Welcome to Summer

Well, I guess it's that time again...time for the fires. As we walked out of our home this morning, we smelled the effects of the fire.

Here is a link from CNN a pic of the hills behind our church.

I believe that it is contained. It's very depressing, even though I know that fire brings new growth, it can also be very devastating.

Does this rock your world?

Christianity Today posted this article talking about stories in the Bible that Theologians are finding do not appear to "fit" into the early Biblical manuscripts. I have a feeling that this is freaking some people out. This particular article is on the story of the woman caught in adultery and the whole he who has not sinned, cast the first stone.

Does this rock your world or does everything in the Bible have to be historically accurate in the way we know history today coming from the mouth of Jesus...or is this story there to communicate more about Christ and his character? I think these kinds of situations are fascinating and create good dialog.

Pierre was able to take a class by (the quoted) Craig Evans last summer, in which we were able to discuss the concepts presented in this article. It does make one think though on how we use the Bible to drive home our points. Kudos to CT for bringing topics like this to the general populations attention.

What do you think?

Who Shot Mr. Burns, Part I

One of my all time favorite episodes of the Simpsons is Who Shot Mr. Burns, Part I. In the episode, Mr. Burns makes enemies with almost every major character. At the very end, he is shot behind city hall in the shadows by an unknown assailant. He stumbles back around the corner into view of the camera, clutching his chest as blood trickles down. Jimbo, one of the high-school stoners is standing there and exclaims, "Hey man, are you ok?" Mr. Burns faltering and gasping for air replies, "Not... gonna... dignify that... with response..." and then collapses.

That's become a favorite line of mine to mimic. It's a great comical response to obvious and unnecessary questions.

Here's what I'm thinking about. At some point years ago, I heard someone expound that when humans pray, God always answers. But of course, in our human experience, we don't always see the answer. To explain those instances when it appears God doesn't respond it was justified that sometimes God says "yes," sometimes God says "no," and sometimes God says "wait"... as in, apparently you still have a lesson to learn before God says yes or no.

Well, Kay and I were talking about prayer and the joke came up of God gasping out, "Not... gonna... dignify that... with response..." And the more I thought about it, the more I actually think it works. I've heard a lot of prayers in my life (and requests for prayers) that were obvious and unnecessary. Worse, I've heard a lot of prayers that were self-centered and superficial. I don't see reason to believe God would dignify them with response.

You could argue that I'm just negatively reimagining God answering no. "No answer is still a no answer." But what signifies an obvious no from God? Is it just that what you pray for doesn't happen? "Well, I didn't get it, so obviously God didn't want me to have it." Or, are you praying about something in which God won't intervene or have part? Would God have part of you living for yourself? Would God have part of something you do that hurts others, especially if it drives them away from a confidence in the Christ? I don't think God would. So maybe you could stretch it and say that you are receiving a divine no. Or maybe you're praying about something in which God won't have part... that he won't dignify with response.

What do you think?

P.S. Who Shot Mr. Burns, Part II is the sleuthing to uncover what actually happened and who it really was that shot him. (Part I is funnier)