ook is, among other things, very funny. I have not laughed as hard reading a book for a very long time. Jacobs chronicles his attempt at an impossible feat - to live every word of the bible in its most literal interpretation for an entire year. Jacobs begins his journey an agnostic, and completes his journey as an "enlightened agnostic." However, he also has a new appreciation for his own Jewish heritage. The book makes so many great points about the bible, I will simply recommend reading it. However, Jacobs does make one point that I think is worth mentioning. He explains - whether intentionally, or not - very well the relationship between holiness and the law. To paraphrase, the law is not terribly effective as an end in itself. However, as a "means of grace," a method by which we might know God more intimately, it serves a valid purpose. The trick is (as it has always been) how to understand and interpret the law. But, that is a discussion for another day. In the meantime, read "The Year of Living Biblically." You won't regret it.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Year of Living Biblically
I just finished reading a great book, "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. This b
ook is, among other things, very funny. I have not laughed as hard reading a book for a very long time. Jacobs chronicles his attempt at an impossible feat - to live every word of the bible in its most literal interpretation for an entire year. Jacobs begins his journey an agnostic, and completes his journey as an "enlightened agnostic." However, he also has a new appreciation for his own Jewish heritage. The book makes so many great points about the bible, I will simply recommend reading it. However, Jacobs does make one point that I think is worth mentioning. He explains - whether intentionally, or not - very well the relationship between holiness and the law. To paraphrase, the law is not terribly effective as an end in itself. However, as a "means of grace," a method by which we might know God more intimately, it serves a valid purpose. The trick is (as it has always been) how to understand and interpret the law. But, that is a discussion for another day. In the meantime, read "The Year of Living Biblically." You won't regret it.
ook is, among other things, very funny. I have not laughed as hard reading a book for a very long time. Jacobs chronicles his attempt at an impossible feat - to live every word of the bible in its most literal interpretation for an entire year. Jacobs begins his journey an agnostic, and completes his journey as an "enlightened agnostic." However, he also has a new appreciation for his own Jewish heritage. The book makes so many great points about the bible, I will simply recommend reading it. However, Jacobs does make one point that I think is worth mentioning. He explains - whether intentionally, or not - very well the relationship between holiness and the law. To paraphrase, the law is not terribly effective as an end in itself. However, as a "means of grace," a method by which we might know God more intimately, it serves a valid purpose. The trick is (as it has always been) how to understand and interpret the law. But, that is a discussion for another day. In the meantime, read "The Year of Living Biblically." You won't regret it.
The Devil's Highway
When I worked in Garden Grove, I used to think the 22 freeway was "the devil's highway" because it was always so crowded. It didn't matter what time of day or night. Well, they have since widened the 22 and it seems to flow pretty well now, considering. However, now that I work in Anaheim Hills, I have truly come to travel the devil's highway - it is the 91 freeway, especially as it travels through the Santa Ana Canyon. I have traveled this puppy at all different hours of the day and night. The picture accompanying this blog was taken at 11:30 a.m. (Yes, I know it is pretty foolish to take a picture while driving a car - believe me, my car was not moving). Why is any of this important? Why does it matter? It matters because this is the world that we live in and things like traffic and pollution and everything else involved in living in an overcrowded community have an impact of the state of our souls. We just finished our sermon series on "The Fear Factor" and one of the things that I pointed out to the congregation was that in these crazy times we are living in, it is easy to give in to fear or cynicism. But, for Christians, that is not an option. Faithfulness means that we continue moving forward in faith, that we face our fears, that we continue to share the self-giving, sacrificial love of Christ with others. This is our calling, even when we are on the devil's highway.
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