Things I Think
1. I started teaching the book of Hosea yesterday. The first thing that happens in the book is that God tells the prophet to go marry a whore. If this happened at First Baptist down the street there may be an issue. Never judge the work of God by outward appearances…you don’t know what God has called someone else to do.
2. When you teach Hosea, you teach about the sin of idolatry. Every time I’ve heard a teaching about idolatry I’ve left feeling guilty because I loved my family or friends more than I loved God and I needed to love them less so God could be #1. That was a lie from the pit of hell. The cure for idolatry isn’t loving others less, it’s learning to grow in the love of God.
3. We are as steeped in idolatry on micro and macro levels today as were the people of Israel. Furthermore, if you want to really understand this book cross out where it says Israel and write in “the church”. Consumerism, abortion, and porn are just modern ways for us to dance naked around the Ashteroth pole.
4. My remaining cat refuses to do anything remarkable or interesting, thus ruining my literary career.
5. John Calvin and a number of other commentators on Hosea go to great lengths to make a case that God really didn’t ask Hosea to marry a whore because God just wouldn’t do that…even though the text couldn’t be clearer. We’ve tried since the Reformation to “clean up” the earthy, real parts of Scripture to meet our standards of piety. When we do so, we mangle Scripture and lie about both God and ourselves.
6. I’ve come to the conclusion that this election has become a form of diversionary entertainment for some people…a sport for people who don’t like football.
7. One of the ways I defined an idol is “anything or anyone you would not be able to bless God for taking”… then hugged my boy really tightly.
8. Summer is officially over here in Southern Oregon and we’ve entered our third season…”wet”.
9. If we’re all broke, why is it impossible to find an iPhone 5 to buy?
10. Keep praying…and thank you.
1. Darn right it would. But I’m betting First Baptist’s pastor might have a little different motivation…:)
2. Defintely not loving them less…perhaps even loving them more, and more purely. John 15:12 comes to mind. If we are to love one another like He loves us…that is more than I am even capable of loving someone.
3. All true. And I have to say, in some ways these things are even promoted by the modern church.
4. Feed him whiskey.
5. Yeah, that’s crap. IF God didn’t have Hosea marry a prostitute, then the whole prophetic metaphor is killed.
6. I’m guilty to a degree.
7. We shouldn’t expect to be happy when God takes anything from us. Pain is real, and is sometimes impossible to ignore. I think the question is, do we trust God, even when we are in the middle of terrible suffering?
8. Same her in NC. Wet and chilly. That means I’m depressed for the next 5 months. It’s good for my songwriting, though.
9. Planned shortages. Misplaced priorities.
10. I am, right now.
Josh, thank you.
Your #3 is right on…
4) get more cats.
Argh! Still cannot comment on the work puter….
“The Church may be a whore, but she is also my mother.” Attributed to Augustine – probably wrong.
1-3 That was my thought on applying Hosea to the modern church. So in Ephesians 5 it REALLY should not be a big deal when Christ loved and gave Himself for the Church.
3, 5, 7 “Our hearts are idol factories” – Calvin.
10 Still praying.
1.. If this happened at First Baptist down the street there may be an issue. <<<
Well, rightfully so. The pastor would be amiss if he was not concerned if one of his members appeared to go off the rails. The Hosea story is a one-of-a-kind episode. Generally speaking I do think priests and pastors are obligated to investigate this kind of thing…. don't you?
2. When you teach Hosea, you teach about the sin of idolatry.<<<
For many Americans, "freedom," in the American sense, is the biggest idol and this leads to the materialism we all lament.
3. . Consumerism, abortion, and porn are just modern ways for us to dance naked around the Ashteroth pole.<<<
And I still say that most Christians help contribute to this, even if indirectly.
4. My remaining cat refuses to do anything remarkable or interesting, thus ruining my literary career.<<<
As I have always told you, you need a dog.
5. . We’ve tried since the Reformation to “clean up” the earthy, real parts of Scripture <<<
This is the result of making an idol out of Sola scriptura. The parts don't always fit and have to be rammed into place.
6. I’ve come to the conclusion that this election<<<
This election has brought out the worst in many people but has enable us to see what some people really value…. speaking of idols.
7. then hugged my boy really tightly.<<<
Give him a hug for me, too.
8. Summer is officially over here in Southern Oregon and we’ve entered our third season…”wet”.<<<
I am praying for some serious rain this winter.
9. If we’re all broke, why is it impossible to find an iPhone 5 to buy?
Broke don't mean what it used to mean.
10. Keep praying…and thank you.
Your name and Trey's are written in my little book of folks to pray for daily.
