Thoughts drifting back and forth

Genesis 21-24 A few important parts in these chapters would be the attempted sacrifice of Isaac and acquiring his new wife. The attempted sacrifice of Isaac was to show devotion for God. To show that Abraham fears God. This fear took me a while to understand for when I think of fear, I think of cruelty, punishment, or capriciousness. But God’s fear, I gather, is more of respect and love, then punishment. This also is going to be addressed in Job’s story of devotion, where job knows Gods love so he doesn’t fall short. But what if Isaac was sacrificed? Moving on to the death of Sarah and the wedding of Rebekah. After the death of Sarah, a servant went into Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac. He decided to find the first lady at a watering whole that would let him drink from her jug and give some to his camels. This would mean that she is a sharing, caring kind of person. He found Rebekah and she decided to go with him back to Isaac. The think that strikes my curiosity is when someone blessed Rebekah and said to her “…and my your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them!” I’m not sure what he means by this. Maybe may she always live above those, who hate her, or maybe hoping her happiness away from hateful people? I’m not sure.

Piper 7-8 chapters 7 brings up a great point that is God is not weight the good over the bad. The hedonistic calculus is great when deciding to watch a movie late at night or go out to the bars, but God doesn’t do this when deciding how to judge us. This is a good reassurance when I see some people doing horrible things on purpose to just try to recompensate with petty good things. Maybe this could be better said that altruism is better than forced good. But I know I’m looking deeper into this than intended. The notion of giving one’s life for another is admirable and full of compassion, but to think that it was for everyone is great. The idea of Jesus dying to ransom of our sins is an odd thought. That our sins, from the original, were so bad that God would have to give his only son is an amazing thought.

Lewis 40-59 I’ve started to read these chapters but will have to read more in order to get a full and complete journal entry.

Genesis 12-20 the story of Sodom and Gomorrah was pretty much a review for me. One thing that I’ve never heard was how Abraham would give his wife to kings of near by towns and then after they married her, God would come to them. This seems dirty. It seems like a trick to get money, sheep, and servants from rich kings. Although God did say that anyone who blesses him would be blessed, but I think Abraham is getting what he wants way too easily. Another thing I noticed was the part about circumcising all the men in the household. I’m not sure why this was important except that God told Abraham to do it. Another thing is why God not just made Sarai fertile right away instead of letting Abraham take his wife’s servant. And lastly I’m not sure why God has made this covenant with Abraham. What is their connection and why allow him to do this wife swapping trick on kings. Maybe I need to read through this again to understand more.

Piper 5-6 both of these chapters dealt with God and Jesus’s love for us. Chapter five deals with the notion that we, as sinners, should deserve punishment and not a gift of his son as forgiveness. That we are not worthy of his grace, yet he gives us it with love. The frogs deserve it more, because of the lack of sin. Chapter six said that it was Christ’s love for us that he died on the cross. Also a Christian said that Jesus loved them and he showed it by sacrificing himself for us. Both chapters reminded us that we should be thankful for the love that is, was, given to us from the Lord and Jesus.

Lewis 28-39 What we do is not always what we are supposed to do. Conscious helps us find moral law, or right from wrong, through conscience is telling what feels good or bad. I liked the ketch 22 with if there were an absolute goodness he would hate what we do because the moral law tells us one thing and we do the other. The idea of Materialism vs. Spiritualism isn’t really a new concept but I’m not sure if I’m convinced that without God there could be no unselfishness or altruism. Moral law doesn’t need to sprout from a divine source, although this is kind of Lewis’s argument. The idea of Pantheists not having the distinction between good and evil is interesting. Let’s say God is like this and he is everywhere and he is a part of you, me, and the universe, then we would have to look into the bad parts to try and find the good. Christianity saying that God encourages us to do good and punishes evil is the standard idea. God being a painting and not the painter is a fascinating concept.

