Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Google faith

Do you have Google faith?
Sometimes I think we approach the Bible like a search engine. Like, "I need to find something to prove my opinions are right—right now." So we look for the right verse—something that will prove a point perfectly … but does it?

What’s the problem?
The Bible was not designed to be a search engine. It’s not built for juicy, newsy sound bytes. It’s a message. A story. Life’s instruction manual. A narrative about who God is, what His Kingdom is all about, and how He created and interacted with people throughout time.

Approaching the Bible like a search engine causes us to miss out on something key—context. If we pick the Scriptures we like without looking at context, we can miss out on their meaning or application to our lives.

The dangers of cherry-picking …
Sometimes it can even be dangerous … cherry-picking Scripture is what cults do, but I’ve also seen it done in mainstream Christianity.

  • It’s also dangerous because it can cause us to miss out on intended meaning.
  • By hand-picking verses, we can become Biblically illiterate or perpetuate Biblical illiteracy (particularly to new believers). How? We get people to say "Amen" (or "Amen" ourselves) to stuff that may not be correct in the context of the whole Bible—this means that people are putting more trust in our opinions as speakers/leaders than they are in the Bible itself.

So what’s the answer?
Obviously, pastors, Sunday school teachers and small group leaders are not all Biblical scholars. Nor do they have the time to always fully explain the context of every Scripture they use in a message. But I think Christian leaders can help people learn how to read and understand the Bible more effectively through our example and how we use verses ourselves.

How do I approach reading the Bible?
So here’s some things I've learned about reading the Bible (mostly from my days at Trinity Western). I’m definitely NOT an expert, but I think these questions have helped me (and may help others) to better understand the Bible and apply it to our own lives:

  • What does this verse/passage mean in and of itself?
  • How does it apply to me?
  • What comes directly before or after it? (For example, are there any, "If…then…" clauses?)
  • What’s the context of the particular book of the Bible? (Who is it written to? Who was the author—and what was his purpose?)
  • What’s the historical context? (For example, how did Jesus treat women compared to what was "normal" or expected during His time in history?)
  • What’s the relationship between this passage/verse and other things I’ve seen in Scripture? (For example, most Christians believe "God is love." but the Bible also shows that "God is just"—how do those two ideas interact together?)
  • (And if you want to get really in depth...) What do other reputable Biblical scholars have to say about this passage?

    Note: You can usually find out by reading a few Biblical commentaries ... but choose carefully--some can be outdated or in a weird context (e.g. some are anti-Semitic). A few of my TWU professors have written multiple commentaries that I would recommend ... Dr. Craig Evans or Dr. Martin Abegg.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Random Things I'm Thankful For

There are things in life many of us are grateful for ... God, our families, our friends, our jobs, a great church, a home, etc.

Then there are the random "little" things that we love. This post is a celebration of a few random things I'm thankful for (in no particular order). It's fun to think about and I'd definitely encourage you to make your own list:
  • A child's laughter - I don't have kids yet, but there's something really cool about hearing a child laugh--it's simply pure and contagious.

  • A cute dog who's happy to see me come home (yes, he really does smile).

  • Good drivers

  • Coffee breaks at Starbucks

  • "The Office"

  • Sunshine

  • A cute guy smiling at me - Because the dog is nice, but this is even better... :)

  • Peppermint gum

  • Disneyland

  • Will Ferrell - my favorite is probably the SNL cowbell skit...LOL every time.

  • "24" - Because no matter how hectic my life may be at times, I am not Jack Bauer trying to save the entire world from terrorists or nuclear attacks.

  • Actual letters or cards (instead of bills) in my mailbox - A few weeks ago I actually received a homemade card from a friend in Alaska with a really nice note--made my day.

  • Bootcut jeans - Because skinny jeans don't work for women with curves.

  • www.pandora.com - My own custom (free) radio station? So cool...

  • Blueprint magazine - I like a lot of mags, but this new one is awesome. Style, do-it-yourself cool, design, entertaining ... I love it.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Vulnerability

Vulernability has never been one of my favorite things. In my life, I'd much rather focus on strength ... but I think I'm learning that the two concepts may be intertwined. Let me explain ...

All relationships require some level of vulnerability. I'm not talking about the people who share sob stories to strangers in the grocery store or on the bus (that's a little extreme!).

