Genghis: Birth of an Empire
I just finished reading Conn Iggulden‘s novel Genghis: Birth of an Empire (titled Wolf of the Plains in the UK).
Jesus: Mathematician Extraordinaire
The mens group that I lead is reading The Prodigal God, and yesterday one of the guys made a startling discovery about the parable that I’d like to share. The parable can be found in Luke 15:1-3, 11-32.
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.” “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.” “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’” “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Let’s say the father’s inheritance was $900 total dollars (for the sake of even numbers).
When the younger brother asks for his share it would be $300 because the older brother would receive two portions ($600) as his birthright. When the father brings his younger son back into the family, it is like he was dead and now is alive. He would have received his rightful share of the remaining estate (all of which at that point belongs to the older brother). 1/3 of the remaining $600 is $200. All in all, the younger brother received $500. Whilst the older brother received only $400. It’s no wonder the older brother is furious, my first thought was anger as well. If my younger brother ended up with more than me…well, I’d be pretty pissed off as well. But the question that Tim Keller poses, and I must ask myself is this: Do I really love the Father, or am I simply interested in getting my “share” of the inheritance?
90 D.B.C.J.&D. – Day 4
I’m about halfway through Exodus now that it’s day 4 of my 90 Day Bible Challenge of Justice & Delight.
Something that struck me as I finished Genesis was the story of Joseph. It is really long. The story gores from chapter 37 through chapter 50. That’s a longer story than Adam & Eve, Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. If we ascribe the importance of a story to its length (i.e. The story of Moses is the longest in the book of Exodus) then it might be safe to say that the story of Joseph is the most important narrative in the book of Genesis. All that being said, I am also reading Tim Keller‘s book The Reason For God. And in his chapter on suffering and the problem of pain he mentions the story of Joseph as a keystone story of God allowing suffering for his greater purpose. “If God had not allowed Joseph’s years of suffering, he never would have been such a powerful agent for social justice and spiritual healing.” (24) If the longest story in Genesis is about Joseph. And if the story of Joseph is about suffering in the midst of God’s larger plan. Then is it reasonable to deduce that the writers wanted to tackle this issue that so many have with God, that is the problem of pain/suffering?
The Prodigal God
Tozer
“Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. They mourned for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night, in season and out, and when they had found Him the finding was all the sweeter for the long seeking.”
Fiction
I read the Bible every morning.
I try to read some sort of theology/leadership book (right not I’m reading The Cost of Discipleship).
I also am in the habit of reading fiction at night before I fall asleep (Emperor Series right now). I believe that reading fiction is an important discipline for any reader. It centers. It keeps me imagining. It lets me live in a different time/place. I can be taking things way too seriously, and fiction pulls be back into reality. I think it’s good for my soul. I think it helps my relationship with God because I have a different appreciation for narrative/story. Could it be that reading fiction is a spiritual discipline for me? So, here’s the question:
Are you reading fiction? Why or why not.
Is this a discipline that you would be willing to try? Could it even be a spiritual discipline?
The Year of Living Biblically
Thanks to my friend Kevin, I am in the middle of the book The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs.
I had heard about this book many months ago, and actually had it in my hopper of reading material, but just didn’t get around to reading it (as goes with many books).
This book is intriguing, interesting, and a true pleasure to read. Jacobs’ honest attempt to live one full calendar year while fulfilling all the Biblical laws is captured in a witty yet authentic journal.
I am planning on reading his other book, The Know-it-All, when I’m finished. It tells of Jacobs task of reading the entire Encyclopedia in one year.
This is an easy read, but a good one. A great perspective from someone outside the religious world wrestling honestly about religion and where it could fit in life.
Read it!
Library
I love to read. I have since I was a little kid.
I read the Bible first thing every morning.
Then I read something that has to do with church, theology, etc. during the day.
And I finish the day off with some fiction.
I find that fiction keeps me grounded. It inspires me to go places I haven’t been, and experience things I haven’t experienced. I can very easily get lost in fiction, and I like that.
In the past six months or so I’ve been visiting the Arapahoe Library District on a weekly basis to check out fiction books (I don’t buy fiction because I’ll probably only read them one time).
Especially in our lame economy, it makes sense to go to the library and check out books. I’d encourage everyone to do it.
Well, I’m off to the library.
Lonesome Dove
I recently watched the entire Lonesome Dove miniseries in one shot with my in laws.
That’s right, all 6+ hours in one sitting (bathroom breaks allowed).
This all spawned from me reading the original novel by Larry McMurtry and wanting to see the film I had heard so much about.
I guess I got a little obsessive, because after finishing Lonesome Dove I read the sequel, Streets of Laredo, and the the two prequels, Dead Man’s Walk & Comanche Moon.
If you enjoy tales from the American old west, these are a must read. In fact, if you like reading fiction at all, these are a must read. I would suggest them. A word of caution, they are addicting books (or maybe I have an addictive personality), but give them a shot.