Genesis 4-11 first the story of Cane and Abel is another review. Cane killing Abel because he is jealous of Abel’s response from God is what I interpreted. Next was Noah’s story about the flood and his genealogy. The flood, again, was review but after reading it I’m not completely sure why God wanted to separate the clean animals from the dirty. Was this hygiene for sanitation or just to insure healthy animals to begin with? Another thing I have to try and understand is the idea of people living over 100 years. This seems outrageous when man lives to see his great great grandson being born over a period of 900 years. Also I liked that once God saw Noah’s conviction, he decided to remove the curse from man over the land and never to completely destroy everything again.

Lewis 16-27 Beginning where I left off last journal entry, I think that Lewis hit the nail on the head when he stating that misuses of words in language can demean or take away value from them. My mother used to tell me that this or that was very unchristian. I can understand why rhetoric, syntax, and semantics are crucial when understanding someone’s faith, culture, etc. These rules help define what we are talking about and I agree with Lewis. Getting farther into the first few chapters, Lewis discusses the idea of a natural law. I see this saw as being ethical or moral, but I also believe that Lewis is going to elaborate more to fit a more Christian tone. Also I agree that the law of nature is something that is inherent and not something learned. Form the start a child doesn’t know how to hate until he is taught; nature vs. nurture. Also the example of helping a man in danger is a good example. People want to be treated fairly, even if they don’t treat others fairly. The idea of a moral that this is ingrained in us, to try to be unselfish is an amazing idea for I believe that every person wishes to be good but circumstance gets in the way.

Piper 3-4 chapter 3 explained that obedience was obtained through the suffering of Jesus not thought trail and error of sin, but rather through great love and sacrifice through God. This makes me wonder, again, if someone can live without sin. Chapter 4 described that the resurrection of Jesus was not payment for his death but a reassurance of faith for everyone.

Genesis 1-3 The beginning of Genesis is a review for me. A few things that I have found interesting would be how Adam’s sin is pushed on Eve because it is seen as obedience to his wife. To the serpent God said to put enmity between man, wife, and child. God also said to curse the live stock and all beasts in the field. I’m not exactly sure what the serpent is supposed to represent or who he is exactly. For the woman, God made childbearing more painful and the husband will rule. For Adam he made him eat from the cursed ground he polluted. This is poetic and makes me think of we reap what he sow. This is all basic stuff but put into today’s PC standards, God just said that woman pretty much damned the man and man only suffered because he loved/respected his wife. I’m not sure how to look at this. One way would be like Pandora’s Box. Although people can make anything look sexist in any text, I’m gonna try to look past it to the moral and the truth.

Piper 1-2 I’ll start by saying that in my opinion Christianity is nothing but a guilt trip for something we have, haven’t, or will do. In the first chapter of Passion, Piper says that God doesn’t not just provide a substitute for his wrath but his propitiation of his son is really diverging the major blow from us to himself. This sounds righteous and good but at the same time leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I know I’m not picking up man’s dirty deed or I’m not understanding why Jesus had to be sacrificed in order to save the sins of the world. Could Jesus have died without sin? Does the whole trinity come to play here, where God doesn’t just sacrifice his son but really a human part of himself? Am I just talking out my rump? I’m not sure, but I’ll probably figure that out through reading more of these texts!

Lewis p-15 I’m not finished reading thought the preface but it talks about not offending any of the denominations. I will write more about his tomorrow.

Lewis 153-171 These chapters contain tough concepts for people to comprehend such as Jesus being a God, the trinity, and how God sees in a non-linear fashion. I’m pretty familiar with this concept but I thought, while reading the material, that Lewis’s metaphors can be a little hard to follow at times.

Bible Exodus 18-24 These chapter were interesting. First Jethro tells Moses to spread out the judgments between people so to no be overburden and to ask the Lord for rules. Then comes the famous Ten Commandments and some other laws I was not familiar with. These laws perked my interest. Laws such slaves laws, restitution laws, social justice, and Sabbath and festivals interested me because of the delicate matter of a God telling his people what to do. Examples of what I’m talking about could be 20:26, no steps to an alter, 21:7, female slaves pleasing her master as well is an eye for an eye if the mothers child is murdered before birth. Some other oddities I’ve noticed would be in the laws of social justice. 22:18 and 22:19 says that you shall not permit a sorceress to live and that whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death. These are strange things to be put in Social Justice. Well, maybe the bestiality isn’t as strange as the sorcocee. Another strange law out be not boiling a young goat in its mothers milk. This could be symbolic or for actual health reasons, I’m not sure. The rest of was pretty much review, but as you can see, it’s the little details that really interest me. I forgot to mention that when the angel was sent to them, God said that they should obey this angel because he will not forgive their transgression and that his name is in him. I’m not sure if this just means that the angel has his permission to punish or if it has a deeper meaning.

