Author Archives: John Paine

About John Paine

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This blog is topical and devotional--we post whatever interests us, whenever. If you want to follow in an orderly fashion, please see our Kaqexeß page.
April 28, 2013

How to Handle the Curve

By John Paine

“If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”
Augustine of Hippo

Bob Feller

The Heater Makes History by Graig Kreindler, 2009


 
How do you respond when you’re sharing or discussing your faith, and the conversation suddenly tails off to the left or right? How do you handle the curve?

There has never been a shortage of people able to mangle Scripture to accommodate their particular worldview (or their missteps). I’m not talking about fielding the gibes of atheists or those holding anti-Christian sentiments—rather people who want to hold to the Bible, but feel that certain parts are more applicable than others. Or they misinterpret or misapply or over-extrapolate. An-eye-for-an-eye and all that. Often they’ll argue that certain ideas are culturally dated and need to be reinterpreted or reconsidered. Really?!

OK, before I ride that high horse, a little confession—there are some ethics in the Bible I might change if it were solely up to me. The world according to me. Sounds great, right? A chicken in every pot, and free high-speed Internet for all. Half off your tithe. While that may be a great way to get elected, it looks just like rebellion to a loving God. Continue reading

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Tools

April 9, 2013

Manual Philosophy

By John Paine

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV84)

Untitled by Vela Zanetti, 1975

Untitled by Vela Zanetti, 1975

Last week I took a day off work and went with my son David to the Washington Nationals home opener.  It was a truly special day, capped by dinner with my niece, nephew and son’s girlfriend.

My niece is a student at George Mason University, currently enrolled in a philosophy class.  We started talking a little bit about Socrates and Aristotle (both of whom she is required to read), the Audible app I’ve been enjoying lately to ‘read’ philosophy, and how critical context can be to appreciating ancient writing. Continue reading

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Apostle Paul

April 2, 2013

An Audible Miracle

By John Paine

Then a Miracle Occurs

The Bible is full of miracles, from Genesis to Revelation.  From the parting of the Red Sea, to the raising of Lazarus, to Jesus’ resurrection—there’s no shortage of the spectacular recorded in the Scriptures.  Regardless of our perspective and biases, we have to process the testimony of miracles.

Truth be told, most of us tend to be spiritual Missourians when it comes to the supernatural.  We may have no qualms about praying for God to grant a miracle, but when someone actually claims to have experienced one we get edgy and uncomfortable. Continue reading

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March 17, 2013

A New New Testament: Are You Serious?

By John Paine

Veracity is all about the Bible: what it is and is not, how it came to be, what it reports and claims, who it describes, and the difference it should make in our lives. Here’s another outstanding post by Dr. Daniel Wallace that gets to the heart of these issues, demonstrating solid scholarship and discipleship in response to yet another agenda to remake Christianity.

Daniel Wallace

Daniel B. Wallace's avatarDaniel B. Wallace

Just released from the giant publishing firm, Houghton Miflin Harcourt: A New New Testament: A Bible for the 21st Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts, edited by Hal Taussig.

The advertisement from HMH distributed widely via email last week was not shy in its claims for the 600-page volume. The subject line read, “It is time for a new New Testament.” In the email blast are strong endorsements by Marcus Borg, Karen King, and Barbara Brown Taylor. Borg and King, like Taussig, were members of the Jesus Seminar (a group headed up by the late Robert W. Funk, which determined which words and deeds of Jesus recorded in the Gospels were authentic). King and Taylor are on the Council for A New New Testament. All of them share a viewpoint which seems to be decidedly outside that of the historic Christian faith, regardless of whether it is…

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March 9, 2013

Keeping the Faith

By John Paine

The Race, 2004

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Hebrews 12:1 reveals so much about the character of God.  This short, pivotal verse tells us about the heavenly realm; the ability of those in that realm to ‘see’ what we are doing; that God has a plan for our lives; that he knows it is not easy; and that he values our striving.  The race we are directed to run gives us a purpose and a mission.  In context it’s about keeping the faith.  Hebrews Chapter 11, often called the Great Faith Chapter, precedes the ‘therefore’.  If you pay attention to the ending of Hebrews Chapter 11, you’ll notice that all the saints mentioned “were commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

God works by processes.  He wants us to run a race that he knows will be difficult.  Some believe this to be unfair—why doesn’t God just poof everything to be easy for everybody?  But God plays by his own rules.  That’s what the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is all about.  And we have a role in that sacrifice—we’re supposed to keep the faith.

Who wrote the Book of Hebrews?  Opinions vary considerably, but my personal hunch is Barnabas.  It’s hard to say, but one thing is certain—the apostle Paul knew and appreciated this theology. Continue reading

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Apostle Paul, Witnesses