Today's Encouraging Word

This morning for our message, we were encouraged by the following words of Jesus:

So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 NET)

So don't worry about tomorrow...today has plenty of its own troubles.  Now that's a comforting word! ;-)

The Beauty of the Book of Job

Ah...the beauty of the poetics of Job at last have been discovered and boiled down to the following helpful equation (courtesy of Robert Polzin, Biblical Structuralism, Philadelphia: Fortress, 1977, p.75):   _{Fx(a) : Fy(b) ≅ Fx(b) : Fa - 1(y)} 

Aren't you overwhelmed by the clear structure of the theodicy of Job?  Does it not amaze you that the ancient writer could wrestle with the ultimate questions of justice and come to such mind-blowing formula? I figured someone else might enjoy this bit of literary humor besides myself.  At least this is not the normal for a "literary reading" (though I can't see any way around such in structuralism). :-)

Why Amos Is a Downer This Time of Year

Today I opened my blogreader to discover that Dan Thompson was discussing (tongue-in-cheek) why Amos is a real downer to read for advent season.  I personally think he's probably not much fun at parties either, so I wouldn't recommend inviting him to any this season...unless you like being told you are the first to be taken away as a prisoner-of-war because you were living the high-life.

 4 They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, and sprawl out on their couches. They eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the middle of the pen.
 5 They sing to the tune of stringed instruments; like David they invent musical instruments.
 6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, and pour the very best oils on themselves. Yet they are not concerned over the ruin of Joseph.
 7 Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile, and the religious banquets where they sprawl on couches will end. (Amos 6:4-7 NET)

 (As an aside, Dan is giving away a free copy of the CEB every week till Christmas for those who comment on his advent readings and link back to them...so if you want a chance at a CEB...)

The Best of the Best at W. W. of W.

So running the stats for the W.onderful W.orld of W.adholms blog its fascinating to see just which posts have received the most hits, which countries follow my posts the most closely and other such totally irrelevant data (but fun new year type stuff).  So here it is:

The top 4 posts from my readership of 2010 according to Blogger stats (as far as hits and not necessarily as far as what was posted in 2010):
#4 - The Church and Same Sex Attraction (always bound to be a winner with search engines ;-).
#3 - Ezekiel 37-Sticks and Bones (who doesn't like dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones).
#2 - 2 Kings 13-14:22-Grace and Peace for Israel and Judah? (the first of my blogging the Bible study series)
and.....
#1 - Maacah the "mother" of Abijah and Asa (now doesn't that sound like an exciting read :-).

I was fascinated to find that after the U.S. and Canada (#1 and 2 for readership) that Russia was ahead of the UK for reading this blog.  Apparently the Russkies like me (?) with a tight following for fifth between the Aussies and French (I'm cheering for my friends down-under).

If I was to actually name my favorite blog posts of 2010 they might be as follows (is there something inherently wrong with naming your own favorites???):

#4 -  Why I'm Done With the Christian Life
#3 -  10 Reasons I Shouldn't Embrace Jesus (But Still Do)
#2 -  Shadow and Light
#1 -  Ode to Artie (2010 has been a year of deaths of many that I've loved.  This ode was to my wife's grandfather early in the year before the many others who would follow him including his own beloved wife and my own grandmother just this last week...so I include this one as an ode to others as well whom I've loved and lost for now).

Confessions of a Book Fiend

This cartoon is courtesy of Incidental Comics

This comic is to all my bibliophile friends out there...you know who you are...because your READING a BLOG for goodness sake (which means you probably have scattered and/or stacked books around you as you read this...trying to justify your reasons for NOT fitting the overly realistic morbid caricature of this cartoon)!  Some illustrations are just a little too close to home!  I sure hope my wife doesn't read this blog post ;-).

A Fortune Worth Keeping

I took my family to a Chinese restaurant where we passed around the fortune cookies afterward in order to share the funny things written inside (sometimes you can barely even reconstruct the poorly written English, but it makes for lots of good laughs).  As usual we were all having fun sharing our fortunes with each other when my son Bryce suddenly said, "Hey Dad, mine sounds a lot like my memory verse from Sunday School last week."  He had my attention, but I was certain he was somehow misreading it so I had him read it aloud so we could all hear what it said: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  How do you like that?  I couldn't believe a word-for-word quote of the KJV of Hebrews 11:1.  Now that was a "fortune" worth keeping (although I do prefer translations more up to date ;-) ).

My Favorite Blogs

I just thought I'd take a moment to share some of my favorite blogs.  I read quite a few (some have quit blogging of late that I still follow...which is just as well, because it gives me less to follow) every day and just thought I'd pass my top six reads on to anyone interested...so here they are (in no particular order):

Euangelion by Mike Bird (and occassionally Joel Willitts) -- Mike offers lots of insight into Reformational theology and has authored a number of helpful books on theology over the last several years.

SAET (The Society for the Advancement of Ecclesial Theology) headed by Gerald Hiestand, but with a whole line-up of fellow bloggers.  Theology, now more than ever, needs to be from, for and within the Church...rather than simply the Academy.  Who wouldn't be excited about "Ecclesial Theology" afterall...am I right...or am I right???

Sunestauromai: Living the Crucified Life by Brian Fulthorp a fellow A/G pastor and missionary is a wonderful blog that deals with theological, ecclesiological and pastoral issues (among other things).  Plus, Brian's just fun to follow!

Cafe of the Book by Joel Banman offers thoughtful reflections on the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (need I say more :-) )...and promises a whole litany of posts in this vein as he works on a thesis in regard to Bonhoeffer's "Ethics".

Ancient Hebrew Poetry by John Hobbins is one of the finest blogs I've ever read on Old Testament literature.  He offers reflections on the Hebrew Bible that are second to none...if only he could find more time to return to blogging at the pace he once was at (but alas pastoring has taken him from us for now...Lord willing only for a time).

And I would be remiss to not mention the latest blog that I'm truly enjoying reading (is it nepotism or just narcissistic navel-gazing?) at I Heart Barth with my fellow theologues and bloggers Joel Banman, Marc Vandersluys and Jeff Wheeldon where we are already well on our way discussing theologians and their respective contributions to theology.

So happy blog-reading to anyone who happens to follow up on any of my recommendations...or not.

10 Reasons I Shouldn't Embrace Jesus (but still do)

1) Jesus is too Jewish.
2) Jesus doesn't play well with others.
3) Jesus loves people that I don't want to and believes they are worth my loving.
4) Jesus commands things I don't want to do.
5) Jesus never answers questions according to how they are asked.
6) Jesus seems to think (as a first century man in an obscure insignificant kingdom) that he lays claim to everything that is, ever was and ever will be.
7) Jesus believes that he alone is the way to God.
8) Jesus believes he has a peculiarly intimate relationship with God that the rest of us don't have.
9) Jesus believes he is returning to the earth some day to carry out judgment of the righteous and wicked.
10) Jesus makes me uncomfortable and unsettled.

(Please read the forgoing as recognizing both my sarcasm and also the difficulty of actually believing on one who so thoroughly challenges all my presuppositions and sensibilities. All that being said...the reason I actually embrace Jesus is only because he embraces me).