29 June 2006

Double or Nothing

Isaiah 7-11

Everyone knows the prophecies about Christ that are contained hin these chapters. "The virgin will be with child...", "For to us a child is born...", and A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse...". Taken in that sense, they are obvious predictions about Christ. But what about context?

The chapters in which they are contained relate to the invasion of Israel, and the Lord's protection of the same. And this is where things get interesting. Double meanings. Yes, you heard (or rather read) me correctly. The propheices are God assuring his protection of Israel. Twice. Once against various enemies (Assyria, the Lower Kingdom, etc), and later against sin. These prophecies were fulfilled twice. The second time, they were fulfilled perfectly through Christ Jesus.

Rock on.

27 June 2006

A Political Post - w00t

Today, I bought several books to include Common Sense (Thomas Paine) (for those who don't know, this book was the pamphlet that inspired the masses to rise up against the Crown during the American Revolution). As I read it, I find myself blown away.

I first became interested in politics in the ninth grade and my main source of information was Fox News (I watched it religously, but fortunately, I've grown up). In tenth grade, I took a step back to study World and European History (which, after comparing the American Revolution and the Jacobin's Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, greatly affected (effected?) my view of the role of government). During US History, I decided to take George Washington's advice and avoid political parties. This year during Economics, I declared myself a true captialist, advocating merely enough government control to protect the people from their own greed.

As I read through the first section of Common Sense ("Of the origin and design of government in general."), I am reminded of why I believe what I believe. Though a Deist, Paine makes an allusion to the fall of man, saying, "Government, like dress, is the badge of losts innocence...." Paine states that the role of government is to provide security for the least possible intrusion into our lives.

Which brings me to why I am an independent. Aside from the distraction of partisan politics, all parties get it wrong. The Democrats try to intrude economically, while the Republicans try to intrude morally (and though not always a bad thing, they focus on a lot of the wrong things *cough*flag burning*cough*). Third party candidates often hold extremist views (Green, etc).

This post really serves a duel purpose - 1) it explains why I am so weird; and 2) it gives you something to think about (hopefully, I may even convince someone to make the change).

Rock on.

21 June 2006

The Futility of Wisdom

Isaiah 1 and 2
I Corinthinians 1 and 2

I started reading Isaiah and Corinthians wondering what they could possibly have in common. After all, Isaiah is a prophetic book and the Corinthians are letters advising a church. But, as usual, God had a surprise in store for me.

I like to think that I am smart. Furthermore, I try to gain wisdom. After all, Proverbs highly recommends it. So you can imagine my dismay when I read in Isaiah that everything of man (though a prophecy concerning Israel, connections to different times can be seen) will fail. All earthly power, strength, society, culture, everything that is of man. Down the tubes. Including the wisdom of man. There will come a day when God reigns over all the Earth and all of humanity is fully dependent on Him.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that true wisdom is from the Spirit, the very wisdom of God. Furthermore, he says that Christ is the Wisdom of God. In such, when we accept Christ, we admit that our wisdom has failed. We become fully dependent on him. When we become dependent on him, we are forgiven.

"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'" - Isaiah 1:18

Rock on.

19 June 2006

What I Learned In Narnia

I love C.S. Lewis. Ever since I read The Screwtape Letters a year ago, he has been my favorite author. So it may come as a surprise to some who have heard me constantly speak of him that I have not read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe until now (the movie doesn't do justice to Mr. Lewis's inherent charm).

Like most, I saw something very familiar in Aslan. The humiliating death for sins which he did not commit, resurrection (those to first see him after the resurrection were women, as well), being Son of the Emperor, yes Aslan is the Christ-figure of story. After Aslan's resurrection, he said something that really spoke to me.

"But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness befroe Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards."

What did this say to me?
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

Long live the True King
Rock on.