Something you should never do with Scripture

Never just assume things have always meant what they do now.

The Bible's apparent endorsement of slavery is a good example. When most of us think of slavery, we naturally think of the system that prevailed in America until the Civil War, in which Africans were kidnapped and forced to work for white people. If the Bible defends that, then it deserves to be rejected.

But it doesn't. It's true that Scripture doesn't speak out against slavery, but slavery among the ancient Hebrews and Romans was very different from that practiced in 19th century America. Besides that, kidnapping and forced labor are condemned.

There are plenty of other examples; I chose that one because it's a popular reason for rejecting Christ, and frankly because it's easy to refute. It still takes a little work, but God has never rewarded laziness.

Review: OISHINBO A LA CARTE VOL. 1: JAPANESE CUISINE

Oishinbo is a long-running manga (Japanese comic) about Japanese food. Though I have no desire to eat it -- most of it sounds pretty disgusting to me -- I like the manga. In recent years it's been repackaged for Americans by not only translating it, but by collecting stories with similar themes into volumes.

The story centers around Yamaoka, a newspaper reporter and gourmet who's been assigned the task of putting together an "Ultimate Menu". As far as I know it was never completed, so it's hard to believe he'd be employed there very long, but the menu project is just an excuse to tell stories about cuisine.

The art is reminiscent of many manga from the 70s and 80s, in that the characters are simple and cartoonish, and the backgrounds more detailed. The food in particular is carefully rendered,which makes sense given that it's the real star of the book.

Overall, I found the book very interesting and entertaining, and I recommend it.

I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU!) by Stephen Colbert

When I was younger I thought humor excused everything. I believed anything could be forgiven as long as it was funny, an attitude I kept well into my 30s. I was wrong, of course. I have no doubt that many very funny people will be in Hell after Judgment Day. And that's a fact that makes me profoundly sad.

Stephen Colbert is a genuinely funny man, and his alter ego, a parody of right-wing talk show hosts who is also named Stephen Colbert, is even funnier. Unfortunately, both sometimes resort to foul language and gutter humor to make their points.

This is Colbert's first book, and in many ways it's his best. I would have loved it when I was 30, but now I don't recommend it.

The fourth commandment

8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,  10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.  11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

-- Exodus 20.8-11

One day a week. That's what God wants. And it's not as if it's some grievous tax on our time. God didn't tell his people to spend the day crawling through frozen mud under barbed wire. He said to take a day off. It wasn't a day people couldn't work; it was a day they got to relax.

Job 42

Job is justified, but not mollified. God apparently takes his side against his friends, but upon seeing God Job can only repent. Job is declared righteous, and has the opportunity to question God, but never gets his answer.

Remember the theme of the book: God is God, and Job is not.

Psalms starts on Monday.

Review: THE FIVE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM by David Bercot

By now I've read a lot of books by Bercot, and I've liked them all. This one is no exception, and I recommend it.

Job 41

Leviathan is described to illustrate the power of God.

It's described as terrible beyond imagining, but completely under the control of God. Whoever could tame such a beast must have been extremely powerful, and that's who Job wanted to challenge.

Hallelujah is not a magic word

We tend to throw biblical words into everything in an almost superstitious way. If we hear or see an ancient Hebrew or Koine Greek, we hold it in reverential awe.

Guess what? There's nothing magic about ancient Hebrew. "Hallelujah" or however you spell it just means "Praise God". The best explanation of "Amen" I've ever heard is that it means "I wish I'd said that." There's certainly nothing wrong with using words like that, but let's stop pretending that Hebrew is some kind of special, secret language.

I've heard ad nauseam that biblical Greek is a richer language than English, as evidenced by the fact that it has four words for "love" while English has only one. This is simply not true. Even if there were only one, our language has hundreds of thousands of adjectives to modify it.

Though there is no doubt something special about these languages, if only because God chose to reveal himself in them. That's no reason to fetishize them, though.

Job 40

The second verse of this chapter answers the problem of evil.

If you don't know what I mean by the problem of evil, it's best summed up by the question,"Why do bad things happen?" If God is all-powerful and all-good, how is there evil? This isn't the best answer, but it's an answer.

Review: CONFESSION OF FAITH IN A MENNONITE PERSPECTIVE by Herald Press

This is a small book, but that just highlights a problem with it: it's a book.

It's so long because it's so vague, and it's vague because it tries to offend no one. This is the statement of faith of the Mennonite Church USA,  which is one of the more liberal of the 20 billion or so Mennonite denominations.

In trying to say something to everyone, it ends up saying nothing at all. I don't recommend it.

Job 39

This chapter consists of more unanswerable questions, this time focusing on the animal kingdom. These questions are meant to lead to one inescapable conclusion:

God is God, and Job is not.

Review: A FULL LIFE by Jimmy Carter

This is a memoir of sorts, focusing on the years since his presidency and what he's helped accomplished in that time. The standard line is that he's been a far better ex-president than a president, but in this case it seems true.

I've never understood why people who say they're Christians have always despised Jimmy Carter. After a lot of thought and after reading this, I think I might have it. First off, he's a Democrat, and some professing Christians would reject Jesus Christ if he was a Democrat. In addition, he seems to be a lot more liberal than his public image would suggest.

Where his attitudes match Scripture, they have to be accepted; where they don't, they have to be rejected. I recommend it cautiously.

Job 38

It isn't one of his friends Job faces in this chapter, but God.

He basically tells Job, "Okay, bigshot. You think you're tall enough for this ride? Then I'll be happy to answer your questions, as soon as you answer some of mine." (That's my own translation, which I don't expect to catch on.)

The third commandment

7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

-- Exodus 20.7, ESV 

This commandment, like the others, has less to do with following rules and more about how a person lives. I used to know someone who thought he was obeying this commandment because he always said "got-damn" and so was not breaking it. He was wrong, because God has never been about technical obedience. Instead, he loves people and wants them to love him back.

Job 37

Elihu asks Job to think about the majesty of God. Have you ever done that? It's not something I've ever made a habit of. But think about it. God made every tree, every flower, every molecule of Earth. Astrophysicists like to say we're all made of star-stuff, but even if that were true, God still made the star-stuff.

And that's the one who wants to get to know you.