Exodus 11-17 3:14 God tells Moses “I am who I am”. What importance is this? There are many movies, books, and stories about the name of God, but is saying that I am who I am giving a name “I Am”, infinite, or just saying that I am the supreme being and that’s all you need to know. Or maybe it is that names are meaningless when you are God. Another thing I thought was weird was how the Lord hardened the Pharo’s heart. I’m not sure if God was making him denie freedom to the Israelites or what. I’ll have to look into this further. Moving on to this week’s journal entry. Most of Exodus is review for me mainly because I watched the Charlton Hesston film late at night when I couldn’t get to sleep. One thing new I noticed was at the very end of our assigned reading where the Israelites defeat Amalek. I think this came out of no where and I’m not sure if it should have more meaning or not. The power of the staff over the battle was interesting but I’m not sure why the battle even happened. Was Amalek part of the Eguipton army? Why blot out his name from memory?

Lewis 138-150 Faith is broken down in two parts. The first is belief. Like the example where Lewis was afraid of the anesthetic wearing away, many people worry about there being no heaven, God, or meaning in life. The second part dealt more with faith as an action than a belief. It seemed to me that what the second chapter was about was allowing the believer to understand that everything is not in his/her power and that at times it is only by the grace of God that one can overcome.

Piper 19-20 I think these were two of the best readings we had to do yet. I enjoyed reading the first section because the relevance of everyday suffering and death to the chapter, and God, is one of importance. This is because everyone has gone through depression, suffering, and pain. The second chapter is great because it addresses the idea of fads and it introduced the devil into play. I loved the current anology of tattoos being kewl at first but after thirty years being a indebile reminder of conformity. I think that even though the true meaning was a little deeper than not getting tattoos or piercing, it made a good point that some things look good now but are really just fads in society. Also this is the first reading in the course to introduce the devil and how he owns the earth. This is interesting.

Exodus 1-10 The beginning of Exodus is a great story and there were parts that I was not too familiar with. I never knew that Moses had a brother or that he wasn’t a great speaker. I also didn’t realize there were so many plagues. Altogether this was a review from films, stories, and books I’ve read, but it was nice to read it for myself. Some things struck my interest such as Moses saying the he was of uncircumcised lips. I think this just means that he’s not a very great speaker, but done in such an outdated way. Another thing that stuck out as odd was in 4:24 where Zipporah comes n out of nowhere and circumcises a boy and touches the cut foreskin to Moses’s head. A bridegroom of blood? This comes out of nowhere and leaves just was quickly.

Lewis 121-137 Through these pages, Lewis attempts to redefine pride, charity, and hope with Christian meaning. Pride, or the greatest sin, defined by Lewis is unlike the pride I use everyday. Lewis’s pride is of competition for the sake of feeling or being better than other people. I agree that this form of pride is truly a sin. Personal story, I had a friend that would relate his success in life to being better off than his father. He thought that if ended up richer or more successful that his father, he would be considered better or more of a man. I thought this was crazy and when I talked to him about it, he would repeat that this is what everyone strives to do in life to show that they have found success. I disagreed with him and told him that success in life wasn’t material but more spiritual. Of course he didn’t understand and I believe he still doesn’t get along with his father. Charity seems to be like the definition I’m used to but with Lewis it is more do what is right and you’re position on it will change. I can also agree with this because it is like doing something that you know is right but you don’t want to do. Sooner or later the dislike wares away and all that is left is a positive attitude; family functions or going to work. While reading these chapters i felt like altruism can never truly exist. That people can’t just do something good without getting something in return; a reward, good feeling. Also I think many people secretly do things just to be rewarded, and why they are not they feel cheated. This also brings hope into play because it is hope that keeps people doing what is right, for they trust that good will come to good people in the end.

