More on form criticism: follow-up to Story Keepers review
If you didn’t read my last post, I’d recommend reading it now – that will make this post more profitable.
Review of The Story Keepers
Tonight I watched volume 5 of Zondervan’s children’s series The Story Keepers. The two episodes “Betrayed” and “Nabbed by Nero” tell the story of a first-century Christian family (a baker, his wife, and four adopted children) who face Nero’s persecution and help other Christians do the same. Throughout the drama of Ben (the baker) and his family, stories from the Gospels are told (usually by Ben, and in these episodes, all from the crucifixion narrative). The “stories” are nearly always told in response to a crisis in the plot, and usually to allay some character’s fear by pointing out that Christ or the disciples faced a similar situation. While the “stories” are brief and frequently abridged, they keep to the biblical narrative without adding much. The urgency of passing the “stories” down from generation to generation is emphasized in the interaction between Ben and one of his adopted sons. It appears that one purpose of this series is to attempt to shed light on the process of passing down oral tradition.When You Can’t Find Answers
Job faced some trials in his life (to put it quite mildly) and those afflictions raised some very difficult questions for him. Using legal terminology repeatedly, Job demands a “court date” with God – he wants to be put on the divine docket. And in the end (Job 38-42), Job hears from the Lord. But he doesn’t hear the answers to his questions like we would expect…
Putting It All Together: Part Two
This final lesson in the Ecclesiastes series follows the flow of thought through the last six chapters of the book.
Spaces and Two Monitors
Ok, so I’m happy running Leopard on my MacBook – and I love Spaces! What fun it is to whip through several different desktops and avoid window-clutter! Not to mention the eye-candy coolness of watching your screen slide around! But I came across a dilemma the other day… I have a second monitor and I wanted to be able to use it with one software consistently, while I switched applications on my laptop screen – how can I manage that? Spaces pairs both monitors as a single space and switches them together. I, however, want to keep BibleWorks 7 visible (in VMWare Fusion) on my external display while I rotate through my word processor, blog editor, and web browser on my laptop. The solution? Easier than I thought…
Glory Dwelleth in Immanuel’s Land
Anne Cousin’s hymn “The Sands of Time Are Sinking” has long been a favorite of mine. The last verse has always beautifully pointed to the glorious Christ with whom I will share eternity:
Don Carson on Biblical Theology
I’ve benefited much from the teaching/writing ministry of Don Carson – from picking up his insightful book on I Cor. 12-14 for a research paper three years ago to listening to mp3 lectures recently. There are some great resources online where you can find scores of Carson’s lectures. Here are a few of my favorites:
in paradisum
I’ve enjoyed much of Dan Forrest’s music – he has a gift for wrapping the truth of God’s Word in wonderfully appropriate robes of sound! His work in paradisum for choir and wind band recently premiered at BJU’s Commencement Concert. I was (very unfortunately) unable to hear the concert live, but the recording I heard was amazing! You can [hear it on Dan's site(http://danforrest.com/music-catalog/in-paradisum/).
Putting It All Together: Part One
The last eight lessons have pulled out major themes of Ecclesiastes and examined them individually. This lesson goes through the first six chapters of the book, putting pieces together and unfolding the flow of thought. The next lesson (in two weeks) will do the same for the rest of the book.
Refreshing!
I opened Mail this afternoon and found the latest issue of In the Nick of Time – an essay by Dr. Kevin Bauder. I thoroughly enjoyed his Christians and Scholarship series, but today’s post was a real gem. Creative, clever and clear, it addresses a real issue in fundamental Christianity. I wonder, though, about the option that wasn’t listed at the end. I would ask, “Should they be ignored, allowed to fade away into oblivion as they starve for the attention that they previously received?” I’m not sure which one is best, but I wonder if a position of arguing against that position is truly profitable. From what I’ve read and seen, when it’s all boiled down, we’re dealing with a position that focuses on emotional reasoning and bypasses the facts that have been brought up again and again. I may be wrong, but arguing against “Pseudo-Authorities” seems to be an unproductive expense of energy, time and resources. Might we not be better served simply to go on drinking good water, thanking the Lord for it and letting alone those whose pride causes contention?