On Appointed Tasks and Talking Donkeys

It's interesting in the story of Christ riding on a donkey as He enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1ff), how the donkey just moments prior to the disciples coming to get him for His God-given appointed task, my friends, he was really just wallowing and whining and lamenting the fact that he'd never been ridden before. Right? If only donkeys could talk. (I think there was one in the Bible some where.) And can you just hear this donkey if he could talk? "Oh, woe is me. I'll never amount to anything. What's the use?" Right? And then one second later he's got the very Messiah riding on his back. I mean - do you know what I mean? And what's just around your corner that you know nothing about and God is going to use you in incredible ways that you've been created for beforehand (Eph. 2:10)? I get so excited just thinking about it. ******* And just remember when God starts using you that the applause goes toward Him and not you. (And what if that little donkey thought as they entered Jerusalem, "They're cheering for me," and not Jesus? Lord, help us to not be that kind of a donkey.)

What is Truth? - Part 2

With Jesus standing before him, Pilate asked the question, "What is truth?" And it was because Pilate lived in a day much like our own, I'm convinced, where we just don't know what to believe anymore since it isn't always the case that we can trust what we're being told. Right? We literally live in a land of liars ("the heart is deceitful above all things" - Jer. 17:9) under the management of the father of lies (John 8:44). And so how can we discern the truth in such a place? Is it really possible to separate fiction from fact? Well, in this second and final post on the subject (click here to read "What is Truth? - Part 1") I'm gonna do my best to give you an answer. You want to know the truth? Do you really? Then here's how: First, get Jesus in your life. After all, He is "the Truth" (John 14:6). Separating fiction from fact starts with Christ. It is through living in a close relationship with Him that we gain the sensitivity to tell when it's a lie we're being fed. And then the second thing you can do to know the truth: Hunger for the truth. When I want pizza and somebody gives me broccoli instead, it just doesn't cut it. Amen? I won't be satisfied until I sink my teeth into a thick, fluffy pan crust with pepperoni and sausage and five different cheeses on top. And it needs to be the case with truth. What are you hungering for today? "Those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied." And I believe it's the same when it comes to the truth, too. Don't be satisfied with anything less. And then the third thing you can do to know the truth: Immerse yourself in the truth/Scriptures. When was the last time you read your Bible? Mmm? And that's just the least you can do, beloved. There's so much more. The writer of the book of Hebrews was surprised over the condition of certain Jewish followers of Jesus. They were still "babes" when they should have been "teachers" (Heb. 5:12-13). And some Christians are still sucking on a pacifier in their understanding and application of God's Word. Is it any wonder that these same people could think that abortion was a viable choice for women? Are you kidding me? And then the last thing you can do now to know the truth: Find someone who's trustworthy that can teach you. Apollos was a great instructor in the early church. But he still needed Aquila and Priscilla to take him aside and explain the "Way" more "perfectly" (Acts 18:24-26). Let us not fool ourselves that somehow we know it all (or can). And so to summarize the four points: (1) Get Jesus in your life; (2) Hunger for the truth; (3) Immerse yourself in the Scriptures; and (4) Find someone that can teach you. As you do these things you will become good at separating fiction from fact. And you'll be able also to help others answer the question, "What is truth?" for themselves.

What is Truth? - Part 1

Many years ago Pilate asked Jesus the question, "What is truth?" And Pilate asked that question, I'm convinced, because he lived in a day much like our own - where we just don't know what to believe anymore. Do you ever find yourself feeling like that? And as everything that happens and everything that's talked about and said, it seems like it's up for grabs whether it's fiction or fact. For instance, the Holocaust - it didn't really happen - right? - according to one world leader. He's probably the best example of how many are giving their own "spin" on things these days. Do you know what I mean by "spin" and "spinning"? And if you really want the truth about something, well, you just better make sure to read the New York Times. And then - whatever happened to Dan Rather? And then there's another reliable source to go to if you can't get the New York Times or have HDTV (Dan Rather's show is on it) where you can be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt about things, my brothers and sisters. I'm talking about none other than Wikipedia - wikipedia.org - the encyclopedic website where they offer a rather unique approach. You see, it's collaborative. (Web 2.0 I think they call it.) You can add your own "take" to entries on Wikipedia. It's not revolutionary. It's evolutionary (literally). It's just another example of what I'm talking about - we just don't know what to believe anymore and the potential for "spin" and "spinning" is everywhere and anywhere. What we really could use is a "No Spin Zone." They ought to have a show like that. Do you think? (Of course, I know about Bill O'Reilly's show on Fox. I also know there's even "spinning" that takes place in the "No Spin Zone.") Which brings us back to the quesion: "What is truth?" which was relevant to Pilate's time and is to ours as well. So how do we answer the question? How do we discern the truth? How do we separate fiction from fact? Watch for my next blog post on this subject where I'll do my best to give you an answer.

