fides quaerens intellectum
Mar 17 2010
Witherington’s latest work is an 800 page masterpiece. In order to help me keep track of my thoughts on this book, and in part to showcase more of the book than a review, I am posting ‘reflections’ on each chapter.
Continue reading “Reflection – The Indelible Image, The Kinsmen and Their Redeemer”
Mar 12 2010
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From Amazon:
The Life Recovery Bible is today’s #1-selling recovery Bible and is based on the 12-step recovery model. It was created by two of today’s leading recovery experts, David Stoop, Ph.D., and Stephen Arterburn, M.Ed., to lead readers to the source of true healing–God himself.
Features:
- New Living Translation
- Recovery Notes–Placed throughout the Bible text, these notes pinpoint passages and thoughts important to recovery
- Twelve Step Devotionals–A reading chain of 84 Bible-based devotionals tied to the Twelve Steps of recovery and placed throughout the Bible text
- Serenity Prayer Devotionals–Based on the Serenity Prayer, these devotionals provide an excellent More than 50 Bible-based devotionals create an excellent guide to recovery
- Recovery Profiles–Key Bible characters are profiled and important recovery lessons are drawn from their lives
- Recovery Reflections–Topically arranged recovery reflections pinpoint specific Scripture passages at the end of most Bible books
- Recovery Themes–Prominent recovery themes are discussed at the openings of various Bible books
- Other Features: Outlines, book histories, topical index, devotional index, book introductions, user’s guide, and a new 12-step comparison chart
You can see more post in this series here.
Mar 04 2010
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From Amazon:
The Voice™ is the product of the best minds in this emerging generation of Christian leaders. Together they are helping young people fall in love with the Scriptures. Instead of confining God’s Word in the framework of biblical criticism, The Voice™ highlights the beauty of God’s communication to His people. In The Voice™, the voice of God is heard as clearly as when He first revealed His truth. This is the first-ever complete New Testament in The Voice™ translation. Writers include Chris Seay, Lauren Winner, Brian McLaren, Greg Garrett, David B. Capes, and others.
Features include:
- Bronze, highlighted text
- Screenplay-like format, ideal for public readings and group studies
- Devotional commentary
- Book introductions
You can find my others posts on The Voice here.
Mar 03 2010
Witherington’s latest work is an 800 page masterpiece. In order to help me keep track of my thoughts on this book, and in part to showcase more of the book than a review, I am posting ‘reflections’ on each chapter.
Continue reading “Reflection: The Indelible Image – Paul The Paradigm Setter”
Feb 24 2010
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As part of the reflection series, I wanted to share with you a few of the added material, letting it stand on its own. Remember, part of the purpose of this bible is to connect the goals of recovery with Scripture, or perhaps Scripture with the goals of recovery.
They are just random excepts:
Ezekiel 16.59-63:
Even though Israel had failed God and punishment was certain, God’s promises of blessing would still be fulfilled in the end. The judgment Israel would suffer was part of the recovery. The same is true for us. As we face the consequences of our failures, we should not blame God. We must face the truth that we have failed God and others. but no matter how great out sins, we can hope for future restoration. If we listen and respond humbly to our sufferings, God will use them in our recovery process. God will never fail us if we admit our sins and seek to follow his will for our life.
Continue reading “Reflection: NLT Life Recovery Bible – Say What?”
Feb 23 2010
Warning, you might not like this post.
Continue reading “Reflection: NLT Life Recovery Bible – Brutal Intimacy”
Feb 22 2010
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I wanted to spend some time this week introducing you to the Life Recovery Bible from Tyndale House Publishers.
First, let me say that I am generally, if not always, against ‘niche’ bibles. They are marketing tools designed to appeal only to the sight and never to the mind of the believer, new or old. I was a bit apprehensive of this bible, because, frankly, I thought that it might be a niche schemed bible, but after some time reading the added material, I have to say that it is little, or a lot, more than the bibles some hand out with highlighted passages and hand written notes in the front cover.
The translation is the New Living Translation, which I believe to be a fine translation for everyday reading, and serves well as an introduction to bible reading by those who may not be use to it.
Feb 22 2010
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I want to thank Energion Publications for this review copy.
From the outset, several things are apparent. First, Dr. Robert C. McKibben is not writing to the hardened theologian, the pentecostal, or those with a balanced view of the work of the Spirit of God in the Church. Instead, he is writing a pastoral letter to those who he feels are abusing, or perhaps, not using properly, the gift of the Spirit.
First, the drawbacks. This is not a book written towards theologians, but one to be made use of the lay people. Because of this, I believe that those trying to find support for one position on the issue or another may not make use of this book. Simply put, I do not agree with several of his positions, as he takes the standard Billy Graham position on sanctification.
Feb 19 2010
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Do you know someone with a fair amount of issues to deal with? Say, like alcoholism, or indeed, other addictions? What is the standard answer? They need God.
You know, I agree with you. But, as a friend of mine reminds me, prayer is great and wonderful but it needs action on our part. Yes, everyone, you and me included, need God, but equally so, you and me, friends, are the hands of God to this fallen world. Often times, you and I, my brother and sister, are the only images of Christ which fallen humanity will see.
The 12-Step and the 8-Step recovery programs are fine, I imagine, but reading them, I have found that while they tell the person to call upon a higher power in which to help themselves, they don’t provide solid Christian teaching. Now, some might object and say that they don’t need solid Christian teaching, and that’s fine, I reckon, but considering that my worldview is as it is, I believe that they do. But more than that, they need Christian compassion and Christian realism. Those trapped in addiction need help, not just being told to call upon a higher power, but introduced to The Higher Power and given help which, whether or not you know it, we were given in our addiction to the flesh.
Courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers, I will be reviewing the Life Recovery Bible. I will not review the translation, because if you read my blog for any amount of time you will soon know that I use and recommend the New Living Translation; however, I can examine the devotional parts. I intended to spend the next week doing so.
Warning: I don’t like ‘niche’ bibles. I find that ‘niche’ bibles often doing little to advance the cause of Christ. I will tell you, however, that after spending a few weeks with this bible, I was startled at the sometimes brutal honesty of some of the commentary, some of which made me blush.
I want to recommend it now, so if you get a chance, get it and give it, but I will spend next week highlighting some of the interesting material found therein, and finish with a review sometime after that.
Sometimes, we need to be reminded that not everyone who is mentioned in the bible was perfect and sometimes, well, remember Abraham? David? Peter? The Book of Judges?
Feb 18 2010
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One of the first things I look for in a bible translation is their presentation of the deity of Christ. What first attracted me to the New Living Translation was the 1996 translation of Philippians 2 -
Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:5-11)
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