Read and Learn -- Codex Sinaiticus AVAILABLE!

Ok, so you can't literally get your hands on it; but would you really want to be responsible for what could happen if you did? I mean, really, the world's oldest extant Bible?

Instead, in a precedent shattering move the British Library, the National Library of Russia, St. Catherine's Monastery and Leipzig University Library have worked together to make all the extant pieces of the Codex Sinaiticus really available online. I tried to insert a picture, but evidently I need to work on that. It was HUGE. So, you will just have to click the link and go look at the real thing.

This isn't just some antisceptic rendering of the text online. This is digital photography that is more than just legible. Care has been taken to reproduce the actual appearance of the parchment and the ink. There is also an electronic transcription available of the text that is linked word-by-word to the digital images of the actual manuscript. There is a provision for a side-by-side English translation to display as well, but that is not yet available. There is oodles of information here about the manuscript, the reconstruction process, the editing process for the transcription -- enough to keep textual critic nuts (errrr, enthusiasts) busy for weeks.

I don't read Greek, and 8 years of Latin just doesn't do it here. If you read any Greek at all check it out. Use the zoom function. Look back into history over 1600 years. Let your inner geek come out and play. This is cool.

JusticeSeeker
JusticeSeekerOK@aol.com

Lectionary Ruminations: Scripture for Worship on July 12, 2009

Here are the passages for July 12th, 2009, the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B). All links are to the TNIV via BibleGateway.com, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead (either with your own Bible, or via the drop-down menu at BibleGateway.com).

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

• One of the down-sides to BibleGateway.com is that the site doesn't really know how to handle partial verses, such as that called for with verse 12b here. The letter "b" indicates that only a part of the verse is to be read as part of the lectionary. In this case, the reading starts with the second part of the verse, which begins "So David went to bring up the ark...."
  
• Other passages make reasonably clear that the ark was not something to be handled lightly or often. Why was it considered important enough to bring out on this occasion?
• Why does verse 13 go to the trouble of saying that the sacrifice was made after the people carrying the ark had gone "six steps"? What's significant about this fact?
• What's Michal's problem? Why does she "despise" David, presumably after seeing him dancing?
• Is there significance to the food items that David gives to each of the people at the end of this passage?
  

Psalm 24

Ephesians 1:3-14

• This lectionary reading is used this week every three years, but I find it especially intriguing that a "predestination" passage is used this particular weekend, as I expect that many churches will be celebrating John Calvin's 500th birthday (which will actually have been Friday, the 10th).
• This passage doesn't spend any time wondering about the fate of those not "predestined." Rather it assumes that those reading are. Is this significant? (I don't want to be misunderstood here. There are other passages that imply not everyone necessarily is. However, what might be significance of not worrying about that fact in this context?)
  

Mark 6:14-29

• On the heels of last week's passage, Mark gives us a flashback to the death of John the Baptist. Why does Mark put that story in this context?
• At the beginning of the passage, people wonder about who Jesus is. Much of this same formula is repeated in another context (both within Mark and in parallel passages). Is this repetition significant?
• I've always wondered, why is it that Herodias has a name so similar to Herod's? Is this an adopted name? Was she given it after marrying Herod (and therefore after leaving Herod's brother Philip)? Is this kind of thing common elsewhere in this culture?
• I am struck by the fact that Herod has his stepdaughter dancing for his dinner guests. How old is she? How appropriate is such an arrangement (even in Herod's context)? Why would a promise such as Herod makes after the dance be considered appropriate (if it was) in that context, let alone Herod's apparent obligation to fulfill the actual request made by the stepdaughter?
  

How To: Apologize

I apologize for missing my weekly Tuesday Personal Faith Experience post this week. (You'll note, though, that I back-dated this post just to make sure it showed up under Tuesday. I'm really writing this at 1:00 AM on Wednesday.)

So inspired, this post is about the act of apologizing.

I did a quick search on how to apologize, and was going to reference some of that material here. There's so much information, though, that I thought I'd just link to the Google search results instead.

