Tag Archives: honesty

Aug 27 2011

this went thru my mind

Bible translation: The King James Version celebrates its 400th year of existence this year (1611-2011). The story of how that translation came about is one worth retelling again and again. Leland Ryken does a fine job of doing just that in his recent, brief article in the Wall Street Journal entitled How We Got the Best-Selling Book of All Time.

While we’re talking about Bible translation, one of my “heroes” died this week and he was a fellow native of Oklahoma: Eugene Nida. Many of you reading this will think to yourself “I’ve never heard that name before.” Let me just say, if you can readily read and understand virtually any modern English Bible translation today, you have Nida to thank for much of that privilege. His dynamic-equivalence theory of translation (aka: formal equivalence) literally revolutionized Bible translation work across the world, not just here in the U.S. and not merely directly through the Today’s English Version (aka: TEV; Good News Translation) and CEV (Contemporary English Version). Happening across some of his work while I was just starting out in preaching school, I came to devour several volumes in his Translator’s Handbook series (such as this one on John’s Gospel), something that would help me immensely later in graduate studies. I had still rather read the Proverbs in the Good News or CEV than any translation out there. Words simply fail me as I attempt to convey how much encouragement I have received through the years from this man’s work. Rest in peace, Eugene Albert Nida.

Bible translators have to make some tough decisions sometimes as to the Biblical text. Bobby Valentine’s piece entitled J.W. McGarvey’s Evolving Relationship with Mark 16:9-20 not only illustrates the development and growth in understanding in the mind of the leading scholar in our heritage from over a century ago on a very well-known passage among us, but also speaks to other matters of consequence as well. Fascinating.

American culture. So let me get this straight: the South is the most “churched” portion of the U.S., but it is also the segment with the highest divorce rate. Hmmm. You can read something about such in the news here, but take the time to peruse the report the news is based on here. Note the chart on page three of this report and you’ll be able to see the divorce rate of all fifty states. Which state now leads the U.S. in divorce? Arkansas (26.4%; over 1 in 4). What about Texas? Not much better (21.5%; over 1 in 5). Which portion of the country has the lowest divorce rate? The Northeast (Maine – 13.1%; Massachusetts – 15.8%; New Jersey – 14.8%; etc.). The South can’t begin to compare (Alabama – 20.2%; Georgia – 22:1%; Louisiana – 20.6%; etc.). Think about it.

Discipleship: If you click on no other link today here, watch this seven minute video excerpt of Francis Chan speaking at Catalyst East 2010 about what it means to think Biblically and truly live with commitment to Christ. You will be challenged and blessed. “What if you heard about the way we do church now fifty years from now, and that’s stuck in these pages [of the Bible]?” “What is ‘weird’?” “I want my life to fit in this book one day.” Wow.

Fauna & flora of the Bible: I get a kick out of quality photography. Since I first read the Bible, I’ve had an interest in the references to nature in Scripture (as did Solomon, I might add). And perhaps its because my name is “David” that I pay a little closer attention to the words of King David than I do others. Tie those three interests of mine together, bearing in mind King David’s having grown up working closely with nature, as a shepherd, and what comes to your mind? One that comes to my mind is David’s statement to the prophet Nathan: “Look! I’m living in a cedar palace, but God’s chest is housed in a tent!” (2 Samuel 7:1-3) And that’s surely why this brief post and couple of pics on “the cedars of Lebanon” caught my attention. If you enjoy trees, you’ll enjoy this.

Spiritual growth & maturity: Joe McKeever’s post entitled 10 Ways to Know You’re Getting It Right came at just the right time this week. It not only fits like a hand in a glove with my sermon tomorrow morning, but goes extremely well with our upcoming study of the letter of James.

Jul 28 2011

love busters (4)

Radical honesty is complete honesty about one’s feelings, past experiences, present activities, and future plans. It is essential in marriage because it provides a clear road map for marital adjustment, meets an important emotional need, and prevents massive Love Bank withdrawals.

There are four types of dishonesty in marriage: (1) protection, (2) looking good, (3) avoiding trouble, and (4) compulsion.

Honesty is not a Love Buster. When thoughtless behavior is revealed, it’s the thoughtless behavior, not honesty, that causes unhappiness.

Avoid wrapping the Policy of Radical Honesty in the Love Buster’s of selfish demands, disrespectful judgments, or angry outburst.

Encourage your spouse to be honest by valuing honesty consistently and by avoiding punishment of honesty.

