Don’t bad-mouth each other, friends. It’s God’s Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You’re supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. (James 4.11-12 The Message)
quote: on the Lord’s prayer
We learn at least four things when we permit the Lord’s prayer* to mentor our prayer life. We learn to approach God as Abba. … We learn what God really wants. … We learn to think of others. … We learn what everyone needs.
Scot McKnight
links to 4+ helpful articles
1. The Embodied Church in a Digital Age
“If we are going to disincarnate every part of our faith, why not disincarnate Jesus as well?”
More; a 10 min. video.
2. How a Grieving Father Is Uncovering Mexico’s Mass Graves
“Guadalupe Contreras … makes his living finding corpses and has proved adept at the job, even compared with other grave hunters …
“Since Mexico’s drug war began in 2006, some 37,000 people have ‘disappeared’ throughout the country, and 3,600 in the state of Veracruz alone. But Martín Gabriel Barron Cruz, a criminologist at Mexico’s National Institute of Criminal Science, believes that the number of disappearances may far exceed the official toll, owing to government and police corruption and a fearful public. …
“… Contreras’ work has numbed and jaded him. But in many ways, he’s still like the other mothers and fathers of the disappeared. He struggles with the incertitude of [his son] Antonio’s vanishing, and when no one is around, he still cries for his son. … But his work in Veracruz puts needed distance between him and his grief.”
3. 11 Siri Hacks to Benefit Your Spiritual Life by Wayne Styles
“Let’s put Siri to work in our spiritual lives, shall we?”
More. Amazing things Siri can do.
4. Veterans Eligible for Getting Internet Service off $10 Per Month
“Once approved, veterans can also get a desktop or laptop computer for $149.99 plus tax, which includes Microsoft Office.”
picture Bible commentary – Phil. 1.11
chiasm: Matthew 27.57-28.20
R.T. France detects chiasm in the closing scenes of Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 27.57-28.20).*
This could very well be what Matthew had in mind. However, I see the emphasis of these same scenes surrounding Christ’s resurrection as being not so much on the events that play out, but on the actions and reactions of different kinds of beings (i.e. – angel, Jesus, people) to what happened. The expression and emphasis of the chiasm changes if we see these scenes not just as a chain of events, but as a chain of events in which numerous, and various, characters are engaged.
* Source: R.T. France via The College Press NIV Commentary: Matthew by Larry Chouinard (College Press, 1997); p.499.
quote: on humanity & racism
God created one race, the human race. Human beings created racism.
Jane Elliott
picture Bible commentary: pray/God