Review: SCOTT PILGRIM COLOR VOL. 1: PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE

Though originally published in black and white, the six volumes of Scott Pilgrim have been rereleased in color. While the colors are deep and saturated, they're also subtle, well-chosen, and true to life. Unlike many colorized comics, this is never garish; instead, it looks natural, as if it were always this way. All told, it's a very good coloring job.

Since this is a comic book -- the first one that I read that earned the name "graphic novel" -- the art is almost as important as the story. Unfortunately, I don't have have high expectations when it comes to to art in independent comics, and even my low expectations are seldom met. This is better than most, and the colors help a great deal, but the characters tend to run together.

If I'm positive on the colors and negative on the art, the story leaves me with mixed feelings. On one hand it's engaging, complex, and very well-written. On the other, I approach a story from a certain perspective, and it's not one that I share with O'Malley. This, simply put, is not a Christian story.

Regardless of how well something is written, it has to be asked whether it leads a person closer to God. This doesn't, so I can't recommend it.

Job 36

God gives people what they deserve.

That's Elihu's rather simplistic argument in this chapter. The problem is that it's not quite right, and we know it. We've all known decent people who were poor or who died young, and bad ones who seem to do just fine. Not everyone gets what they deserve in this life.

Why I'm not a Calvinist, even though I probably should be

I wrote a couple of years ago about my biggest problem with Calvinism (hint: it rhymes with "evangelism"). I still don't embrace what are euphemistically called the doctrines of grace; if anything, I've moved farther away.

Note that this doesn't mean that I'm denying either God's sovereignty or his grace. It also doesn't mean that I'm Arminian or any kind of Pelagian, which are words used mostly by Calvinists for people who disagree with them. For anyone who doesn't know, Calvinism, or Reformed theology, is often summed up in English by the acronym TULIP.

T -- Total depravity. People are born bad, and everything they do is tinged with self-serving evil.

U -- Unconditional election. God chose who to save regardless of what they would do or not do.

L -- Limited atonement. Christ only died for those he'd decided to save.

I -- Irresistible grace. Since God is stronger than everyone else, he'll save people against their Willard.

P -- Perseverance on the saints. People who are saved will stay saved.

If I've misrepresented any of the Five Points, I hope someone will tell me.

Since I've stopped trying to believe in eternal security (functionally identical to perseverance of the saints), I can honestly say I don't hold to any of the petals of the TULIP. The first only partially right, and the others are just wrong.

But why should I hold to them? Why do I say I probably should be a Calvinist? To start with, most of my favorite preachers, authors, and teachers are Calvinists, though that's partly explained by the fact that Calvinists never stop talking or writing, and partly by the fact that they tend to be very careful biblical scholars ... about everything but Calvinism.

Add to that that Birmingham has a very high percentage of Presbyterians for a Southern city (Presbyterians are descended from Scottish Calvinists), that most of my education as a Southern Baptist was during the Calvinist revival of the early 21st century, and that the majority of people I've spent time talking with about this sort of thing at least lean toward Calvinism.

Really, I can't think of any natural reason why I'm not Reformed. I can only thank God.

As for objections to Calvinism, other than the issue of evangelism, the biggest problem I have is that it just isn't in Scripture. Since Calvinists have always maintained that their system is eminently biblical, give me just a second to explain myself.

My objection is twofold. First, specific examples don't necessarily indicate general rules. The Bible is clear, for example, that God planned Joseph's life, but it doesn't say he did it for everybody and everything.

Second, the Bible is not a commentary on Romans. Too many people read the Letter to the Romans through a particular lens and then try to make the rest of the Bible fit that understanding. I'm pretty sure that isn't how Scripture should be approached.

There are a lot of differences between a Calvinistic understanding of the world and my own. It's still an in-house debate, though; it's hardly a sin leading unto death.

Review: WHAT HE NEEDS TO BE ... IF HE WANTS TO MARRY MY DAUGHTER by Voddie Baucham, Jr.

I originally wanted to read this for two reasons: because i like the way Voddie Baucham expresses himself, and because i have daughters. I was interested to see what he had to say on the subject. I was surprised to learn that it was about more than the title suggested; instead, it's a manifesto for biblical manhood.

Please don't misunderstand me. This is not about arranged marriages. Nor is it about controlling or oppressing women. Rather it's about teaching our daughters to expect more, to be excellent women who seek out excellent men. It's about being a good father, not by the world's standard, but by God's.

There isn't much else to say. I thought this was a very good book, and I recommend it.

Job 32

Elihu was the youngest of the four friends who came to comfort Job, and as such waits for his friends to speak. When they weren't able to rebuke Job, Elihu lost his temper,

After all, it was God's honor at stake.

Job 35

The biggest difference between God and man is that God doesn't need man. The inverse isn't true.

That seems to be the essence of Elihu's argument so far. Everything he's said to this point has boiled down to one thing: God is God, and Job is not.

Job 34

God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good, and Job has absolutely no right complaining.

That's the essence of what Elihu says in this chapter. He confronts Job with what he sees as his own hypocrisy. If his starting point had been right, it seems he would have been a fearless advocate for God. But it wasn't. 

Review: HAVE THE EARLY CHRISTIAN WRITINGS BEEN TAMPERED WITH? by David Bercot

Throughout his decades as a writer and teacher, Bercot has relied heavily on the writings of the Ante-Nicene Church, from about 100AD to 325AD. This begs the question: are they reliable?

In his usual careful fashion Bercot investigates the question, presents his evidence, and comes to a conclusion. Not surprisingly, he decides they can be trusted. Given how much he's used them, that was perhaps a foregone conclusion, but this book depends less on where he ends up than on how he gets there.

Regular readers know that I like Bercot's work. I like this one too, though it's more about methodology than anything. Regardless of what it's about, though, I still recommend it.

Job 33

Elihu preaches the gospel.

Not exactly, but close. His biggest problem -- though not what was missing from what was almost a presentation of the gospel -- is his assumption of Job's guilt. When he starts from the same point as everyone else, it's not surprising when his destination is the same too.

The second commandment

4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

-- Exodus 20.4-6, ESV 

I know some people consider this to be part of the first commandment, but in all honesty I think they're wrong.

In my experience, people tend to focus on verse five's description of God as jealous and as someone who punishes children for what their fathers did. They never seem to get to the promise of unfailing love in the next verse.

