A few thoughts on studying the Bible.

I had an occasion, recently, to enter into a theological discussion about a "hot topic" in some of the more conservative churches. I have no intention in getting into the meat of the matter here, but I did come to some interesting conclusions.

First of all, we make a lot of assumptions. We assume the translations are accurate. We assume that what we are taught is right. And we assume we understand everything. We tend to let things we're taught go without challenging them, or without finding out for ourselves. We get confortable with what we understand and resist being unsettled.

So this discussion I mentioned before, it unsettled me. It challenged a my understanding of the Bible in a way I'd never been challenged before. My reaction? Find out the truth for myself by going back to the source, in it's original form in as much as I can. The problem is, the original form of the New Testament is Ancient Greek, which I've never studied. HOWEVER, I just discovered a fantastic resource available online, that does just that - it takes each and every word from the Bible back to it's original Greek or Hebrew origins. Not only that but each word is linked to its reference in Strong's Concordance; AND it also shows the passage in comparison with the various English translations. In case you're wondering, the website I'm referring to is: bible.cc. If you're the Bible-studying type, you'll want to check it out!

While I realise it's incredibly geeky to confess that I've spent hours doing this kind of study lately, I'm not ashamed to admit that it's been incredibly rewarding. If there's ambiguity in the translation, the original text can provide some clarity. This kind of study is really much richer and deepr than I had ever expected. I've learned so much! For example, in many cases, the gender-neutral pronoun used in the original text is replaced by masculine pronouns by Bible translators. Or, when a pronoun could have more than one meaning (gender-neutral or masculine), masculine becomes the default for translators. Interesting, eh? Ha. Or maybe it's not interesting at all. But it certainly has been enlightening for me.

The resources we have at our disposal in these post-modern times is unfathomable. And it's all at our finger-tips! We should consider ouselves privleged not only to have access to these reources, but also to have the freedom to use them.
...And that will be the final conclusion I leave you with tonight.

Delighting in a good read

This is the view I enjoyed for a long afternoon at the cottage. And these were the sounds - a light breeze and the rippling lake against the wharf:

One of the delights of the cottage is the luxury to sit down with a good book and not have to get up for anything. It's a perfect place to shut out the world and immerse yourself in the world of your book. In my case, the book I was reading took me back to pre-American Civil War times in Kentucky. I finally finished reading Uncle Tom's Cabin, and I have to say this book shot way up to the top of my favourites. First of all I was completely caught off guard by the underlying themes. Yes, I knew the book was an indictment against the injustices of slavery and was very forward-thinking of its female author. In fact, Harriet Beecher Stowe has become a sort of hero to me now. The text, the language, is very pointed to particular social groups and at the time it was written in 1851 it had to have been very shocking to its readers. HBS was very counter-cultural and I dig that! But what I didn't expect was the message of hope and forgiveness in the midst of some of the worst kinds of treatment a human could endure by the hands of another. Uncle Tom's heartfelt desire was not really for his own earthy freedom, because he knew he would receive freedom in Heaven one day. No, his heartfelt desire was for his Master's freedom - freedom from that which has separated him from God, and freedom that comes from being released in forgiveness.

This is a long post, but I have to share these passages from the book with you. I hope they give you as much food for thought as they did for me. AND, if you haven't read Uncle Tom's Cabin - do!

On the abuses of slavery, the author writes to the reader:

"Patience! Patience! ye whose hearts swell indignant at wrongs like these. Not one throb of anguish, not one tear of the oppressed is forgotten by the Man of Sorrows, the Lord of Glory. In his patient, generous bosom he bears the anguish of a world. Bear thou, like him, in patience, and labour in love; for sure is he is God, "the year of his redeemed shall come." (Ch.12)

And when George, a slave who doubts the presence of God, finds refuge in a Quaker home:

"This, indeed, was a home, -- home, -- a word that George had never yet known the meaning for; and a belief in God and trust in His providence, began to encircle his heart, as with a golden cloud of protection and confidence, dark, misanthropic, pining, atheistic doubts and fierce despair melted away before the light of a living Gospel, breathed in living faces, preached by a thousand unconscious acts of love and good-will, which, like a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple shall never lose their reward. (Ch.13)

And from St. Clare, on the hypocrisy of the church's support and justification of slavery:

"Religion! Is that what you hear at church religion? Is that which can bend and turn, and descend and ascend, to fit every crooked phase of selfish, worldly society, religion? Is that religion that is less scrupulous, less generous,less just, less considerate for man, than even my own ungodly, worldly, blinded nature? No! When I look for a religion, I must look for something above me, not for something beneath."

