And we can't see it. We can only see what it reflects off of. And that God is like light. I'd heard "God is light" my whole life, but to think of God as I think of light is really helpful. I don't want to think of God as a person anymore. But as an energy through which I see everything, that I like. And I like the idea of God wanting to create something and picking light first, as if to say, this is what I'm like. Here's something that can show you a little bit of me.
And then when you look at all the light and dark imagery in the Bible, it is astounding. Moses had to wear a veil because of the shining light, Jesus glowed at the transfiguration, etc.
Let there be light...this is what I am like.
So my new way of seeing the parts of God...God is light, permeating everything and through which life is possible.
The Spirit is the energy of God, helping us physically feel his presence.
Jesus as the flesh of God. Proving that violence and death don't have the last word, and that when we live like him we can see (because of light) the kingdom of God on earth, and the Gospel, "The Kingdom of God is at hand," fulfilled.
So now boy updates:
Derek is talking a lot. It is so much fun. He'll say something that we don't understand. Paul will try to translate and say something completely random. He's such a good Big Brother. He has a solar system in his room that he got for Christmas. Last night he called me to his room because the shadow of the planets was making angry faces on the ceiling. Why are we automatically afraid? I don't want my kids to be afraid.
I don't want to be afraid. Teach me to not be afraid, and the difference between boldness and arrogance.
I'm reading Conversations with Scripture: The Gospel of Mark by Borg. It is great. Scott and I have been looking at the Bible differently from how we have in the past. Looking at is a literature, as story. Trying to see the more, not just the facts or events, but what the writers mean. It makes me love the Bible more and eager to discover what I've missed. For example the author of Mark tells the disciples that they are blind, have eyes but cannot see. Then there is the story of Jesus restoring sight to a blind man. Then the journey to Jerusalem, and right before they get there, he heals blind Bartemeaus. Two example of Jesus helping the blind to see.
I was also struck today by how three times Jesus pulls the disciples aside and tells them what will happen in Jerusalem. Just like I would try to prepare my kids if something different or scary were about to happen. And in Mark at least, he says "son of Man" and speaks in 3rd person. Maybe because it was too scary even for him to say "this will happen to ME, I will die"? I don't know.
One other realization I had recently that I want to remember. I was listening to a Donald Miller lecture. He was talking about how physicists don't really know what light it. It doesn't have matter. It isn't made of particles. If you put it in a vacuum it will go on forever, so it transcends time. And we can't see it. We can only see what it reflects off of. And that God is like light. I'd heard "God is light" my whole life, but to think of God as I think of light is really helpful. I don't want to think of God as a person anymore. But as an energy through which I see everything, that I like. And I like the idea of God wanting to create something and picking light first, as if to say, this is what I'm like. Here's something that can show you a little bit of me.
And then when you look at all the light and dark imagery in the Bible, it is astounding. Moses had to wear a veil because of the shining light, Jesus glowed at the transfiguration, etc.
Let there be light...this is what I am like.
So my new way of seeing the parts of God...God is light, permeating everything and through which life is possible.
The Spirit is the energy of God, helping us physically feel his presence.
Jesus as the flesh of God. Proving that violence and death don't have the last word, and that when we live like him we can see (because of light) the kingdom of God on earth, and the Gospel, "The Kingdom of God is at hand," fulfilled.
So now boy updates:
Derek is talking a lot. It is so much fun. He'll say something that we don't understand. Paul will try to translate and say something completely random. He's such a good Big Brother. He has a solar system in his room that he got for Christmas. Last night he called me to his room because the shadow of the planets was making angry faces on the ceiling. Why are we automatically afraid? I don't want my kids to be afraid.
I don't want to be afraid. Teach me to not be afraid, and the difference between boldness and arrogance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)