Review: THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE by Peter Brown

Brown's book is a thorough, scholarly look at wealth, Christianity, and the Roman Empire, and the complex relationships between them in the early centuries AD. It's a big subject, and it makes for a big book 

It's not written in a popular style, but it's also not so scholarly it's incomprehensible. Brown has a well-honed style that is suited to this material; I won't lie and say it was always fascinating, but I was never bored.

This was a very important period in history, and if you can handle the length of the book, I recommend it.

Job 31

Job finishes his final defense by saying that he should be punished, but only if he deserves it.

He makes a number of statements, then agrees that if he's done those he should have gotten what he did. But he continues to insist that he hasn't done anything wrong, which begs the question: if God punishes the innocent, isn't he unjust?

Eventually, it all comes down to your basic presuppositions

Everybody believes something, and they have a good reason for doing it.

 At least, it seems good to them. In reality, nearly all beliefs are based on other beliefs. The only exceptions are those things that are the basis of everything else. I call them basic presuppositions, though I'm sure some neuroscientist, philosopher, or psychologist has probably come up with something better. That's  all I have, though.

 They're basic because they're what everything else is predicated on, while they aren't predicated on anything else. They're presuppositions because we believe them without evidence. Not in spite of evidence, but not because of evidence either. Evidence doesn't even come into it.

I'd like to say that my basic presupposition has to do with the reality of God or with his eternal love or something pious like that. I certainly believe in those things like that, but there's something even more basic than those.

I have two that very seldom overlap but which between them cover everything in my life: the Bible is true, and my wife is smarter than I am. I believe in the first just because I don't have any other way of learning about him, and in the second because though our IQs almost identical, she's much wiser and harder-working than I am.

A brief announcement

With the blog finally caught up -- I've had a rough week -- I'm just worn out. I'm taking a week off from it. I'll see you in January.

Job 30

From being a great man, Job fell to become worse than nothing.

To be nothing, to be forgotten, would have been bearable. As it was, he was mocked and made fun of by men he'd always considered worthless. Worst of all, when he turned to God for help, there was no help to be found.

Review: ACTION PHILOSOPHERS! by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey

It shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, but I am very interested in both philosophy and comics. This is both,

That I'm interested in philosophy wasn't a surprise to me. Neither was the fact that I'm not interested in reading huge dull books. Fortunately, writer Fred Van Lente has done the hard work of taking these books and distilling them down to short, funny cartoons. Ryan Dunlavey provides art that matches the script and defines the look of the book, but also lets him draw almost everything. Though the art seems simple, it's very adaptable, and Dunlavey can apparently draw nearly anything.

This book feels like it was put out just for me. I doubt there are that many people looking for a black-and-white philosophy comic book, but if you're one of those few, I recommend this one.

Job 29

Job begins his summary defense, and focuses in this chapter on what his life was like before he lost everything. He was not only a spiritual leader, but a financial and political one as well, loved and respected by everyone.

He knew God had allowed that to be taken from him, but he never blamed God.

Review: THIS PRESENT DARKNESS by Frank Peretti

About 15-20 years ago spiritual warfare was the Next Big Thing in the Christian subculture. Frank Peretti was in the vanguard of this trend, and as far as I know he never left.

Reading it all these years later, it's obviously not the work of a seasoned writer. Though all of the boxes are dutifully checked, it's done without grace, as if Peretti typed it with a sledgehammer. Simply put, it's not a very good book, and could have used some more rewriting 

At this point this is of more interest as a cultural artifact than as a book. I don't recommend it.

Job 28

Where does wisdom come from? Only God knows.

Long ago, someone explained the difference between intelligence and wisdom this way: intelligence is what you can know, while wisdom is what you can do with what you know. The Bible has very little to say about intelligence, but a lot to say about wisdom.

The first commandment

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me."

-- Exodus 20.2, 3, ESV 

The first commandment is simple, as is the reasoning behind it. No one else brought the Hebrews out of Egypt, so the Hebrews weren't to worship anyone else. And "no other gods before me" didn't mean they could have a lot of gods as long as Yahweh was their favorite. If you think that's the case, try telling your wife that you're going to have a lot of wives, but that she'll be your favorite. Let me know how that works.

Job 27

Job maintains his own integrity, and refuses to compromise his honesty, even this late in the game. Though his chances of getting a hearing before God appear increasingly remote, he still insists on both God's and his own integrity.

When all else fails him he can still believe in that.

My beef with Christmas

First off, I've never said "Bah, humbug!" once in my life, and Ebenezer Scrooge was a character in a piece of sentimental fluff that had more to do with Guatemalan independence than it did with any kind of biblical Christianity. And it had nothing to do with Guatemalan independence. So don't waste your time or mine calling me a Scrooge. Or a Grinch, for that matter, or any of the other names it's become acceptable to call people who don't like the way things are.

My biggest problem with Christmas as it's currently practiced is that it's based on what a particular group of people did in the 1800s. It's about Currier and Ives prints and A Christmas Carol. It's tradition for its own sake, and that's something for which I have no patience at all.

Watching the same movies and singing the same songs every year doesn't mean you have the "Christmas spirit"; it means you watch the same movies and sing the same songs every year. If that's what you like, fine, but let's not pretend that there's some virtue in repetition. Besides, I've read the Bible several times, and I haven't seen anything about a Christmas spirit.

There's a really good part about a baby, though.

Review: WHAT IS A KINGDOM CHRISTIAN? by David Bercot

Having looked at what Jesus said about the Kingdom of God, Bercot examines the sort of people who will inhabit it. This is a more controversial subject, but Bercot approaches it as carefully as he does anything else. Being familiar with his work, I didn't find his conclusions surprising, but I also found they didn't match those of any church to which I'd belonged.

What really matters is whether they match the Bible, and as near as I can tell they do. Some people won't read it just because it's Bercot, and while I understand that, I think it's wrong. Personally, I recommend it; it's better to find out you made a mistake and fix it than to never find out.

Job 26

God is great.

By that I don't mean he's really good. I mean that he's great: unfathomable, unknowable, and unimaginable. Despite that, he loves people and wants to spend eternity with them. Because he's good, too.

Job 25

In this very short chapter, Bildad says that there's no way man can be righteous before God. If even the moon and stars aren't pure in his sight, what chance does Job have?

It's another variation on what we've already read, but at least it's short.