Test Your Knowledge of the Old Testament

Do you know your Bible? Well, let's just find out if you do with a quiz. How 'bout it? This is now the second in a series entitled: "Test Your Knowledge of the Bible." The first test was on the New Testament. This second test will focus on the Old Testament. When you're finished you'll be able to check how well you did below. So let's go...

1. How many different books make up the Old Testament (according to the Protestant tradition)? (a) 39; (b) 66; (c) 28; (d) 27.

2. The Old Testament relates to the New Testament in the following way: (a) the Old Testament takes back seat to the teaching of the New Testament; (b) the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed while the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed; (c) the Old Testament should be taken as a separate body of writing with little or no relationship to the New Testament; (d) the Old Testament is the Jewish Scriptures while the New Testament is the Christian Scriptures.

3. The Hebrew Old Testament accepts the following books as unified texts versus being split up in to two (more than one answer): (a) 1 and 2 Kings; (b) 1 and 2 Samuel; (c) Ezra and Nehemiah; (d) 1 and 2 Chronicles.

4. Proof of the inspiration of the Old Testament Scriptures (that is, that they were given divinely by God and they are without error) is the fact that: (a) many of the authors began their writings with or used the phrase: "Thus saith the Lord," and "Hear the word of the Lord"; (b) the New Testament includes verses that speak of the Old Testament, too - verses like: "All Scripture is inspired by God" (2 Tim. 3:16a) and "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (1 Pet. 1:20-21; (c) predictions made by the Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel have come to pass (for example, Isaiah predicted the Messiah would be born of a virgin, Jeremiah predicted the fall of Judah, the exile to Babylon and Israel's return to her land, Daniel predicted the rise and fall of empires including Babylon, Persia and Greece) (d) all of the above.

5. The central and unifying theme of the Old Testament is: (a) the people of Israel and their establishment in the Promised Land and as a nation; (b) the giving of the Law/Ten Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai and his subsequent communication of that Law to the Israelites; (c) Abraham, who was to become the father of many nations and in his Seed would the peoples of the world be blessed; (d) the Person and work of Christ.

6. The books of the Old Testament are broken down as follows: (a) 5 of law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry, 5 of major prophets, 12 of minor prophets; (b) 5 of law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry, 6 of major prophets, 11 of minor prophets; (c) 5 of law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry, 4 of major prophets, 13 of minor prophets; (d) 5 of law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry, 7 of major prophets, 10 of minor prophets.

7. The Apostle Paul wrote most of the books of the New Testament. Who was it that wrote most of the books in the Old Testament? (a) Jeremiah; (b) David; (c) Samuel; (d) Moses.

Answers: 1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (a) & (c) 4. (d) 5. (d) 6. (a) 7. toss up between (c) and (d).

(This test was developed from the Unger's Bible Dictionary, the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary and the following website: Wikipedia - Old Testament.)

Test Your Knowledge of the New Testament

This is the first in a series entitled: "Test Your Knowledge of the Bible." This first test has to do with the New Testament. What do you know about it? Let's find out with the following questions (you'll be able to check how many you get right below):

1. How many different books make up the New Testament? (a) 39; (b) 66; (c) 38; (d) 27.

2. How many different authors combined to write the New Testament? (a) 9; (b) 2; (c) 10; (d) 8.

3. Can you name the different authors who combined to write the New Testament? (a) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, Jude, Philemon; (b) God the Father and the Holy Spirit; (c) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, Jude; (d) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, Jude, Jesus.

4. Of the four gospels contained in the New Testament, it is believed that one of them was really produced at the dictation of which person? (a) Mary Magdalene dictated to Matthew; (b) Peter dictated to Mark; (c) Paul dictated to Luke; (d) Jesus dictated to John.

5. Which is believed to be the earliest written New Testament epistle (excluding the Gospels)? (a) 1 Thessalonians; (b) James; (c) 1 Corinthians; (d) 1 Timothy.

6. The New Testament was mostly written in what language? (a) King James English; (b) Aramaic; (c) Egyptian; (d) Greek.

7. There is one New Testament book that is considered to have a sequel. Which is it and what is the sequel? (a) Romans and Hebrews; (b) 1st & 2nd Peter; (c) John's Gospel and Revelation; (d) Luke's Gospel and Acts.

Answers: 1. (d) 2. (d) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (b) 6. (d) 7. (d)

(This test was developed mostly from the New American Standard Bible, Open Bible Version. For more information on the New Testament, take some time to visit: Wikipedia - New Testament.)