What I mean is that you have to step out to talk to someone new. You make yourself vulnerable when you tell a joke, talk about God, share a goofy embarassing moment or discuss a political event. You're vulnerable when you share an original idea in a boardroom or at a small group meeting. You're vulnerable when you write something and share it with someone else (whether it's in a blog or a school assignment discussing your opinions).

But it's strange--that vulnerability can actually bring strength--either to you and your own personal growth or to a relationship. At the same time, vulnerability makes us ... well ... vulnerable. The more we put ourselves out there, the more we risk being criticized or let down.

But even with the risks, vulnerability is a necessary part of our lives--it's what bonds us together in real, genuine relationships. And relationshiops are key to who we are as people trying to fulfill lives of purpose and meaning.

When I think about tragic events, like the recent Virginia Tech massacre, one of the core lessons for our society is the importance of real, genuine friendships. The situation at Virginia Tech is a tragedy not only because of the innocent lives that were destroyed, but also because of one life--the life of one man--plagued by the destructive power of loneliness, depression and anger.

There is strength in the vulnerability friendship requires. Even though I still don't like the concept of vulnerability, I am grateful for the strength it has brought to friendships in my life.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Dave Barnes coming to Seattle!


One of my favorite musicians is coming to the Seattle area! If you like John Mayer-style (read: good guitar, lyrics and vocals), check out Dave Barnes. Mayer himself is a fan.
The concert is Sunday, April 29 @ 8:30 PM in Renton at New Life Church. For tickets, visit their Web site.
To learn more about Dave, check out his site here.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Quote of the Day

"Only with laughter can you win." - Rosie Thomas, musician

LOVE this quote--and in light of my post earlier today, I couldn't resist (the optimist in me cheers!).

The Critics' Corner


When I hear the phrase "The Critics' Corner", I think of the old guy who looks like Albert Einstein (complete with crazy mad scientist hair) who critiques movies for the Today show. I don't like to put myself in the same category as him ... but sometimes I find myself hanging out in "The Critics' Corner." Let me explain...

Everyday Editing: The Perks and Perils

I edit every day. Yes, it's part of my job as a writer and editor. But beyond that, I edit the words I say, the conversations I have (my sisters and close friends have been witness to the reenactments/self scripts), the clothes in my ever-expanding closet, the words I read in newspapers and magazines, the way other people act, the messages I hear at church ... you get the picture.

Editing has its perks--if I didn't edit my closet, for example, the Goodwill wouldn't have as many donations each year and I wouldn't be able to find my pink and brown heels with the flowers on top. If I didn't (sometimes) edit my own words, I could hurt someone's feelings or damage a relationship.

But there is definitely a downside to editing. By over-analyzing in the name of constructive criticism, am I stopping myself from just simply enjoying a moment, an idea, or an open and honest conversation? Am I missing the good in a message or a person (including myself here, too--most of us are probably tougher on ourselves than we are on others) through critique?

Questions to balance your inner critic and optimist

I think balance is key. Here are a few questions I'm working on to balance my inner critic with my inner optimist ... because let's face it: I don' t want to hang out in the corner with the mad scientist:
  • Is my critic constructive?: Can I do something practical to make XYZ situation/conversation/relationship better? Or am I just being critical over something I have no power to change?

  • Is my critic conquering a corner alone?: Am I missing out on something by holding to my own opinion (even though it might be right)?

  • Is my critic closed to new evidence?: First impressions can be deceiving--if the evidence changes to something positive, am I open enough to change my opinion? Am I unwilling to give people the benefit of the doubt? Am I choosing to ignore the other side of a situation? Are there things behind the scenes I may not be aware of?
  • Is my critic missing the big picture?: By focusing on minute details, is my critic missing the bigger picture of a person's heart or character, the truth behind a message (despite a flawed presenter), or a core goal, issue or accomplishment?

  • Is my critic a hypocrite?: Am I criticizing others without taking a hard look in the mirror first?

  • Is my optimist silent?: Sometimes I think society expects criticism, but we don't express optimism or encouragement enough. It's important that we allow the inner optimists in all of us to speak up.

  • Is my optimist blind?: Optimism (and criticism) can both blind us (like that old saying, "Love is blind..."). The best optimists believe in their ideas and go after them despite potential challenges--they don't ignore the challenges, but face them head on.

  • Is my optimist open to constructive criticism?: Sometimes the optimist in me can casually dismiss criticism (especially if the "source" is someone I don't usually agree with). Sometimes, it's important to dismiss unfair critiques ... but in a lot of criticism, there can be grains of truth that could help me better myself.