Review: BELIEFS by John Roth

I read this to learn what Mennonites believe, instead, I learned that the Mennonite Church USA is very liberal.

Aside from strewing his work with liberal buzzwords and catchphrases like "conversation" and "faith community", the author has Rob Bell Syndrome, saying very little that can be nailed down. With all due respect to Mr. Roth, the goal isn't a conversation between faith communities; the goal is to be as much as possible like Jesus.

There are a number of reasons I don't recommend this book, but probably the most important is that for all its words, it doesn't say much.

Job 24

Being upright doesn't seem to do anyone any good. Go ahead and prove me wrong. That's what Job's arguments are in this chapter.

Even though he's clearly getting angry, he never curses God. 

Review: NEXTWAVE vol. 1 by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen

This is a comic book, and a funny one, which isn't as redundant as it sounds. In this country, comics are dominated by superheroes, and superheroes stopped being funny in ever. But this book is hilarious.

Writer Warren Ellis takes several unused characters (and one new one) and throws them into a S.H.I.E.L.D. story that's been cranked up to a ridiculous extreme. Stuart Immonen is one of the top artists in the industry, and draws in an angular style that perfectly suits the frankly insane story.

The series was only 12 issues long, and volume 1 contains the first six. I liked it a lot, and I highly recommend it for anyone else who likes comics.

Job 23

God isn't afraid of our questions.

He's big and tough and can handle them. He created the universe and keeps it going, so he can handle anything you've got. I will warn you about  one thing, though: be as good as Job before you start asking.

Looking positively at Anabaptism, instead of negatively

I don't mean thinking favorably about it; ultimately, what a person believes is between him and God, and I don't expect people to do as I do anyway. What I am saying is that nobody should be defined by what they don't believe, rather than what they do believe. And that includes Anabaptists.

For example, Anabaptists are not people who refuse to bear arms. We're people who trust God to protect us. We're not people who don't take oaths, but people who try to be so honest we don't need to.

Anabaptism isn't about not doing things; it's about doing the right things. It's about obedience out of gratitude to Jesus Christ for saving my soul. There's nothing negative in that.

Job 22

Eliphaz appears to have run out of arguments, because this chapter is just a long list of accusations. Rather than trying to convince Job to repent, Eliphaz seems to pepper him with accusations, hoping he'll confess to something.

It's not fun to read, and it couldn't have been any fun to listen to.

Review: DAD IS FAT by Jim Gaffigan

As might be expected from a comedian's first book, some of this seems like recycled stage material. Most of the book is original, though, and when it comes down to it, it's just one long love letter to his wife and children.

Gaffigan has always used minimal profanity, and I don't remember anything in this book I wouldn't want my daughter to see. Given how few books celebrate families, it's hard not to recommend one that does. Especially if it's funny.

Job 21

"But," Job says, "the wicked do prosper."

It's true. Some people spend their lives at best ignoring God and seem to do just fine. That's one reason Christians believe in Hell. It's a horrible concept, and no one in his right mind would want anyone sent there. But evil will be punished.

Three reasons I still belong to a Southern Baptist church

Longtime readers have seen my theology shift over the last year, to the point where I can no longer consider myself a Baptist anymore. Baptists were originally heavily influenced by two very different groups: the Calvinists and the Anabaptists. The mixture of the two created Baptist theology.

Personally, I've always leaned very hard to the Anabaptist side. I've always had a problem with eternal security, or, to use a more common phrase that I've come to loathe, "once saved always saved". Since that's at the heart of the Baptist faith, giving that up meant giving up being a Baptist, and that was a huge part of my identity.

In the end, though, it was easy, probably because we haven't left our old Baptist congregation. That just raises more questions; my wife in particular has asked why I continue to attend a church with which I don't agree. That's a good question, and deserves a good answer. Here are three attempts.

Eternal security is the only thing I've found so far about which I disagree with the Southern Baptist Convention. The Baptist Faith & Message, though not required for individual churches, tells what the Convention itself believes. Revised in the year 2000, it has one article that's specifically about eternal security, and 17 that aren't. Also, I don't recall a single sermon or lesson on the subject.

The closest Anabaptist congregation I've heard of is still very far away. Years ago I heard of some Mennonites who lived in southwest Chilton County. That's about 70 miles as the crow flies, and probably 100 by car. So we can either drive for three hours to maybe find a congregation that used to be there, or we can drive five minutes to where we know we'll find people we know and love.

We have quite possibly the best pastor in the entire world. I make a point of not mentioning names here, so you'll just have to trust me. Besides, he'd just get the big head anyway.

Hopefully it's a little clearer now.

Job 20

All Zophar can do is just repeat that the wicked will suffer.

It's interesting to me that Job's three friends seem to get more indignant as the book goes, like they're taking his refusal to repent personally. It's something I've never noticed before, and that's the advantage of reading the Bible slowly like this.

Review: AMERICA AGAIN (RE-BECOMING THE GREATNESS WE NEVER WEREN'T) by Stephen Colbert

I don't recommend it. See yesterday's review for why not.

Job 19

Job asks why his friends are blaming his state on him. He didn't do it to himself, he reasons. God did, and if he'd sinned against God, that's between him and God. It had nothing to do with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.

Basically, he told them to mind their own business.

Review: I AM A POLE (AND SO CAN YOU!) by Stephen Colbert

This is a very short book in verse, a parody of the overtly polemic children's books sometimes published by neoconservative talk show hosts. For several years Colbert played a character, also named Stephen Colbert, who satirized such hosts, and this book appeared just after his first one, I Am America (And So Can You!).

The audio version, which I have, is read by Tom Hanks, so it's both well-written and well-read. The problem is that it depends on the reader having a heavy sense of irony for its humor. The joke is often not always made because the joke is always assumed to have been made. There's a wide streak of knowing sarcasm in this book and in all of Colbert's books, as if he were saying, "Those people really believe this, but we know better."

In short, to use CS Lewis' term, it's flippant. That's why despite it being very, very funny, I don't recommend it.

Job 18

Once again, Bildad takes on his self-appointed role as God's defender.

It's important to note that God didn't ask him to do this. None of Job's friends was assigned that job, and God himself makes it clear later in the book just what he thinks of them assuming it. The fact is that God doesn't need defending. He can defend himself.

Job 17

"I might as well die. What hope is there anyway?" That's the essence of Job's argument in this chapter. It's not a fun chapter to read, but it is short.

