The Watchers in Jewish and Christian Traditions (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014)
I received this book a few days ago from Fortress Press. I’m not sure I will agree with it completely, since I think the pertinent passages in Genesis should be read a bit differently. However, I’m interested to see how this has been treated through the centuries. Look for my full review in a few days.
The Israeli Solution (New York: Crown Forum, 2014)
This is what I’ve been reading this week…
Peace in the Middle East has been elusive for generations. A native of Jerusalem, and deeply involved in the negotiations surrounding Israel and its neighbors, Glick has a first-hand view of events, and a good idea of what it might take to establish peace. That’s what The Israeli Solution is all about.
Beowulf: A Translation And Commentary (Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014)
I received this in the mail last week. I’m really looking forward to digging into it, since I’m such a huge Tolkien fan. If you love the classic literature, and Tolkien, you need to get a copy of this and read it. It’s brand new, just released last week. I’m taking it with me on my trip to Oklahoma. Hopefully, I’ll be able to spend some time in it while there.
This week will be a slow week around JeffRandleman.com. I’m taking one of my sons to Oklahoma to go rock and fossil hunting. As a result, there will only be a minimal amount of activity here. My normal, weekly posts will appear as scheduled, including the Saturday Quote, Sunday’s Memorize Scripture, and Monday’s Coffee Break.
Normal activity will resume next week.
Wish us luck. My son hopes to find some pretty cool fossils and rocks, but whether we do or don’t, it will be some good time spent with him.
Art Made From Coffee Ring Stains – This is simply stunning. The creativity that people possess is absolutely incredible. I would frame something like this and hang it in my home.
Taking A Wider View – This is a series of photos of famous landmarks, but taken from a different perspective, farther away, in order to see how they fit into their surroundings. Some are surprising. Others are just as beautiful as the close up.
The Luckiest Archaeological Find In History – Recently, the remains of Richard III were discovered and identified. The story of how it happened is pretty intriguing. After a short reign, and a tragic death, this king is finally laid to rest.
Three Things Not To Say… – A very brief article with a few thoughts to keep in mind when talking with someone who is going through a tough time.
Lord, Liar, Lunatic… Or Legend? – C. S. Lewis’ trilemma is fairly well know. Either Jesus was a liar of epic proportions, or he was a lunatic who should have been institutionalized, or he was actually who he said he was. But what if there is a fourth option? What if the gospels are legends? In this long but well-researched article, that idea is examined in detail, and dismissed just like the possibilities of liar or lunatic.
Children Are Not Looking For Perfect Parents – One of my greatest fears is that I will fail my kids. However, this brief article reminded me that my kids aren’t looking for perfection. They simply want to see me living my faith the best that I can.
Prayer and praise are the oars by which a man may row his boat into the deep waters of the knowledge of Christ. – C. H. Spurgeon
With the conclusion of a bleak description of the last days, and the false teachers in that era, Paul gives Timothy some insight into how they operate as they try to spread their false religion.
Take a look at this week’s passage, found in 2 Timothy 3:6-7:
At first glance, you might think that this entire passage describes the false teachers. But that is not the case. These two verses begin with how such teachers operate, but then transitions into a description of those who fall for their traps.
These false teachers infiltrate homes, often under false pretenses. Some commentators suggest that these homes are of people that Timothy knows. These homes may even refer to some of the younger widows in the community, who have enough wealth to give them ample time to listen to and perpetuate such false teachings. These widows would have been “easy marks” for the false teachers, with the extra time on their hands.
These false teachers captivate such minds, gaining control and planting their ideas into fertile soil. Such minds are weak-willed. Take note that Paul is not describing women in general with this statement, but certain women in particular within Timothy’s church or community.
Creativity is the joy of not knowing it all. The joy of not knowing it all refers to the realization that we seldom if ever have all the answers; we always have the ability to generate more solutions to just about any problem. Being creative is being able to see or imagine a great deal of opportunity to life’s problems. Creativity is having options.