Change:

Something To Think About God-directed Change:

I’m finishing up a semester of teaching God’s word to some sharp young people in another part of the world.  You can syllabize, student-learning-outcome-ate, give out grades and award college credit, but that isn’t really what it is about.  The word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than the two-edged sword the Roman legions used to conquer the world.  It gets down inside us.  You can’t hide from it.  (Hebrews 4:12)  God’s word will not fail to accomplish what He desires.  It will “succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11, ESV).  Though I believe God wants my students to pass, that is not the bottom-line.  God intends His word to change us.  It is His desire for this word to penetrate the defenses that we put up.  We ought to yield to it.  God intends that His word change us.  If I go to the Word of God and come away the same, God’s word has not failed; I have failed to yield, obey, or submit to the discipline of the word. The Book of 1 Thessalonians is biographical sketch of a group of people changed by the truth of the Bible.  They “turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven” (1 Th 1:9–10).  The Apostle Paul’s time in Thessalonica was brief, but he was convinced it wasn’t in vain (2:1).  The Thessalonian believers received the word Paul and his companions shared as it truly was, the Word of God (2:13).  The progress they had made gave the Apostle hope that they would continue to build upon what they had already begun (3:12, 4:2, 4:10, & 2 Thess 1:3).  Paul’s series of one-liners with which he finished the book are clearly the words of a teacher who fully expected his students to apply what they were learning, resulting in changed lives. As I finish this semester, I can identify with the Apostle Paul.  Thanks students, for realizing this is more than a class about a 1900 year old book.  We are studying the Word of God. What about you?  Have you allowed the Word of God to change you?  It’s STTA.

We have the privilege of having the Word in our language.

Something to Think About for September 1, 2015:

Something To Think About, Translations:

I shared yesterday about the power of the Word of God.  We English speakers are fortunate to have a multitude of options when it comes to reading and studying the Bible.  The hard drive on this computer contains more than a score of Bible translations, paraphrases, and versions.  I have friends who love the Lord, who don't even have an entire Bible in their language.  Other friends of mine live in places where their choice of which translation to use is easy.  There is only one. But the plethora of English Translations is not necessarily a blessing.  Which one do I use?  Some folk grew up on the King James.  Unless they sound like they are lisping when they read, they don't think it is the real thing.  The King James is a good translation.  There is a problem, though.  Take the following quiz to see it. If someone does "you to wit," should you be insulted? If one of the soldiers in Saul's army was big enough to hold a carriage in his hand, why in the world was he afraid of Goliath? Where did the sailors with whom Paul traveled  have to go to fetch a compass? How might the living prevent those who sleep, and why would we want to? To obtain a "meat offering, did the Old Testament worshiper go to one who raised animals or one who grew crops? I've given some information at the end of this email that will help you answer the questions, but for now, just know that every one of those questions is based on the fact the meaning of words has changed in the last four-hundred years.  For many, maybe most, 21st Century English speakers the King James Bible is a translation of God's Word into a language that they don't speak.  If one is prepared to deal with the Elizabethan English the King James is a marvelous translation.   Fortunately, if you are looking for a translation of the Bible into the kind of English that we speak in the Twenty-first Century, there are some excellent options. The New King James is a translation that preserves much of the feel of the KJV, but updates some of the archaic language. The New American Standard Bible is translation that has much to offer from a technical viewpoint.  It is my favorite translation. Likewise the English Standard Version.  This translation is favored by many preachers and teachers I admire. The New International, has been the most popular of the modern English Translations.  Unfortunately, some of the revisions of the NIV in the past couple of decades may have been influenced by political correctness as much as a desire for accuracy.  I am confident about recommending the "original," 1984, NIV.  I'll let others comment on the revisions. My wife really likes the New Living Translation. I often use it when I am going to be reading a large chunk of the Bible.  It is very conversational.  Most of the text of my message,God's Story in His Own Words, is taken from the NLT. You can find technical reviews of various Bible translations elsewhere. This is just a word from a friend. It's STTA.   Here is a link to a message I've been privileged to share several times that uses only the words of Scripture to share God's Story, in His Own Words.   About the Quiz:  I think these links will clear things up.  "do you to wit," "Keeper of the carriage" "fetch a compass" "shall not prevent them which are asleep" "meat offering"  According to Matthew Henry, "Meat was, and still is [in his day], properly given to any kind of provision,

Just the Word

Something To Think About, It's Living and Powerful:

I'll give you a warning up front.  This STTA is preacher-oriented.  I think it is relevant to you non-preachers, but I'm a preacher.  I'm prejudiced.  You have been warned. Over my years of preaching there have been a few times--as I look back, way too few--when I have, instead of preaching from the Bible, read or recited the Word.  It's more work than you might think.  Anyone who is thinking about just showing up and reading should stay home.  Reading the word well takes preparation and effort.  But, that's not my point today. What impresses me, every time I share "just the scripture" with a group of people, is I see the power of the Word of God reflected in the faces and body language of the audience.  Last night was one of those occasions; as someone said, "You could hear a pin drop."  We ought not be surprised at that response. For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.   (Hebrews 4:12–13, NLT) Not everyone has the privilege of standing before a group of people and reading the Word of God.  All of us, though, have the opportunity to read or listen to the Bible.  It is something that we ought to do on a daily basis  Here is a good place to start:  Biblegateway.com.   There you'll find searchable copies of the Bible in many languages, including a number of English translations.  I'll share some recommendations on translations, tomorrow.  A number of the translations even have an audio option available, so you can listen to the Bible being read aloud.  There are reading plans and various other features.  Whether you get into the Bible online, or by the more traditional method of turning the pages in a book, if you open your heart to God's Word, you will find it to be powerful, so powerful, that if you open your heart, it will change your life. It's STTA.   Here is a link to a message I've been privileged to share several times that uses only the words of Scripture to share God's Story, in His Own Words. For you preacher-types, here is an article about that message and about preaching "just the word," in general.

Read the Instructions. They Work.

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT

It's one of those times when we follow the instructions and have the great surprise of, "What-a-ya-know, it works!"    I just watched a report on an innovative probation program that the state of Hawaii is using.  "Hope Probation " was developed by Judge Steven Alm.  One of the chief differences between Hope and other probation programs is the immediacy of the consequences for violations of probation.  Typically those on probation are able "to get by with" a series of deviations from their probation requirements before their negative behavior overcomes the inertia of the system, or wears out the patience of the judge and/or probation officers.  Then they are thrown in jail for a significant length of time.  Under Alm's program violators may only be jailed for a couple of days, but the goal is to make sure it happens after--soon after--the first deviation.   Three millennia ago Solomon said,   "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil."  (Ecclesiastes 8:11)     Apparently the experiment, though it has its critics, is working.  For at least some participants in the program, the timely administration of appropriate consequences has led to an increase in accountability and personal responsibility.     I suggest that we study the manual some more.  The Creator of humans, knows how we operate.   It's STTA.   The News Hour article I watched can be seen here.