Maybe it was meant that way.

Review: KINGDOM OF GOD by David Bercot

The central idea of this book is that the focus of Jesus' preaching as revealed in the New Testament was not, as I had always thought, how to be saved, but the Kingdom of God.

And that's true, as a quick check of the NT will prove.

In fact, everything I've checked in this book was true. Everything I've checked or already known from any of his books or messages has been true, which is the main reason I've come to trust Bercot over the years.

Most of the book explores what is meant by "Kingdom of God". Given how much emphasis Jesus Christ placed on it, it's a very important concept, and one we should understand better. For that reason alone I'd recommend this book.

Job 16

Job still asks to speak with God. After all, he reasons, he won't live forever.

The most interesting thing to me is that other than a few comments, Job doesn't seem to be talking to his friends at all in this chapter. Instead he seems to be speaking through them to God, while begging God to speak to him.

I have a teenage daughter

It's true. She's 13 now.

Conventional wisdom says that I should be more or less crazy right now, trying to keep her my little girl and having an irrational hatred and fear of all boys. But I'm not. 

I'm not happy about it, of course. I've loved having little girls. Part of me wants that to last forever. Most of me knows, though, that it would not only be unhealthy for both of us if I tried, it's not what I really want anyway.

I'm not an idiot who just lets his kids do what they want. (And if you do that, then allow me to say with all the love and good will in the world that you are an idiot.) But I also am not an idiot who would intentionally try to keep his daughters immature and afraid so they'll always stay close.

I know my daughter is growing up. I know that one day she'll break my heart and I won't be the most important man in her life anymore. And that's as it should be.

The reason my wife and I have devoted so much time to teaching her to do what's right is that one day we won't be right there choosing for her. Hopefully she'll do it herself.

Year two

I've had the iPad for two years now, and I'm still very grateful for it. But have I used it well?

It matters what we think and do. This past year I've tried to bring them into alignment. Anything less would be hypocritical, and I do not want to be a hypocrite.

Just like the year before, I've used it mostly to write this blog, read books, and communicate via Facebook. There have been three big changes, though. The first is that I've decided to learn French through the Duolingo app. French is an official language in Newfoundland and Labrador, and while it's only spoken exclusively by about 5% of the people there, I figure knowing it will make me a better missionary. At the very least, I'll die knowing some French.

The second is that given that people are already riled up about the presidential election next year, I'm going to try and stay clear of Fb until at least then. The last thing I want is to waste this gift tthat God has given me being snide and angry.

Finally, a good friend has given me carte blanche to post on The Bible Exchange. Hopefully this will eventually lead to my being able to do this for a living, but as it stands it's a very great honor for me, and a privilege I don't intend to abuse.

I've read 134 books in the last 12 months, which is more than last year but far less than I was shooting for (200). Next year's goal is 20, which sounds ridiculously small until you realize I have some reeeeeally long books I want to read.

We have been united as follows concerning the oath

VII. We have been united as follows concerning the oath. The oath is a confirmation among those who are quarreling or making promises. In the law it is commanded that it should be done only in the name of God, truthfully and not falsely. Christ, who teaches the perfection of the law, forbids His [followers] all swearing, whether true or false; neither by heaven nor by earth, neither by Jerusalem nor by our head; and that for the reason which He goes on to give: "For you cannot make one hair white or black." You see, thereby all swearing is forbidden. We cannot perform what is promised in the swearing, for we are not able to change the smallest part of ourselves.

Now there are some who do not believe the simple commandment of God and who say, "But God swore by Himself to Abraham, because He was God (as He promised him that He would do good to him and would be his God if he kept His commandments). Why then should I not swear if I promise something to someone?" The answer: hear what the Scripture says: "God, since he wished to prove overabundantly to the heirs of His promise that His will did not change, inserted an oath so that by two immutable things we might have a stronger consolation (for it is impossible that God should lie"). Notice the meaning of the passage: God has the power to do what He forbids you, for everything is possible to Him. God swore an oath to Abraham, Scripture says, in order to prove that His counsel is immutable. That means: no one can withstand and thwart His will; thus He can keep His oath. But we cannot, as Christ said above, hold or perform our oath, therefore we should not swear.

Others say that swearing cannot be forbidden by God in the New Testament when it was commanded in the Old, but that it is forbidden only to swear by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and our head. Answer: hear the Scripture. He who swears by heaven, swears by God's throne and by Him who sits thereon.

Observe: swearing by heaven is forbidden, which is only God's throne; how much more is it forbidden to swear by God Himself. You blind fools, what is greater, the throne or He who sits upon it?

Others say, if it is then wrong to use God for truth, then the apostles Peter and Paul also swore. Answer: Peter and Paul only testify to that which God promised Abraham, whom we long after have received. But when one testifies, one testifies concerning that which is present, whether it be good or evil. Thus Simeon spoke of Christ to Mary and testified: "Behold: this one is ordained for the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign which will be spoken against."

Christ taught us similarly when He says: Your speech shall be yea, yea; and nay, nay; for what is more than that comes of evil. He says, your speech or your word shall be yes and no, so that no one might understand that He had permitted it. Christ is simply yea and nay, and all those who seek Him simply will understand His Word. Amen.

+

And that's it. There's some surrounding matter like letters and such, but that's the last article of the Schleitheim Confesion. It'simportant to remember that all creeds, confessions, and statements of faith are the works of men. They're good as far as they match up to the word of God, but ultimately they'll fail. Only the Bible is the infallible word of God.

This seems like a good place to thank my wife, who not only puts up with me doing this blog but has done most of the copying and pasting work the last few months. I don't know how I could have done these posts, or been the kind of person who cared about these posts, without her. You're the greatest blessing I've ever received, and I'm ashamed of the way I've treated you. I love you, sweetheart, and I can't imagine you not being there.

Unless someone writes to me with another idea, I plan on doing one more post next Wednesday about Anabaptism, and then starting over with the Ten Commandments.

Job 15

Eliphaz reminds me of Caiaphas in this chapter.

For those who don't remember, Caiaphas was the high priest in charge of Jesus' illegal trial. At one point he declared the accused condemned by his own words. Eliphaz says the same thing to Job.

Review : THE HOBBIT by JRR Tolkein

it's hard to think of another book short of the Bible that's meant as much to me. I used to think that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was my favorite book. It's not. It's a very good book, but it's a distant second to this one.

