Christopher's Meanderings

Isaiah 2:1             A secondary superscription reintroduces us to the vision of Isaiah. These are words he saw in a vision which came to him (cf. Lam. 2:9; Ez.7:26). Put another way, these words are not just his own creation. The prophets were earlier called seers (1 Sam. 9:9) and this points us to one of the realities of prophecy.             As prophecy is a vision from God, the prophets make known a present reality to the people of God. The visions seen are not necessarily about the future but are instead about a contingent future following a failure to change in the present. The present is necessarily a part of the vision of the prophets. The vision is necessary because the people’s spiritual blindness has become so much a part of their lives that they can no longer see what they are doing. Prophets speak the truth as they imagine a new way of being ( I love much of...

My job requires me to work almost everyday of the week because of the type of work.   Today, I only had a few minutes of work, and I relished the small amount after how last week felt. On reflection, I was reminded how important a little bit of rest can be. Here's a quick reminder of why rest is important: 1. Rest allows us to focus. We can better do the things we need to do and stay on task when we take time to rest. Without rest, we can't learn and create new memories. 2. Rest gives us space to make the right decisions. When we are hurried and tired, we make poor decisions. Rest gives us the mental and spiritual space to make better and better informed decisions.   3. Rest is healthy. Sleep is an important part of rest, don't leave it out. It helps you have a healthier heart.   and It might help stave off things like Alzheimer's later in life. 4. Rest allows us to work better. Most of us want to be more productive at work. Productivity can be a k...

Isaiah 1:29-31             Recalling that the wicked would be broken into splinters, the prophet now brings the section and chapter to a close. The sacred trees are both literally and figuratively meant for the fire and destruction. No longer can the people turn to the created order to find their meaning. Vs. 29 (cf. 2:8, 57:5 Hosea 4:13): In some manuscripts verse 29 reads as “they will be ashamed of the sacred trees” other manuscripts replace “they” with “you.” The sense is the same. In cases where we see sin at work, it is important to remember we are all capable of the sin at hand in the text. If we come to the text and assume it cannot be also implicating us, we miss out on the possibility of conviction and repentance which is one over-reaching goal of the text. In any case, to cast the blame at either a “they” or “you” without seeing our own sin is willful ignorance. The sacred trees are signs of the fertility cu...

Children have ways of surprising us in their resiliency. This is not a new idea, but it is still profound. I have failed my sons in numerous ways, and yet they still come back to me seeking my love and approval. I continue trying to love them in my actions and words. My imperfections notwithstanding, they see my love for them and delight in it. After finishing their school work this afternoon, my boys found some medium sized carboard boxes and made spaceships. They were so proud. It’s one of the things I enjoy about Soren- even though he is ten he still has the joy of a young child. His smile was infectious as he showed me the Enterprise with its nacelles and proceeded to tell me about his adventures to seek out new life and new civilizations. His brother joined him with a box of his own, not caring whether his attempts at mimicking the show were accurate or not. Giggles ensued. Just a few minutes before, the two of them had been at each other’s throats with exasperation. Eac...

It is refreshing to read a meditative work born out of life experiences. Although written for Christians and non-Christians alike, Addison Hodges Hart's Taking Jesus at His Word  will appeal most to people who already believe in the message of Jesus.  Jesus is presented as a teacher, but also as Lord.  Every chapter reads easily.  This is not to say that Hart has softened the message of Jesus.  Rather, his writing style invites readers to sit and ponder the words of the Messiah. And yet we have much more than introspection.  There is also a call to action.  Some readers may be off-put by the pragmatic leanings of Hart.  From my perspective, this is one thing I agree wholeheartedly with the author about.  Orthopraxy in its proper context is always appropriate.  On the other hand, I do have my methodological concerns with the book.  Throughout, there is an implied approach to hermeneutics and exegesis with which I do not agree...