Oh, I copied and pasted a snippet of something Michael worte, it included the word p0rn, and threw my post into moderation. At least, I think that’s what happened.
Xenia,
I fished it out…people look forward to your list more than mine. 🙂
Thank you for praying, my friend…
Thank you, Papias…
Praying, Michael.
Thank you, Sarah…we’ve seen some progress.
We hope…
My church has way too many Hosea stories… But the evidence of God being in the mix is slim…
LOL!
Just watched “2016: Obama’s America.”
I saw too much of my own life in Barack Obama’s biography with the exception of Kenya….and wondered “what-if some Christian had reached his mom or dad with the Gospel”…what if someone had reached them or Barack Obama Jr with the Gospel while at U of Hawaii?
Easy to blame the communist party, crazy university professors….but what are WE doing as Christians that Jesus actually tells us to do?!?!
Is there any reason for a person to see that piece as anything other than a hit piece … what is that video?
Wait… Michael and JC parted ways on a text… wonderful… makes my day. Thanks Miguel.
N.T. Wright ruined me.. 🙂
Reason to see “2016?”
To get my in-laws off my back was #1.
Second, I devour politics information, which seems less and less healthy as November approaches. I also use the info as a discussion starter. And YOU are the best at that, Babs!
Third, curiosity. I am amazingly curious and inquisitive ALL THE TIME.
There was little new I hadn’t heard. The telling of Obama’s biography was actually very compelling and actually made me have more compassion on our President personally.
I’ve yet to watch the last 10 minutes actually. It didn’t persuade me much politically.
Well Michael
You know my love for NTW… he will be in Chicagoland in November… thinking of going to the SBL http://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/annualmeeting.aspx
He ruined me long ago as you know…
BD,
He has opened my mind and sharpened my thinking…I enjoy reading him as much as anyone.
Thanks for forcing me to read him. 🙂
Iron … you certainly have thrown some my way too…
Sharper Dread
So is N.T. Wright known for wearing any particular piece of clothing? If so, Michael may need to trade in his furry robe and cap for it. 🙂
Never!
My furry robe and beret will be my burial clothes. 🙂
Somehow I picture you in jeans and a t-shirt.
#8 – We’re still in the 90’s here. Anything under 100 is a dream in the Valley of the Sun.
#5 – “…because God just wouldn’t do that.” I hear that phrase often, especially in connection with hell. Amazes how people who wouldn’t give God the time of day become experts on what He would or wouldn’t do when they here something they don’t like (not saying that’s what Calvin or other commentators are doing).
#10 – Not a day goes by, my friend.
@ 4 – Is it writer’s block if our surroundings simply fail to cooperate with our creative deadlines? It’s more of an idea embargo, things and ideas refusing to surrender themselves to the page. Seems to happen in waves, doesn’t it? Or ‘not happen’, as the case may be.
#5 – A little variation on this thought – I wonder what the break is on commentators not commenting on the stuff I could really use insight in (65%?), verses commenting something that I, in my vast intellect, dismiss immediately (45%?) and comment that I find helpful in time of need (20%)? See, even my best estimates don’t work mathematically. I’m not easy to please.
Seems when I really need an insight, the commentator’s cats stopped playing for a chapter, too. Or whatever a commentator uses as a muse.
#4, I wish we had boring cats.
In fact, we would be willing to ship a cat to you. It is full of deep, profound, spiritual applications, I am sure. The darn thing lives on top of the dryer, and if you attempt to use the dryer, the gates of hell open up, and flood terror and death on the house.
The cat ,mia, is declawed, obese, and hates other cats, but does well with big dogs. i think she would kill a little dog purely based on this premise – “you call yourself a dog?” she is okay today with laundry, but sits on the dryer yelling about it being on. she tried to swipe me to death yesterday when i tried to clean the lint tray and turn the knob on. I fought her off with a piece of hose. 🙂 yes she is full of deep, profound, spiritual applications. lol
#4 – maybe shelters should have a trade-in system, i.e., when your cat gets dull, maybe it needs a change of scene … or a cat swap meet … new surroundings might be what boring house cats are longing for deep down inside … sorry it’s that kind of a day … i need someone to buy my house, i am so tired of desperate, mindless touring realtors and their customer lookie-loos and, no i’m not over-priced, but i’m perched on a hillside and i can’t find someone as dumb as me to buy such a house
actually, i’m tired and all is well – in God’s protective, loving time it will sell … or not
God keep
You might need another cat, Michael. I have two plus my old cat who is dying and the two keep me pretty amused. I don’t write about them but I spend a lot of time watching them and laughing.