As far as I'm concerned, The Hobbit is review-proof. I'm not even going to try.

Job 14

Since we all die anyway, says Job, there's no hope. This chapter is a continuation of the speech/prayer from the last chapter. Taken all together, it's possibly the most hopeless, depressing thing ever written.

There's more hope for a tree stump than for a man, says Job.

Review:CHURCH HISTORY IN PLAIN LANGUAGE by Bruce L. Shelley

Thiis has become a classic in its field, and it's easy to see why. It's very good.

Church history is an interesting subject that is too often obscured by layers of theology and jargon. It can be very difficult to dig down to what actually happened. What Shelley does so well is to strip away most of those layers and present the most unvarnished church history I've ever seen.

Of course, everyone has biases, including Shelley and I. He works hard to keep his out of the way, though, and I recommend this book.

Job 13

Job wanted to follow God, but he also wanted his questions answered.

Sometimes we just have to trust God, because we aren't going to get all our answers in this world. It can be difficult to trust in someone you can't see, but we can trust the Lord of Justice to do what's right.

We have been united as follows concerning the sword

VI. We have been united as follows concerning the sword. The sword is an ordering of God outside the perfection of Christ. It punishes and kills the wicked and guards and protects the good. In the law the sword is established over the wicked for punishment and for death and the secular rulers are established to wield the same.

But within the perfection of Christ only the ban is used for the admonition and exclusion of the one who has sinned, without the death of the flesh, simply the warning and the command to sin no more.

Now many, who do not understand Christ's will for us, will ask; whether a Christian may or should use the sword against the wicked for the protection and defense of the good, or for the sake of love.

The answer is unanimously revealed: Christ teaches and commands us to learn from Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart and thus we shall find rest for our souls. Now Christ says to the woman who was taken in adultery, not that she should be stoned according to the law of His Father (and yet He says, "What the Father commanded me, that I do") but with mercy and forgiveness and the warning to sin no more, says: "Go, sin no more." Exactly thus should we also proceed, according to the rule of the ban.

Second, is asked concerning the sword: whether a Christian shall pass sentence in disputes and strife about worldly matters, such as the unbelievers have with one another. The answer: Christ did not wish to decide or pass judgment between brother and brother concerning inheritance, but refused to do so. So should we also do.

Third, is asked concerning the sword: whether the Christian should be a magistrate if he is chosen thereto. This is answered thus: Christ was to be made king, but He fled and did not discern the ordinance of His Father. Thus we should also do as He did and follow after Him, and we shall not walk in darkness. For He Himself says: "Whoever would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." He Himself further forbids the violence of the sword when He says: "The princes of this world lord it over them etc., but among you it shall not be so." Further Paul says, "Whom God has foreknown, the same he has also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son," etc. Peter also says: "Christ has suffered (not ruled) and has left us an example, that you should follow after in his steps."

Lastly, one can see in the following points that it does not befit a Christian to be a magistrate: the rule of the government is according to the flesh, that of the Christians according to the Spirit. Their houses and dwelling remain in this world, that of the Christians is in heaven. Their citizenship is in this world, that of the Christians is in heaven. The weapons of their battle and warfare are carnal and only against the flesh, but the weapons of Christians are spiritual, against the fortification of the devil. The worldly are armed with steel and iron, but Christians are armed with the armor of God, with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and with the Word of God. In sum: as Christ our Head is minded, so also must be minded the members of the body of Christ through Him, so that there be no division in the body, through which it would be destroyed. Since then Christ is as is written of Him, so must His members also be the same, so that His body may remain whole and unified for its own advancement and upbuilding. For any kingdom which is divided within itself will be destroyed.

Job 12

Job again asserts that despite his innocence, God has done this to him. Since God is so powerful, though, he can do whatever he wants. In a way he's right. God is all-powerful, and he can do as he pleases, and nothing happens without his say-so.

He's still missing the biggest piece of the puzzle, though.

Review: THE ANABAPTIST VISION by Harold Bender

This is a transcript of a speech made by Bender in the 1940s, which has been reprinted many times since. It was recommended to me as "essential" by a friend, and I'm inclined to agree.

Unfortunately, I've spent a good deal more on an Anabaptist theology that taught me a good deal less. Though not intended as a systematic theology, Bender's small book teaches more about what Anabaptists believe than some much longer books.

If you have any interest in modern Anabaptism, I highly recommend it 

Job 11

In this chapter Zophar finally speaks, and says essentially the same thing as Job's other friends.

According to Zophar, Job didn't deserve what happened to him. He deserved much worse. If Job was going to malign God, Zophar was determined to defend him. He never seemed to wonder if God needed defending, though.

Who am I anyway?

It's been a while since I've done any sort of introduction here, so I'm going to give it a shot.

My name is Leslie Chritopher Bloom. I'm 41, and have been married to my lovely wife for over 16 years now, and with my lovely wife, whose name is not Flo, I have two beautiful daughters, ages 13 and 9, who are not named Hazel and Gertrude, respectively.

I was ordained as both a deacon and a pastor by a small Southern Baptist church, but over the last year I've decided that I can no longer believe in the doctrine of eternal security. Since that's about as basic as it gets for Baptists, I don't consider myself one anymore. By conviction I'm a Mennonite. Besides, where else can a man with a beard and a thing for hats go?

One last thing: I had a stroke a few years ago that left me with locked-in syndrome, which means that though my mind and body are both healthy, there's almost no connection between the two. That's left me paralyzed from the eyeballs down.

Job 10

Job pleads with God, as completely different from man, to act on what he must know is the truth.

At some point every person has to come to the realization that God is wholly other. He isn't just a big person, and he certainly isn't just the man upstairs. He's God, and deserves to be treated as such.

Review: COMMON SENSE by David Bercot

This is one of Bercot's early books, and lays out his approach to Scripture. As the title indicates, it's an approach that's based on common sense. The Bible doesn't need much interpretation: it means what it says, and what it says is right there in black and white.

It's a logical way to approach Scripture, and I think it's the right way. I highly recommend this book.

Job 9

Job maintains his innocence, yet knows it's no good against God. After all, he's the biggest and strongest thing in existence, so no one can stand against him. If there's no point, Job figures, why even try?

That would be scary if God were unfair.