Each new day is a blank page...

"Be still and know that I am God...." Psalm 46:10

Quiet time for reflection and meditation is my comforting habit...and has been, though not always daily (or even monthly for that matter) for 13 years.

Here is 13 years worth of thoughts, stories, insights, joys and sorrows, hopes and dreams:

Check out what other people are saying about their comforting habits.

"I sing because I have joy"

Last night I witnessed the truest profession of hope, joy, faith and potential I've seen in a long time. The African Children's Choir performed at Birch Cove Baptist, and the packed house (with standing room only) was treated to a fantastic show full of harmony, energy, talent and enthusiasm. These children, aged between 7 and 11, from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya..., have been performing on the road for almost a year, but you would hardly know it. I'm sure they must be tired of performing the same songs, the same dances, but it certainly didn't show.
This is truly a good news story. These children represent the hope of Africa. They are touring across Canada/USA/UK and Europe to demonstrate their potential, not just as singers and dancers, but as children who will grow up to be teachers, doctors, pastors, secretaries and Presidents. They don't flash images of improverished African villages, refugee camps, emaciated children, or inhabitable drought-filled landscapes; but show you the vibrant culture through music and dance and show you that when given the educational opportunities, they will thrive and live out their potential.

More about the African Children's Choir here and to see a tiny bit of their perfomance:


See YouTube for more clips of their performances.

More about the parent organization, Music For Life.

Check out their Itinerary, they're still on tour and they might be touring near you. If you live in the Maritimes and you're kicking yourself for missing them
...they're coming back in April 2009!

Home Sweet Home

It's nice to feel settled. I think my life is finally starting to calm down and things are falling into all the right places. I'm comfortable in my apartment, I have a good (I hope!) car to get me to and fro, and I've had the change to visit with family and friends since being home. It's all good. I am now extending an invitation to all my friends near and far to come for a visit.

Have car, will drive

So in the last week it's become painfully clear that I have to leave my current abode. For reasons I'm not going to get into here (yet) I've been truly concerned about my personal security. As a result I've ramped up my efforts to find another apartment. I've been pounding the pavement in my present neighbourhood but have come up with very little. I've looked at half a dozen apartments but they all have significant flaws and don't cover my must haves.



In order to cover more area, and increase my search radius, I rented a car (yes, a cARrrr!) for Saturday. Oh, how I enjoyed having a vehicle again!!! They gave me a Ford Focus sedan, gun-metal grey, and it was a joy to drive.

Though it took me a good while to get used to driving an automatic again (my left leg still a little tense from being ready for the non-existent clutch), the car was easy to drive and good on gas. I weaved up and down streets all around West End, Fairview and Clayton Park looking for apartments. Found a few, but there's one in particular I'm really hoping for. Those of you who are the praying sort can pray about it; those of you who aren't can send positive thoughts my way instead! I really want this place, and I'm waiting, waiting, waiting to see if my application will be accepted. If it is you can expect move in photos soon - I'm hoping to move within the next couple of weeks.

I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, I thought I would also post a photo I took when I was driving around the city. It's a giant lobster.....to be expected in Nova Scotia (by some) I suppose. I took it because I can think of a few people who would laugh at this. I'm perpetuating the myth.

Built in a day

Rome wasn't, but the little church that sits in the middle of a cemetery just beside the Inn where I'm staying, was.

Apparently, as I was told, the community decided they needed a church, so they all stopped what they were doing and spent a day building one. It's construction is fairly simple and I'm not sure how old it is, but I thought this was an interesting contrast to my current surrounds and even my current situation.

I had a chance to wander around today in a city I call home but hardly know at all. And I was blown away by the beautiful architecture. It's a photographer's dream here. There are so many varying styles of architecture - from the rough sea worn vessels, to the stone and wood buildings along the Historic Properties, to the whimsical patterns pressed into the stones that built the Courthouse. (I promise to post pictures when I get back home).

None of these buildings were built in a day, that's for sure!

And yet a day can change everything. I'm here with the hopes that my life will change direction (East, to be exact), all because of a single day. For the community who built their church in a day, it must've taken a lot of hardwork and tenacity (I mean, what difference would it make for it to take 2 days?!), and faith.

Tomorrow is my "church-building day".