Daniel is one of the most remarkable books in the Bible. Divided between it’s powerful telling of history and it’s prophetic revelations it has likely been the most studied book of the Bible. Even so, it is not without its detractors. Liberal scholars claim it is a complete work of fiction. Early on the complained that King Belshazzar (whose story is told in chapter five) never existed. Then in 1854 British Consul G J Taylor proved them wrong by unearthing ancient scrolls referring to the King's son, Belshazzar. As embarrasing as this was, it wouldn’t keep them from attempting to diminish this important text.
The purpose of the book of Ezeiel is largely dependant on the author and date of writing. If, as some late liberal scholars attest, it was written very late (circa 200 BC) then the book itself falls apart as being completely unnecessary. The careful structure of the book itself, and its recording specific dates, only makes sense if it were written for the people of the exile. As a book of history alone, which is what it must be if the late date is considered, makes all the hope and consolation passages unnecessary and moot.
This marks the start of a prolonged series on the Gospel of Luke. As we’ve already examined the book of Acts, it seems reasonable that the first Gospel we study should be Luke as both share a common author. Ask anyone to compare the gospels and two facts will almost always be mentioned: (1) that John is the Gospel of Love, and (2) that Luke is the Historical Gospel. While it is true that John gives us a look into Jesus’ personal struggles and relates stories not contained in any other gospel account, it is not true that Luke is purely a historical account.
"Media" used to mean "print media" like books and newspapers, but the world has grown. Today media can also mean radio, television and movies delivered to personal computers, tablets and cell phones. As the world's best selling book of all time the Bible continues to make headlines, both good and bad, across all forms of media. Christians from Finland are arrested for evangelizing Muslims in Malaysia, a Muslim rapist is acquitted by the French court due to differing "cultural norms", The Freedom From Religion Foundation mock the birth of Jesus, and a small stone teaches Bible scholars a big lesson.
My good friend Leonard Cook (whom I am co-writing a book on Jonah with) once said, "As you read the stories of the Bible, if you don't recognize God as the hero you've missed the point." I thought then that he was on to something and it occurred to me that the same could be said about the events of life. Everyone experiences hard times and tragedy that bends but does not break us; God sees us through it. Likewise, we all have victories and moments of pure joy also because of God's grace and mercy...
This marks the start of a prolonged series on the Gospel of Luke. As we’ve already examined the book of Acts, it seems reasonable that the first Gospel we study should be Luke as both share a common author. Ask anyone to compare the gospels and two facts will almost always be mentioned: (1) that John is the Gospel of Love, and (2) that Luke is the Historical Gospel. While it is true that John gives us a look into Jesus’ personal struggles and relates stories not contained in any other gospel account, it is not true that Luke is purely a historical account.
Today begins the season of Advent, a four week celebration of the first coming of the Messiah. Christ-followers across the world celebrate with one eye on the past arrival of Jesus and the other on his second coming. In a way it is the Christian version of the Jewish holiday Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, which depicts the time when God will dwell with Men once more. These are days of anticipation.
Jeremiah served as a prophet for 40 years, warning the people of Israel about the coming judgment. He did his very best to guide the people toward repentance and acceptance of their discipline, but the people would not listen. Then the Babylonians came, and they brought fire, death and destruction with them. The author of Lamentations had a front row seat to the carnage — not only that which Nebuchadnezzar brought once he breached Jerusalem, but the misery and even cannibalism the citizens of that great city participated in during the previous months of siege. The events on both sides were heartbreaking.
"Media" used to mean "print media" like books and newspapers, but the world has grown. Today media can also mean radio, television and movies delivered to personal computers, tablets and cell phones. As the world's best selling book of all time the Bible continues to make headlines, both good and bad, across all forms of media. Politically liberal students bash Veggie Tales saying its racist and promotes white supremacy, the president of a political action committee attempts to become an expositor of Scripture, and Christian actor Chris Pratt reads the story of the First Christmas at Disneyland.
This marks the start of a prolonged series on the Gospel of Luke. As we’ve already examined the book of Acts, it seems reasonable that the first Gospel we study should be Luke as both share a common author. Ask anyone to compare the gospels and two facts will almost always be mentioned: (1) that John is the Gospel of Love, and (2) that Luke is the Historical Gospel. While it is true that John gives us a look into Jesus’ personal struggles and relates stories not contained in any other gospel account, it is not true that Luke is purely a historical account.
A single truth can have multiple applications. For example, when attempting to compute the area of a circle we use a limited value for pi (3.16...). While pi has only been a recognized value for the last 250 years, it appears the ancient Egyptians knew of it and used its value to help build the Great Pyramid at Giza whose vertical height has the same relationship to the perimeter of its base as a circle has to its circumference. The same is true of Biblical truths, and the one I'm thinking about directly applies to today's name of God study.
When we think of the creation event, we think of the big acts of creation like the stars, planets and animals. Rarely do we consider the miraculous of the minute, things like molecules and atoms and gravity, all working perfectly and in order with constancy and consistency. Like gravity's constant pull there is another reality that works just as powerfully, a force not of nature but of super-nature: God's glory. It is for this reason that the seraphim sing in Isaiah 6, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