Review: MENNONITES by Edison Einstein

This is interesting, but it's also very short. It reads more like a paper with a few photos added than an actual book.

And "Edison Einstein" sounds like a supervillain's name.

Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend it, just because of the length, but it was free, so I have no reason to complain.

Job 8

Bildad says much the same as Eliphaz. 

At this point I don't have much to add. Job's friends said he'd sinned, and he said he hadn't. None knew the truth.

We have been united as follows concerning shepherds in the church of God

The Schleitheim Confesion is very concerned with the separation of the people of God from the world, so it makes perfect sense that it would be worried about that of pastors. This article makes it clear that it is.

I'm actually torn on this one. While it is clear about pastors deriving all their incomes from their flocks, I haven't found that to be a New Testament concept. It's a reminder that creeds, confessions, and statements of faith are manmade and fallible.

 V. We have been united as follows concerning shepherds in the church of God. The shepherd in the church shall be a person according to the rule of Paul, fully and completely, who has a good report of those who are outside the faith. The office of such a person shall be to read and exhort and teach. warn, admonish, or ban in the congregation, and properly to preside among the sisters and brothers in prayer, and in the breaking of bread, and in all things to take care of the body of Christ, that it may be built up and developed, so that the name of God might be praised and honored through us, and the mouth of the mocker be stopped.

He shall be supported, wherein he has need, by the congregation which has chosen him, so that he who serves the gospel can also live therefrom, as the Lord has ordered. But should a shepherd do something worthy of reprimand, nothing shall be done with him without the voice of two or three witnesses. If they sin they shall be publicly reprimanded, so that others might fear.

But if the shepherd should be driven away or led to the Lord by the cross, at the same hour another shall be ordained to his place, so that the little folk and the little flock of God may not be destroyed, but be preserved by warning and be consoled.

Job 7

Job defends himself. This is what made his friends so angry: he always claimed innocence. Because of their worldview, they thought that anyone who suffered must have done something to deserve it. By refusing to confess, Job seemed to be saying that God was unfair.

That was something that they apparently couldn't tolerate.

Review: THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY by Dallas Willard

This was a very popular book when it came out several years ago. It seemed like everyone was reading it.

You'll have to ask one of those people what they thought of it, because I don't remember anything about it. At this point, I'm reviewing books I read just a few months ago, and in that short a time I've completely forgotten everything about it, which probably means it wasn't a good book in the first place.

So I guess by not reviewing it, I am reviewing it.

Job 6

Job begins his defense, but not by talking about Job.

In this chapter, it seems like Job talks about everything but himself. In the West, we're the most self-absorbed people in history. In the Middle East, they're less so, and were definitely so a few thousand years ago.

A little unsolicited advice for young men

I'm in my 40s, and turning grey, and I've been married to my only wife for over 16 years now, so I figure I'm entitled to give a little marriage advice. Since I'm not a woman, I don't dare try to give them advice, so here are three things I wish I'd been told before I get married.

01. You won't always feel this way. When you get married, you're what's known in a technical sense as "crazy", and that's fine. One day you won't be, and that's also fine, because no one can live that way indefinitely. Once the hormones slow down, you have to live with her for the next 50 years or so, and that's what really matters.

02. Marriage won't solve everything. If you're screwed up before you get married, you'll still be screwed up after you get married. All you're doing is adding someone at least as screwed up. That's like putting out a fire by throwing a hand grenade on it.

03. Talk to her before marriage. Specifically, talk about marriage. You each have a right to know and correct the other's expectations. (The only thing more insane than not doing this beforehand is expecting her to read your mind afterward.) Most importantly, make one hard and fast rule: divorce is not an option. And talk to her after marriage, too.

There are several more, but I'll save them, because those are the most important and they took much longer than I'd anticipated. If I'm going to post anything tonight, I'd better stop with these three.

Job 5

Eliphaz said a lot of true things about God, but he was still completely wrong. It all came down to presuppositions. Eliphaz had already decided that God always rewarded good and punished evil immediately. Since Job was suffering, he must have done wrong.

We should never assume anything.

Review: COMPLETE WORKS by Euripides

Eurpides is the last of the Greek tragedians in the Great Books series. Having read his complete works, I'm left with three major questions,

1. What are a strophe and an antistrophe?

2. Why did Victorian translators feel like need to be intentionally archaic?

3. How is this a great book?

If it weren't for Aeschylus' and Sophocles' complete works, this would easily be the most boring thing I've ever read. If you like this, you are probably a very dull person who should be killed with fire.

I don't recommend it.

Job 4

This chapter introduces Eliphaz the Temanite, the first of Job's friends to speak. Let me say something about those friends: they were right. If you bought into their premises, their logic was nearly perfect. In their own eyes, they were right.

If you bought into their premises. 

Review: WILL THE THEOLOGIANS PLEASE SIT DOWN by David Bercot

I've never made a secret of the fact that I'm a fan of Bercot's work. God used him to bring about my own salvation, and he's continued to influence me since. Even I have to admit, though, that this isn't his best book.

It's not because the information's no good. Bercot's main point -- that in trying to explain everything or fit it into a system, theologians have encrusted the Christian faith with many elements that are both foreign and contradictory to it -- is a valid one, and worth considering.

The problem is with the tone. Bercot has never seemed angry, but he does here. It could be argued that he has plenty of reason to be, but he just comes across as a bitter old crank.

I'm torn about this one. I recommend what it says, but not how it says it.

Job 3

Job was at rock bottom, but he still refused to blame God.

He wished he were dead, or that he'd never been born. He cursed the day of his birth in a long, lyrical passage. But he never cursed God 

Job 2

It seems like God threw Job under the bus, but his conversation with Satan actually shows how different they are. Satan wanted to take everything from Job to break him and make him curse God. God knew Job wouldn't and let Satan try.

One difference is that Satan tempts us to see us fail. Yahweh tests us to watch us succeed.

We are united as follows concerning the separation

IV. We have been united concerning the separation that shall take place from the evil and the wickedness which the devil has planted in the world, simply in this; that we have no fellowship with them, and do not run with them in the confusion of their abominations. So it is; since all who have not entered into the obedience of faith and have not united themselves with God so that they will to do His will, are a great abomination before God, therefore nothing else can or really will grow or spring forth from them than abominable things. Now there is nothing else in the world and all creation than good or evil, believing and unbelieving, darkness and light, the world and those who are [come] out of the world, God's temple and idols. Christ and Belial, and none will have part with the other.