With regard to my own views on apology, I've posted in the past that I used to have a hard time with prayers of confession. I think that my ego and fear of being something less than what I thought I was used to get in the way of confessing my short-comings. As if, confessing something out loud would somehow make me more guilty than I already knew I was. Strange perhaps.

Ironically, I am a very apologetic person in other contexts. It is a very important point of contention and position of power for many people, though. I'm not sure what other non-apologizers avoid apologies. Here are some ideas, though.

• Admitting you've made a mistake announces it to everyone, including those people that wouldn't have otherwise known you'd made a mistake.
• Admitting you've made a mistake is simply a sign of weakness.
• Admitting you've made a mistake emphasizes the mistake and makes it worse than it really is.
• Admitting you've make a mistake is an overt act of asking for forgiveness, when you may not think you deserve it.
• Admitting you've made a mistake is unnecessary because everyone already knows you've made a mistake.
• Admitting you've made a mistake opens up the opportunity in conversation for someone else to criticize or scold you for something you already know you did wrong.
• Admitting you've made a mistake represents a deeper deficiency in your whole self.

I'm sure there are others. As I think through those, one great thing about faith is acknowledgment that many of those things are true in the eyes of God and God is OK with them.

• We are imperfect.
• God does forgive us.
• God knows when we make mistakes, even if no one else does.
• God loves us, unconditionally.

Amen.

Founding Father

This Friday is the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth.

Our church is starting a special three week Sunday School series on Calvin, and I'd hoped to do a review of Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport: Making Connections in Today's World for this blog.

Sadly, I couldn't make that happen. But I can highly recommend the book (loaned to me a few years ago by a Dutch Calvinist turned PC(USA) friend) and share Amazon.com's Product Description: A friendly, conversational look at what Calvinism has to say to the 21st century world, this book clears up some misconceptions about Calvinism and shows Calvinists how to live gently and respectfully with Christians who disagree as well as with non-Christians who have no clue what TULIP means.

This is a book I could happily reread!

Happy Independence Day!

Lectionary Ruminations: Scripture for Worship on July 5, 2009

Here are the passages for July 5th, 2009, the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B). All links are to the TNIV via BibleGateway.com, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead (either with your own Bible, or via the drop-down menu at BibleGateway.com).

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

• I often find it interesting to note why the Bible provides certain details, but doesn't mention others. For example, we are told that David made a covenant with the elders of Israel, but we are not given any details. What might have been included in such a covenant?
• Why does the Bible spell out how many years David served as king? (It does this for nearly all kings. Is there anything particularly significant about these numbers?)
• Besides the details that the Bible itself provides, I'm also intrigued by when the Revised Common Lectionary skips over some verses, but makes sure to include others. Why does the lectionary skip over just enough to make sure we know that David moved into the fortress and named it after himself?
  

Psalm 48

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

• What's this about "the third heaven"? Is there more than one?
• Why does Paul repeat himself (almost word for word from verse two) in verse three?
• Scholars have wondered for centuries about Paul's "thorn in the flesh." What do you think he was struggling with? He says he pleaded "three times" that God would remove it. Why does Paul give us the number? Why only three times?
  
• "Delighting in weaknesses" is rather hard for us to do. How can Christians be helped in this, without encouraging them to sustain abuse? I've seen too many sermons encouraging (for example) wives to "submit" to abusive husbands not just out of "submit" passages, but out of concepts like the ones here, where Christians are encouraged to "delight" in hardships and persecutions.
  

Mark 6:1-13

• I can understand people asking questions about Jesus, in light of his miracles, but confess that I don't immediately understand the questions given here to be ones of "offense" apart from the Bible specifically telling us that they did, in fact, take offense at Jesus. Why should people who knew Jesus as hometown neighbors be so ready to take offense?
• Why "could" Jesus do no miracles there? How was he prevented? And how is it that Mark can make such a claim while simultaneously noting exceptions ("except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them")?
  
• What is the significance of the instructions that Jesus gives to his followers? How might we appropriate these instructions in our own attempts to follow Jesus, or are these instructions that don't apply to us in our time and context?
  