Remember to reveal to your spouse as much information about yourself as you know: your thoughts, feelings, habits, likes, dislikes, personal history, daily activities, and plans for the future.

Love Busters: Overcoming Habits That Destroy Romantic Love by Willard F. Harley, Jr. (Revell, 2005), p.130

Jul 9 2011

this went thru my mind

Bible: Bobby Valentine has only published part one of his series entitled The ‘Enjoyment’ of Scripture, but I can see right now this series will be good stuff.

Google+: I’m anxious to receive a Google Plus invite and to give it a go, especially after reading Eric Dye’s How Churches Can Make the Most Out of Google Plus.

Honesty & lying: Why Casey Anthony Lied by Karen Zacharias Spears.

Humor: Dilbert on Smartphones.

Money: 7 Habits of Highly Frugal People.

Nationalism: A Flag in the Auditorium: Restating the Question by Jay Guin.

Singing, congregational: Kevin DeYoung’s two-part series entitled Ten Principles for Church Song is definitely worthwhile. Here are links to part one and part two.

South Sudan: This week we have witnessed the birth of a nation. Pray for the people of South Sudan. These two links will help you do just that: Christians rejoice as South Sudan celebrates independence and Sunday worship in South Sudan.

Space: We witnessed the last Space Shuttle launch this week. I was on the eve of graduating from college when the first one launched. This infographic on the Shuttle is interesting: Bye Bye Space Shuttle. And while we’re on the subject of space, note The Surprising History of Prayer in Space.

May 21 2011

this went thru my mind

Church: Someone finally got around to writing that article I’ve always intended to write, but never did. Ever since I first saw what would become one of my favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption, James Whitmore’s character, Brooks, has been on my mind. I thought I had a copyright on the contents in my head, but apparently Dan Bouchelle walked around in there, took some pictures and notes, and then typed it up for all to see … and did a far better job than I could have ever done with it. Thank you, brother. Too Institutionalized to Live on the Outside is brain food.

Church leadership: Todd Rhodes’ post Dirty Little Secret is perfectly honest and spot-on.

Courage: The Freedom Riders. James Zwerg: “I asked God to give me the strength to remain nonviolent and to forgive the people for what they might do.” “The Lord is my light and my salvation, of whom shall I fear?” If you read no other post here, read this one by Richard Beck … and this one, a follow up.

Covetousness: That’s the topic in most of this coming Sunday morning’s adult Bible classes at MoSt Church as we begin to draw near to the conclusion of our study of the Ten Commandments. Here’s a good illustration of “coveting gone wild” – Is Extreme-Couponing Gluttony or Good Stewardship? by Jerod Clark.

Domestic violence: Why Pastors Struggle With Confronting Domestic Violence by John Shore.

Faith: Terry Rush on faith in his post A Mistaken Doctrine That Holds the Church at Bay.

Generational differences: Matt Dabbs has it so right in his post entitled The Gospel-Epistle Generation Gap.

Human: What does it mean to be human and what do we humans need in relation to God? I think Brian Mashburn’s post entitled My Neediness is one of his best … and that’s saying a lot!

Humor: What a hoot! Now if it was my funeral it would either be a matter of wheeling the casket in at the last minute or doing two or three things at the same time while the funeral was going on, right? Read Late To Your Own Funeral by Matt Dabbs and grin. Ben Witherington’s Fractured Fairy Tales From the Farm is hilarious. Reminds me of the Monty Python classic on SPAM.

Lying: I recently preached a sermon on honesty and lying and taught a class on the ninth of the Ten Commandments (“you shall not bear false witness …”) just last Sunday morning. Here’s a fine article by Sarah Sumner that appeared just yesterday on The Seven Level of Lying.

Marriage: Trey Morgan’s post entitled Six Reasons Not to Have An Affair says it clearly and concisely.

Mission: Everything needs rethinking. Regularly. Times and contexts change.  Methods of mission must as well. David Fitch’s post The Important Task of Creating Missional Rhythms in a Community kindly and clearly reminds us of such.

Progress: You can spend your life trying to address and shore up weaknesses or you can play on your strengths. That’s true of people groups as well as indivduals. Jim Martin’s post What Strengths are You Building On? is good stuff.

Torture: I agree with this. Do you? Torture will always be wrong by Linda J. Gustitus.

Just for fun: Ever wondered what a map of the location of the top fast food burger chains in the U.S. would look like? Check out Data Pointed’s visual representation of the eight largest burger chains and see the overwhelming winner in Texas is … not who you’d probably guess.