Piper 17-18 I’m not sure If I agree with everything that is written in Pipers book. Chapter 18 says that sickness is a result of evil. What about SIDs, AIDs, and Cancer. What about holy people that died younger than expected. I think that the whole sickness/evil dichotomy is just an excuss or a vehicle for guilt and blame. But then again god works in mysterious ways.

Genesis 42-50 These ending pages of Genesis told the story of Joseph ruling under the phero and helping the land, and his family, survive the famine. Few things strike my interest. First is Joseph’s father being called Jacob and Israel? Secondly, even after Joseph brought this entire family to Egypt and blessed them with farm land, his brothers thought he would punish them for their cruelty earlier in Joe’s life. Joe just said it was God’s plan in order for others to live. This dought in people is a reoccurring theme in the Bible. Another thing that stuck me odd was Jacobs last words to his son’s at the end of Genesis. He scolded Reuben and praised Judah. I thought Reuben was the good son and Judah sold Joe into slavery. I could be wrong on this. Also I thought it was weird that Jacob blessed both oldest and his youngest grandson’s but I understand the thought since it was his baby boy that saved the country from parel.

Lewis In these chapter Lewis discusses Marriage in the Christian Church. His examination of Love and being in love I’ve agreed with for years. I think people like to be in love, almost if it were a drug, so much that when the addiction leaves, it is left with an emptiness that people seem to need to fill quickly. This sexual addiction is something I believe everyone feels from time to time. A sense of being more than lonely is sort of addiction I can imagine. I will have to start with forgiveness for my next journal.

Piper 13-14 chapter 13 deals with the idea of circumcision being a ritual in the Catholic Church that is not mandatory because Jesus’ suffering and death is enough to resolve our sins. This is something I though of was well because I think most rituals are done out of repetition rather than reflection and so forth. What was not clear in these reading was that whether or not Jews still circumcise out of ritual of sacrifice or the Law of Moses. Chapter 14 dealt with the God’s new and old covenant. The new covenant deals with Jesus’ death and how it is the new covenant because it was his blood of the covenant that “poured for many”. Jesus died so our sins cold be forgiven. What I have little knowledge over is the Law of Moses. This was introduced in the last chapter but I have little knowledge of it. Hopefully I read about it in the future reading of the bible.

Genesis 37-41 I wonder how much twenty shekels would be in dollars today. Any amount would not be enough to sell a family member into slavery. Was Reuben toring of cloths symbolic or just a sign of true anger/emotion? The two stories written here are excellent stories but I’m not sure exactly what the meanings are. Judah impregnating his late son’s wife, I believe is a cultural thing of the past. But why is it important that the father impregnate her? Was it because he promised her a child? I’m not sure. The truths probably lie in the journey and not the end. I mean with Er and Onan being wicked and not fulfilling his duties, god was angry. But again, I’m just speculating. Joseph’s story is also amazing and complex. Joseph being sold into slavery and then becoming the favorite of the phoero quite a journey. Was slavery and imprisonment foreseen by God and only done to save these people from famine? This ties into Gods great plan and shows sometimes we can not see what his plans lye for us in the future.

Lewis 94-103 www.m-w.com defines chastity as

Doing something on purpose to excite lust for oneself or others is offending against chastity. Lewis’s metaphor of food and sex is perfect because it does show how much attention people really give sex and the sex industry. Guys have videos, mags, posters, and go to strip shows just to fulfill this urge. The same urge is there with food, but no one hangs a big Mac poster on his wall with the same content that sprouts the same urges because that would be just weird. I also like the idea that sexual propaganda pushes us to think sexually more the usual. This is the same as how Fast Food companies are making the US fat by pushing ads saying that they’re healthy and cheap. People see how cheap they are and all the good campaigns around them, and decide to partake even though they know it’s not healthy. It’s also nice to hear that point at the end about malicious content is far greater than physical sins.