On 08/06/2013,
in faith, hearts -- matters of the heart,
by Daniel Christian
Colossians 2:9-10 New International Version (NIV)
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.
He is the head over every power and authority.
On 07/29/2013,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, digital learning, faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, innovation, internet, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, learning preferences, lifelong learning, mobile learning, mobile technologies, more voice more choice more control, new media literacies, online learning, online media, reading, ubiquitous learning,
by Daniel Christian
In the beginning was the Word; now the Word is on an app — from nytimes.com by Amy O’Leary
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Nathan Weber for The New York Times
Listeners use a Bible app during a sermon at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.
Listeners use a Bible app during a sermon at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
EDMOND, Okla. — More than 500 years after Gutenberg, the Bible is having its i-moment.
For millions of readers around the world, a wildly successful free Bible app, YouVersion, is changing how, where and when they read the Bible.
Built by LifeChurch.tv, one of the nation’s largest and most technologically advanced evangelical churches, YouVersion is part of what the church calls its “digital missions.” They include a platform for online church services and prepackaged worship videos that the church distributes free. A digital tithing system and an interactive children’s Bible are in the works.
…
This month, the app reached 100 million downloads, placing it in the company of technology start-ups like Instagram and Dropbox.
Archeologists dig up King David’s palace — from The Jerusalem Post [jpost.com]
The importance of the discovery led to the rejection of a proposal to build a new neighborhood close to the site.
.
.
Excerpts:
A joint excavation led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Antiquities Authorities discovered two of the largest structures ever uncovered from the Kingdom of Judea, the Israel Antiquities Authorities announced on Thursday.
Researchers Prof. Yossi Garfinkel and Saar Ganor identified one of the structures as a palace of King David, while the other as a large storage structure for the kingdom.
The excavation, which lasted seven years, gives evidence to state building and administrative organization during the time of King David.
According to Garfinkel and Ganor, “The ruins are the best example to date of the uncovered fortress city of King David,” giving researchers a step up in understanding the origins of the kingdom of Judah.
“This is indisputable proof of the existence of a central authority in Judah during the time of King David,” the archaeologists said.
Until now, no palaces were clearly attributable to the early tenth century BC. According to the archeologists, the site, named ‘Khirbet Qeiyafa’, was probably destroyed in a battle against the Philistines in 980 BC.
Recent excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa, the first early Judean city to be dated by 14C, clearly indicate a well planned fortified city in Judah as early as the late 11th-early 10th centuries BC. This new data has far reaching implication for archaeology, history and biblical studies.
Also see:
- Archaeologists claim to have found King David’s palace in Israel — from cbsnews.com
- Archaeologists claim discovery of King David’s Palace — from christianpost.com
Addendum on 7/24/13:
- Khirbet Qeiyafa: An Unsensational Archaeological and Historical Interpretation — from TEL AVIV Vol. 39, 2012, 38–63 by Israel Finkelstein and Alexander Fantalkin, Tel Aviv University
On 07/15/2013,
in 21st century, dangers of the status quo, faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, society, sociology,
by Daniel Christian
From Linda Naranjo-Huebl on Sunday, July 14, 2013 — a day after George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder in Trayvon Martin’s death
After discussions with my African American friends and a morning of intense prayer and tears, mingled with despair, a prayer:
God of the Universe, come to us in our despair and broken heartedness, and minister life to your children. God of Justice, reach us in our mourning over our African American brothers, fathers, and sons who are not safe on our streets. Stepping outside their homes–as objects of hatred, suspicion and fear–they face the very real threats of harassment, molestation, assault, and death by both police officers and citizens. Let me stand with my sisters who are mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters of black boys and men in the United States. Forgive me when I have let my own privileged position keep me at a safe distance from the fear and heartache that weighs on their hearts and souls every day. Let their despair, fear, anger, and heartbreak be my own. Help them as they struggle to support their sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers as they walk in this hostile world, as they try to encourage them to trust in a God who calls them beloved when the world will not, who will never forsake them in their trials.
Oh how hard it is right now to believe with our brother Martin Luther King Jr. that the “arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” We cry out with the prophet, “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24). Holy Spirit, grant us faith; help us believe that your justice reigns, that you record all our tears in a bottle and write them in your book (Ps. 56:8), that you will judge the unrighteousness, that you will one day wipe every tear from the eyes of the victims of injustice. Keep us from falling into hopelessness, cynicism, and despair. Take our anger and hopelessness and turn our energies into the work of justice and reconciliation between God and humans and among our human family, for this is the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Regards,
Linda Naranjo-Huebl
Associate Professor of English
Calvin College
—————-
Also see:
- This video that the Howard University School of Law posted last year.
