Disbelief
Apr 12, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Belief
//ITUNES: All There Is from the album “The Empire Strikes First” by Bad Religion
OK, you Bible scholars out there have probably already thought of this, but I just got really struck by a passage of scripture.
I am studying for the Easter message right now, so I am reading all the resurrection accounts and thumbing through the various passages that expound on it. This one just struck me:
Matthew 27:62 The next day—on the first day of the Passover ceremonies—the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will be raised from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
Matthew 27:65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
The leading priest remembered that Jesus said he was going to rise from the dead.
The Pharisees remembered that Jesus said he was going to rise from the dead.
They reminded Pilate that Jesus said he was going to rise from the dead.
And where were the disciples? The faithful followers of Jesus? Hiding. Fearful. Disbelieving that he would rise again or not even remembering it.
And on this remnant he built his church.
Jesus has a pattern of using losers to accomplish his plans. Thank God.
Technorati Tags: christianity, easter, jesus, resurrection
Neverending Story V
Apr 11, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Hmmm
//ITUNES: Vicious World from the album “Want One” by Rufus Wainwright
From our friends at our sister church in Minneapolis (via The John Larroquette Project), enjoy this meaninglessness:
Technorati Tags: church
Boldness
Apr 11, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Thoughtful
//ITUNES: We Looked Like Giants from the album “Transatlanticism” by Death Cab For Cutie
Thanks to Dan for pointing out this article from Challies Dot Com: Boldness Is Our Birthright. Here’s an excerpt:
When I examined the evening and pieced it together with what McLaren has revealed of himself in his books I was led to conclude something that startled me. Brian McLaren loves the red letters of the Bible, but hates the black. The red letters so easily support the type of Christianity he is attempting to build and promote, but the black interfere. He can reconcile Jesus with his faith, but he is stopped short by Paul. Brian McLaren loves Jesus, but does he love God in the same way?
This postmodern faith, a faith that seeks to emulate Jesus but without the explanation and application taught by Paul and the other apostles, has no certainty, no boldness.
Without commentary on Brian McLaren, let me say how much this struck me.
I think that there is an inherent danger in being too much a “Pauline” Christian or a “Christine” (not the girl’s name…I just don’t know the right word!) Christian. I have heard so many people who pull all of their teaching / theology / etc from Paul’s letters or all of the teaching / theology / etc from “the red letters” or Jesus’ letters. In fact, recently I heard Tony Campolo talk on the Daily Show or Cobert Deport (I can’t remember which) about being a “red-letter Christian.”
The problem is the entire Bible is the Word of God! If you just take one part of it to live on, including Jesus’ words, you will be imbalanced. Before you accuse me of being a heretic, think about it! We call the Bible the Word of God all the time, but do we truly treat all of it as the Word of God? Are there favorite passages / themes / books / authors we elevate over the others? It’s dangerous.
Anyway, I was struck by that article. Thanks, Dan.
Technorati Tags: bible, brianmclaren, dailyshow, jesus, stephencobert, tonycampolo
Quote of the Day
Apr 11, 2006 Quotes
//MOOD:
//ITUNES: Me Wise Magic from the album “The Best Of Van Halen, Vol. I” by Van Halen
Thanks to Phil for this anonymous quote:
I thought my favorite body part was my brain… until I realized what was making me think that.
Catching Up
Apr 10, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Really relaxed
//ITUNES: Walk On By from the album “Prolonging The Magic” by Cake
I have been backlogging pictures on my phone for awhile now. I am finally getting around to deleting some of them. These are my favorites that I haven’t posted yet.
This first one was from a meeting I had recently at Gone Wired Cafe. We were hoping it would be a nice quiet place to talk and pray as a group. When we arrived, we discovered there was a larger population of High School students than normal. This was why they were there and why we were unable to talk and pray. It was cool, though.
This one requires no explanation:
I think I was the only one who found this sign funny:
Chuck Norris on Chuck Norris
Apr 10, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Good
//XM: Kids XM
OK, people keep sending this to me. So, to stop them, I am posting it to prove that I have seen it.
Technorati Tags: chucknorris
Emerjeans
Apr 10, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Laughing
//TIVO: Transformers Cybertron
Wow. This is hilarious. Thanks to Monday Morning Insight. Click for a larger version. You’re going to want to read the fine print.
Don’t Shoot the Puppy
Apr 10, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Amazed
//TiVO: Transformers Cybertron
This is amazing: Don’t Shoot the Puppy. Thanks to Marko.
Technorati Tags: shootpuppy
New Facility
Apr 9, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Swell
//ITUNES: Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
Check this out. It’s the first draft of the expansion to Riverview’s building. Click here for more pictures.
Technorati Tags: churchbuilding, riverview
Apparently, I’m Now a Game
Apr 9, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Divine
//ITUNES: Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
Check out the new Riverview Game. Not sure the caricatures look like us, but it’s fun nonetheless.
Here’s my high score:
