The Last March of the Ents / Doom Comes Seeking

Posted on 9 November, 2012 by Jon Gleason

Of course, it is likely enough, my friends, likely enough that we are going to our doom:  the last march of the Ents.  But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. 
-Treebeard the Ent, speaking of the road to Isengard

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Paul, speaking of the day of the Lord, I Thessalonians 5:4

Second “Ent” post: The Last March of the Ents / Using the Time We Have
Third “Ent” post: The Last March of the Ents / For Remembrance Sunday
Final “Ent” post: The Last March of the Ents — To Give a Life, to Gain by Losing

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Bible Translation — the “Only One Way to Translate” Fallacy

Posted on 8 November, 2012 by Jon Gleason

“That Book in Your Hand”

Translations chaos (“anything goes” on Bible translations) does a lot of harm.  Differing translations can cause confusion, arguments, divisions, etc.  Confusion over translations can greatly hinder things being “done decently and in order,” and sometimes even tempt people to doubt the Bible’s authority.

As we saw last week, “double inspiration” is not a Biblical solution to translations chaos — but neither is chaos solved by teaching there is only one way to translate a word or verse.  Scripture itself shows it is possible for there to be more than one way to appropriately translate a verse.

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Rape, Abortion, and Justice

Posted on 7 November, 2012 by Jon Gleason

Two politicians, earlier expected to win, lost yesterday.  Both opposed unrestricted abortion.  Both were doomed by ill-judged statements on abortion and rape victims.  One was indefensible.  The other was unwise and unclear, and an unethical opponent and press twisted the comment into something evil.

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Quick! Talk About Something Different!

Posted on 6 November, 2012 by Jon Gleason

It is interesting how quickly people like to change the subject to someone else’s wrongdoing when they get caught out.  Recently, our esteemed BBC got caught out.  Twice, actually.

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The Sheep of His Hand Hear His Voice

Posted on 5 November, 2012 by Jon Gleason

From a brief discussion in family devotions this morning.  First, the sheep of His hand:

Psalm 95:3-7a

3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

John 10:27-29

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Second, hearing His voice:

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Psalm 95:7b-8

7b To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

In John 10, our Lord’s reference to sheep in His hand would be striking for those who knew Psalm 95 and sang it regularly.  In that context, to speak of His sheep hearing His voice paralleled the psalm’s exhortation to hear the voice of the Lord.  But if anyone missed the implication of verse 27, He went on:

John 10:30

I and my Father are one.

 

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Thought After a Robbery

Posted on 3 November, 2012 by Jon Gleason

What abundance of evil this love of money is the root of, that four men should venture their lives and souls for about half a crown a piece.
– Matthew Henry

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money).
– Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Saviour (Matthew 6:24)

Edit:  clarification — we weren’t robbed, sorry for the confusion.  I was just struck by his response when he had been robbed, and how love of money can twist people, that they risk so much for so little.

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Joyful Thanks

Posted on 2 November, 2012 by Jon Gleason

Some people always sigh in thanking God.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Psalm 92:1-4

1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

 

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