- Lament From a White Father — from huffingtonpost.com by Jim Wallis
Excerpts (emphasis DSC):
It’s time for white people — especially white parents — to listen, to learn, and to speak out on the terribly painful loss of Trayvon Martin. If my white 14-year-old son Luke had walked out that same night, in that same neighborhood, just to get a snack, he would have come back to his dad unharmed — and would still be with me and Joy today. Everyone, being honest with ourselves, knows that is true. But when black 17-year-old Trayvon Martin went out that night, just to get a snack, he ended up dead — and is no longer with his dad and mom. Try to imagine how that feels, as his parents.
…
Listen to the stories from Saturday and Sunday nights, of 12-year-old black boys who asked to sleep in bed with their parents because they were afraid. If black youth in America can’t rely on the police, the law, or their own neighborhood for protection — where can they go?
…
Finally, there is a religious message here for all Christians. If there ever was a time that demonstrated why racially and culturally diverse congregations are needed — that time is now. The body of Christ is meant, instructed, and commanded by Christ to be racially inclusive. If white Christians stay in our mostly-white churches and talk mostly to each other we will never understand how our black brothers and sisters are feeling after a terrible weekend like this one. It was the conversation of every black church in America on this Sunday, but very few white Christians heard that discussion or felt that pain. White Christians cannot and must not leave the sole responsibility of telling the truth about America, how it has failed Trayvon Martin and so many black Americans, solely to their African-American brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s time for white Christians to listen to their black brothers and sisters, to learn their stories, and to speak out for racial justice and reconciliation. The country needs multi-racial communities of faith to show us how to live together.
- The Harvard Implicit Bias test
Take this free test with a) the racial ethnic group you are most comfortable with and b) the racial ethnic group you are least comfortable with. Then read the book BlindSpot: Hidden Biases of Good People (2013) by Banaji and Greenwald.
On 07/11/2013,
in faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.
On 06/06/2013,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
On 06/06/2013,
in faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, Michigan, student-related,
by Daniel Christian
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
On 05/04/2013,
in Daniel S. Christian, faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships,
by Daniel Christian
The Dedication of the Temple
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”
From DSC:
For the last ~3 years, I’ve been a part of a church plant (it officially started on 10/10/10). We’ve been meeting in a public school — almost a miracle in itself these days — and it’s been a beneficial situation for all involved parties.
Also, many college students come there as well as young families and people of all ages and backgrounds. We’ve grown to the point where we needed a more permanent home. So we’ve been looking for a while now…
The story behind the building that we recently purchased is an amazing story of patience and goodness — but also confusion. I won’t go into it all, but I’m quite certain that the building we’re about to move into (the LORD willing) doesn’t look anything like the temple that Solomon built for the LORD. I can say that with some confidence because the building that we purchased is a former fitness facility — plus it has offices that were designed for remote employees/mobile workers to come on in and use for a few hours/days at a time.
When I first heard we were looking at this building, I didn’t care for it. Several of the buildings around it had closed up shop and they have stayed closed since leaving the area. The business itself appeared to be like one of those restaurants in your home town that constantly changes hands — i.e. one that never seems to quite make it.
But the LORD was patient with us and we were patient with Him. He worked it out so that we could not only afford the building but also bring on an additional staff member in the meantime.
Having an open house the other night reminded me that the possibilities are numerous with this new building. I look forward to see what the LORD has in mind for us there. I’m thankful for the LORD — for His patience with me, His extended grace to me and others, and His being active in our lives. I’m thankful for what He has done, what He’s doing, and what He will do in the future.
At the end of the day, I’m left with the same words that the Israelites were:
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”
On 04/23/2013,
in faith, future, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
From DSC:
Steven VanderLeest maintains a blog called Deus Ex Machina (Latin for “God in the Machine”). The other day he wrote the words that I remember singing at First Prebyterian Church of Evanston many years ago. This morning, those words come back to me and I can’t help but post something in light of the situation that occurred last night and continues to occur this morning in Boston — an event which is all over the American media, but the type of event that regrettably occurs all too frequently throughout the world (bombings, killing, violence, hatred, evil, and more). My soul is troubled, heavy, and cries out:
Kyrie, eleison!
Christe, eleison!
Kyrie, eleison!
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
…and then the words come to my mind…”We are all in this boat together.”
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.