I have moved. I'm blogging here now.

http://continuingtothink.blogspot.com/

The Bible does NOT have ALL the answers...

Go ahead, call me a heretic and a heathen. I can take it, because I still think that statement is true. It just sort of hit me to think that through a bit yesterday at church. So many times I think we do non believers and even fellow Christians a disservice by pretending it does. Someone please give me a reference if I'm wrong, but I don't recall where it ever claims itself to be completely exhaustive on everything. Where did we ever start trying to promote that idea like that? John 21:25 explicitly says it doesn't even tell us all the things Jesus himself did. It doesn't give us details on the dinosaurs or many other mysteries of science. It doesn't specify the best type of government, and certainly doesn't endorse a specific party we should follow without question. (no lightning yet?). Anyway, before I digress way too far, what I'm trying to get at is the Bible alone is not all we need. I'm just saying if the Bible in and of itself had all the answers, anyone who read it cover to cover wouldn't need anything further. However, what the Bible really shows us is that Jesus is the answer. He is what we really need. The Holy Spirit, through the Bible points us to Him who provides us what we need when we depend on Him. And what He really wants (according to the Bible) is us to depend on Him.
I guess my point could come down to saying that just knowing in your head what you've read doesn't mean anything, unless you believe in your heart also.

I know I should probably save this one for a time when I could better articulate it, but if I did that, it would probably never get done, so instead you just have my apologies for the poor writing. -T

I am thankful for...

Since I know how things have been going lately, I probably won't get to this next week, so I'll list just a few things tonight.

1. my salvation
2. my family
3. clean water and plenty of it
4. being able to choose what my family wants to eat and not if they can eat
5. adoption, and the way it opened my eyes and heart
6. friends - 'virtual' and real
7. a good job at a good company
8. my education
9. so much more I don't have time to list...

Yes I am a Geek

In other totally and utterly unrelated news from the last post, I am deeply saddened tonight also by news that the Phoenix Lander on Mars has gone silent. I've followed this project for most of the mission on it's main site.
I'll miss checking in on it, but I'm sure their scientific analysis will continue for quite a while.

Sexual Orientation is not equal to race

Okay, here's one that's a little questionable to say out loud perhaps, but the more I see it, the more it bugs me. Governor Arnold is quoted in a CNN Story about protests over California's Proposition 8.

"It is unfortunate," Schwarzenegger said. "But it is not the end because I
think this will go back into the courts. ... It's the same as in the 1948
case when blacks and whites were not allowed to marry. This falls into the
same category."

He is not the only one to draw this comparison, but was the most recent I saw. There is no way this falls in the same category. Homosexuality is a choice. Race is not a choice. They are not the same. Maybe there are other arguments you could make, but this one is ridiculous...

Some more reflections about David

I had a couple more thoughts as we continued on in 1 Samuel last week in Sunday School. The first came about when our teacher was asking for words to describe David. One thing that popped in my head during the conversation was perhaps a different thought than I'd had before. I sometimes tend to think of David as a bit impulsive, however, in so many ways, he was actually very patient. He certainly made many mistakes, but so many times he also waited on God, in spite of his own desires. He waited to be king many years as best I can tell. He also wanted to build the temple, but wasn't allowed to by God. There are some others, but those in particular came to mind. Just a little different way of looking at someone I've heard about so much.

The second thought was related to David's anointing as king long before he would actually become king. I guess this is one instance where God actually did give a heads up on how the story would play out, which is what we (I) seem to want so much of the time. However, I don't know about you, but I'd have to say that in so many ways this is a great example that knowing too much of the plan too soon isn't always such a good thing. David seemed to have a lot of trouble with this info in hand, getting spears thrown at him, having to act like a madman, living in caves and all.

Ark or Lighthouse...

That was a title of a Discipleship Training lesson back when I was probably in junior high. I can't really remember much of the details of the lesson, but it was a question about what the church should be. I think it was a neat thing to question, and something I think about a lot these days even though I am not involved in any way in our church leadership. I think the essence of the debate, provided by great theologians of the past I'm sure, was whether the church should be an ark of sorts, keeping Christians safe from the floods of the world, (maybe (hopefully) inviting others inside to escape the floods), or more like a lighthouse, standing tall and shining a light out into the world for weary lost travelers to find their way. As with most issues worthy of any debate, a balance of both sides is probably best. 

However, whatever brought this to mind again quite a while ago when I jotted a thought down to explore this again, also let me think of a third option. Really, rather than ark or lighthouse, I'm not sure we shouldn't as churches be more like Coast Guard cutters out on the stormy seas, actively searching amongst the torrential rains and waves, for those souls struggling. I'm just wondering if both the ark and lighthouse approach might be a bit too passive for our Jesus who said to us 'Go'.