Stopping to Think

  R. C. Sproul: A Life by Stephen J. Nichols My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sproul is a five-star subject, and this is a very thorough biography. Nichols' prose style doesn't live up to the subject of his writing, which was a little disappointing - but may also be an unfair standard. I listened to an audio version, which in a few places subbed out the narrator for original R.C. audio (most wonderfully, his final two sermons in the Appendix). View all my reviews

Throwback Thursday is a series of posts, wherein I will on (some) Thursdays post a piece of writing from back in the day. Generally not from this blog. I will edit lightly for readability, but my intention is to allow each piece to stand basically as written. Over the years my mind has shifted on many things, as my knowledge of life, the Scriptures, and myself has grown. I'm not in the business of hiding this fact, so these will probably (at least on occasion) contain some things which even I think are crazy. Originally Posted on Facebook as, "A few thoughts on God and us." November 12, 2009 at 2:24am Public Friends of Friends Friends Friends except Acquaintances Only Me Custom Good feed South Lake Youth Ministries See all lists... Le Mars, Iowa Area Plummer, Idaho Area Family US Postal Service Acquaintances Go Back So this is mostly just writing to myself...but honestly most of what I write is, I comprehend and process better if I have to put things into words....

In his book, "Til We Have Faces", C.S. Lewis uses one of the most captivating phrases I have ever come across: "The stench of holiness." I want to briefly explain why this phrase has been gnawing at me for over a year.  I grew up in church and I've owned a Bible since I was a very small child. I've read the Bible quite a bit over the last 18 or 19 years; even that intimidating section at the front which we refer to as the Torah (though I spend less time there than I ought). However, the problem one has when reading any part of the Bible, but especially parts discussing the sacrificial system of the Israelites and other nations, is that I am a 21st Century American. That is to say, there is a rather wide culture gap between my world and theirs. And what this phrase from Lewis did was awaken my senses to the reality of their world. How easy is it to read over and over about the blood of sacrifices being poured out on the altar, of cows and sheep and pige...

Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.” Background The book of Daniel in the Old Testament has some pretty incredible things in it. From the miraculous sparing of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, to the lion’s not eating Daniel when he was tossed in with them, to say that God displays his power in this book would be an understatement. In light of these “big” stories (along with other thing like Daniel’s vision of the 70 weeks) it cn be easy to skip over the opening pages of the book. But to do so would cause us to miss some important things. In chapter one we learn that Daniel, along with a number of other young Jewish men, are taken captive to learn the Chaldean language and customs for three years, and then to serve before the king. During their training they are given the same food and...