Read and Learn Thursday: Flags in The Chancel?

This Sunday many Presbyterian churches will observe the Independence Day holiday in some way in worship.

In my part of the country it is common to see the American flag displayed in the chancel along with the PCUSA flag or the Christian flag every Sunday. Some churches display the American flag on the Sunday closest to the holiday.

Does your church display the national flag every Sunday, for special occasions only, or never?

(I apologize for the late posting which was due to internet problems earlier in the day.)

Looking for Inspiration

I'm in search of a new daily devotion / inspiration and would like your help. Some options and criteria:

• Can be in text or podcast format; if podcast, I'll listen in the car during my commute; if text, I'll read at night.
  
• Something that takes 10-20 minutes to read/listen to and personally reflect on.
• Something that provides me inspiration on how to behave as a Christian in everyday circumstances. I like the idea of living every moment of every day in a Christian way. I continually fail to do so, but I believe it has to be an all-the-time proposition.
• Needs to be something that will help me connect theology, faith, and spirituality to everyday life. It should be "accessible" - that is, shouldn't require a D. Min. to understand the connection to daily life.
• I prefer something with a progressive bent, but doesn't have to be.
  

Recommendations?

Welcome Mat

We have a few interesting blogs to introduce today!

First is Inscribed in Stone: A selection of Christian speculative fiction and short stories, from the mind of Peter Stone. This is a brand-new blog, with only a couple of posts so far, but is a fun start.

Next is Providentially Speaking: Some random and occasional thoughts from a New Church Pastor in Florida. They're interesting thoughts; check him out.

Finally we have Mountain Tops and Monday Mornings: thoughts of a follower of Christ … a wife, mother and pastor. I highly recommend checking out this blog for an international perspective: "I am a Church of Scotland minister, working alongside the congregation of Banchory Ternan East Church, in the North East of Scotland."

Welcome, all! Thanks for joining the party.

Lectionary Devotion - Psalm 130 - Fearing God

Lectionary verse: Psalm 130:3,4 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

Some Christians have a lot of trouble with the Old Testament ideal of 'fearing' God. They believe that if God is so compassionate and caring, forgiving and merciful, why on earth would anyone need to be frightened of Him? It's a good point and one that deserves more exploring.

The word 'to fear' in Hebrew, 'yaray' actually means to revere, which means that we show a lot of respect, humility and courtesy to the person we revere. You'll remember that ministers are given the title "reverend," which means we are supposed to accord to them respect and courtesy, too.

But there's also a more serious aspect to 'fearing God.' The word that's used for 'forgiveness' in this psalm doesn't mean to acquit or show mercy, it actually means to spare a life, to spare someone from a terrible punishment. I guess that the nearest we have in meaning to it would be a Governor's last minute pardon for a Death Row inmate. In other words, God has the power over eternal life and everlasting punishment. He holds our immortal salvation in His hands.

Hhmmm....perhaps we should fear God after all?

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, You hold our salvation in Your hands, so we should never take it for granted. Help us to truly worship and adore You. To fully acknowledge Your Sovereignty over the Universe and Your everlasting authority over our lives, our spirits, our souls. May we sincerely revere You today and respect You forever. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He writes the devotional blog "Heaven's Highway."

Today's image is from John's Psalms drawing project. It is based on a verse from Psalm 82.

Thursday Read and Learn: Suggestions please!

Some of you already know that I write a column for Presbyterians Today called "Best of the Blogs". The purpose of the column is to highlight blogs, posts and blog discussions that are of particular interest to the readers of Presbyterians Today.

The biggest challenge in writing about blogs for a hard-copy magazine is that the deadline for each column is 3 months before the publication date. As you PresbyBloggers will appreciate, that is an eternity in the blogosphere.

I'd like to do a "reader's choice" column which would highlight your favorite blogs. Since so many blogs are abandoned within a few weeks of being created, I only include blogs that are more than 6 months old and that post at least a couple of times a week.

Please let me know which blogs you think should be included and why in the comments. The blogs don't have to be written by Presbyterians (but it helps!) but should cover topics of general interest to Presbyterians.