To us, then, the commandment of the Lord is also obvious, whereby He orders us to be and to become separated from the evil one, and thus He will be our God and we shall be His sons and daughters.

Further, He admonishes us therefore to go out from Babylon and from the earthly Egypt, that we may not be partakers in their torment and suffering, which the Lord will bring upon them.

From all this we should learn that everything which has not been united  with our God in Christ is nothing but an abomination which we should shun. By this are meant all popish and repopish works and idolatry, gatherings, church attendance, winehouses, guarantees and commitments of unbelief, and other things of the kind, which the world regards highly, and yet which are carnal or flatly counter to the command of God, after the pattern of all the iniquity which is in the world. From all this we shall be separated and have no part with such, for they are nothing but abominations, which cause us to be hated before our Christ Jesus, who has freed us from the servitude of the flesh and fitted us for the service of God and the Spirit whom He has given us.

Thereby shall also fall away from us the diabolical weapons of violence--such as sword, armor, and the like, and all of their use to protect friends or against enemies--by virtue of the word of Christ: "you shall not resist evil."

Review: BEOWULF trans. by Gerald Davis

I've read a lot of versions of this story since I I first heard of it 30-some-odd years ago. The prospect of a new one made me excited, though for the life of me I don't know why.

It's not a Christian story, despite a thin veneer of Christianity. It's most similar to Norse hero-legends, which makes perfect sense, since that's exactly what it is. When it comes down to it, Beowulf is about how awesome Beowulf is.

While I don't endorse the paganism, I do love the book, and of the transitions I've read, this is one of my favorites. It's written as prose instead of poetry, which I prefer, and is neither trendy intentionally archaic, I highly recommend it.

Job 1

Job painted a target on himself.

When you do what's right, it's noticed. The rest of the world notices that you don't go along with it. Satan notices that you're a threat to him. And most importantly God notices that even in a fallen world there are a few people who want to serve him.

Show, don't tell

One of the biggest and most important rules of writing is, "Show, don't tell." Don't tell your readers that a character is upset; show him being upset instead. I must have been told that a thousand times. Unfortunately, I never heard it from a pulpit.

It's unfortunate because it also applies to a Christian's life as well.

God isn't looking for people who will just tell him they love him. He wants people who'll show him, too. There are plenty of people who are perfectly willing to say it to God, but precious few who will prove it by the way they live.

I won't go so far as to say that God doesn't care what we say, because he clearly does. There's a big difference, though, between saying you'll do something and doing it. They're not even similar.

Show, don't tell. Prove to God you love him, instead of just saying it. After all, actions matter.

Esther 10

In this very short chapter, we learn how high Mordecai rose and how powerful he became.

He did very, very well.

Review: THE SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN by Thomas Merton

This is Merton's autobiography, the story of his life prior to entering a Trappist monastery. Given that he lived what might be called a Bohemian life growing up, the first half of the book shouldn't be so boring, but it is. The second half, in which he feels himself drawn to scholasticism and the life of a monk, is more interesting but no more edifying.

I found this book neither entertaining or useful, which has a lot to do with my very serious doubts about the Church of Rome. I don't recommend it.

 

Esther 9

Here's what bothers me about the book of Esther. First, these were Jews who didn't return to the Promised Land. Second, as far as we know their plans were made entirely independent of God. As an example, Queen Esther's marriage was forbidden under the law. Third, the killings in this chapter were revenge, and that's something God reserved for himself.

I'm not saying Esther doesn't belong in the Bible. I'm saying that I don't understand.

Review: AMISH: BORN AGAIN THE SAME WAY AS OTHERS? by Joe Keim

In this short book, Keim shows that the Amish not only have a peculiar lifestyle, but a peculiar theology as well. Because few of us know or will ever know any of the Amish, I can recommend for the curious.

Another question for Pentecostals

Why does God only speak when we've decided it's acceptable ?i'm not being funny or facetious. I've been in a lot of different kinds of services, and only seen charismatic gifts in places you would expect to see them.

Again, I'm not making fun of anyone. I'm respectively asking for information. 

Esther 8

Hating Mordecai was a waste of time.

Everything Haman had became Mordecai. From his home to his job, everything he had was given to his worst enemy. Even his plan to destroy the Jews failed.

Concerning the breaking of bread

III. Concerning the breaking of bread, we have become one and agree thus: all those who desire to break the one bread in remembrance of the broken body of Christ and all those who wito drink of one drink in remembrance of the shed blood of Christ, they must beforehand be united  in the one body of Christ, that is the congregation of God, whose head is Christ, and that by baptism. For as Paul indicates, wecannot be partakers at the same time of the table of the Lord and the table of devils. Nor can we at the same time partake and drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. That is: all those who have fellowship with the dead works of darkness have no part in the light. Thus all those who follow the devil and the world, have no part with those who have been called out of the world unto God. All those who lie in evil have no part in the good.

So it shall and must be, that whoever does not share the calling of the one God to one faith, to one baptism, to one spirit, to one body together with all the children of God, may not be made one loaf together with them, as must be true if one wishes truly to break bread according to the command of Christ.

Esther 7

It's good to keep some eunuchs around. They're a near-inexhaustible source of useful information. In this chapter, it's a eunuch who knew that Haman had built a gallows and who he planned to hang.

It's still no excuse for gelding people, but it is a nice side-effect.

Review: IN GOD WE DON'T TRUST by David Bercot

I didn't know I'd be reviewing this on Veterans' Day, but it seems appropriate. It's essentially an antihagiography, an antidote to what we were taught in school. It's also effective against the things we hear about the Founding Fathers these days,which are nonsense at best and bald-faced lies at worst.

I long ago decided that according to Romans 13 and other texts, the American Revolution was unchristian. This book backs up that somewhat obvious assertion, but goes far beyond it. Everything is carefully documented, and while I haven't checked it all personally, I've learned over the years to trust Bercot.

Every American Christian should read this book. If nothing else, it should be a counterweight to what we were taught. I highly recommend it.

Esther 6

Be careful what you wish for. Someone else might get it.

In his arrogance, Haman assumed the king was talking about him. But the king really wanted to honor the one person Haman hated most in the entire world. And Haman had to carry it out.