God Centered Biblical Intepretation

It's been a while since I've updated the site, and so I return with a book review. But before that, some updates on what I'm doing now. It started of from something my mum said - for the first time in my life, she told me that I'm fat.

This is serious. I mean she has always been complaining me being skinny and bony and this is the first time in 26 years that she called me fat and wants me to loose some weight. So I'm tasked for these few weeks that I'm here, to shake off some of the extra pounds I put on from the last month of work. The stress less month has rendered me a bit rounder and it's not just my mum who's complaining I'm plump. *wink wink*

Back to the review, this is the first book that I've read from Vern Poythress. I've read it quite some time ago, and only decided to write the review now to summarize some things that I've learnt from it so far.

Poythress is generally very clear with his literary work, and it is an enjoyable read. The book starts off with a group discussion on how one should interpret the Bible. As expected, the group wandered off aimlessly because without a clear foundation, one can interpret the Bible to say whatever one wants to say.

It is thus the book's aim to argue on how the Bible is indeed an divine instrument of communication and how Biblical interpretation should be centered on God. As a beginner's book, it aims to provide the very foundation for us to interpret the Bible so that we can better understand what God is saying to us at our current generation. Poythress is also at home when venturing into technical depths of linguistics, terms and meanings of language in general, and he brings in fresh perspectives on how one should be firmly grounded in the orthodoxy of Christian interpretation.

True to a reformer, Poythress drives home the point on Creator - creature distinction on interpretation. Human are not only sinful after the fall, but we are by nature, finite. It is thus important for us to admit that our works and knowledge will never be the same as our Creator's, and our interpretation will always fall short of the perfect understanding like that of Jesus and the Father in John 17.

Ultimately, interpretation, like all other human endeavor, is in need of redemption by Christ. It is only through the active participation of the Holy Spirit that we are able to understand the Bible, and in fact, everything at all. The book has other discussions by fictional Christian characters who differ in their way of interpretations.

It is a thought provoking book, and one read is not enough to capture the essence that the author has poured into the paperback.

On Teaching

I came here with the intention of posting another book review, but instead I shall let my mind flow for this time.

I believe that there is a rule at work when it comes to learning and teaching. When the transaction in the form of a lesson is taking place, the learner is as important as the teacher.

Granted, a great teacher will inspire and arouse the interest of his students, like Jesus. But even Jesus preached to many deaf ears, with only a handful of disciples in need of tuition for 40 days before the Ascension.

The point I want to make is this: we are shifting responsibilities (and blame) everywhere but ourselves. We go for a course, didn’t get anything out of it – course lecturer has no content. We go for music lesson, didn’t know how to play well – music teacher incompetent. We go for sermon, slept – pastor uninteresting. I’m not a saint in this as well, and I’m writing this to remind myself of my flaws. Effective learning needs diligent work and the correct attitude. We failed many times to ask ourselves what we should be doing when learning, but instead we expect some magic pill to grant us immediate mastery effortlessly.

The reason I wrote this is because students who thinks there’s a magic pill somewhere irritates the heck out of a teacher. If there really is a magic pill, it lies in the form of prayers and a lot of sacrifices. The disciples probably got the most magic pill-ish understanding on Pentecost, but that is not without prayers and God’s sovereignty. Their sacrifices thereafter would be an understatement if I describe them here.

I used to give some guitar lessons, but I got quite fed up with people wanting to practice 1-2 hours a week and expecting to play like Steve Vai. When it dawns on them that it’s not going to happen, they give up. Plain and simple. It maybe my fault – uninspiring, uninteresting,  nothing but tedium involved. But that’s how you gain – repeating and practicing over and over again despite all the drills.

Which brings me back to the initial rule – that the learner is as important as the teacher. It is my hope that when I teach, I can inspire and arouse at least a hint of interest, but it is my prayer that the learners come prepared.

How to Read A Book

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written reviews on anything at all. I figured that since I’m reading on a rather consistent basis now, I’d start writing some book summaries, so as to keep my mind sharp and to keep the posts coming.

Our journey then, starts with something with a hint of irony. It’s a book to teach you how to read a book. Upon reading it though, rather than being ironical, it becomes very practical because the author urges you to practice with the book itself – from reading the content page to reading the bibliography. Written in simple plain English, the book aims to provide a guideline so that the reader can get their most out of any book, be it for information or for understanding.

As a philosopher and an educator, Adler is brilliant in organizing the levels of reading and communicating the important essences in reading a book intelligently. Adler stimulates reader into asking important questions when reading a book, and how these questions are tweaked when the reader is faced with any genre of book.

Besides understanding how to read a book, the author also encourages reader to be demanding in coming to terms with the author, summarizing to perceive the unity and diversity of the book, owning the books by making small notes and understanding how the book impact our lives. Most of all, it is imperative for a reader to know that one must be active and there is a price to pay in order to understand any book, more so for good books.

If you truly want to get the most out of any book, but you find yourself staring at it, finishing it without truly understanding what it means and what you should do, this is the book for you. It is not a magic pill, but it is a good start.

Lin-sanity

To be honest, when I first saw the video of Lin against Nets with his 25 points, my reaction was – lucky kid. I was quite surprise there was no big hoo-ha over an Asian dude in NBA prior to his Nets win, and was just thinking that it probably was just a fluke streak.

Turns out it was not a fluke streak.

This guy’s the real deal. For four days in a row, I watched the NBA highlights – not because I intentionally visit the NBA site, but because my Facebook was flooded with either Jeremy Lin or Whitney Houston. When the 38 point victory over Lakers came, it struck home. This Chinese dude can play basketball – and he can play it well. A bit ironical as I believe that the icon for basketball pop culture was Slam Dunk, but the guy to actually realize it is Jeremy Lin, not Jeremy Nagasato or something.

Well you can argue that maybe it’s precisely because he’s an Asian, that’s why he’s garnering all the attention he has right now. Just to ground ourselves in reality, the last time someone obtain stats like Jeremy, that ‘someone’ was LeBron James. I’m pretty sure everybody knows who LeBron James is, and I’m pretty sure that everyone knows who Jeremy Lin is right now – they are on the same skill page.

What struck me more was that he’s a devout Christian, not just an average churchgoer, but someone who puts God ahead of his life. In an age like this, ingenious sportsmen and devout Christians stand almost on complete antithetical grounds – just look at the football players. In a way, the temptation is humungous – fame, money, women, fans… it’s like the world at your fingertips. If one is not grounded firmly in truth and faith, one will be drift wood in the tide.

That’s also why I said a prayer for Lin that night I read his story, and I hope to remember this brother in Christ in my prayers all the time. God is the God of basketball. It is in His sweet pleasure that He endows Lin with such skills, and such humility that all glory might be for Him.

Soli Deo Gloria.

God’s Fireworks

I was on the way back from Sydney when I passed this humongous cumulonimbus somewhere in the Indonesian islands.

The scenes of peaceful cirrus far below the wings are much more familiar, but this brings about the thought of God’s grandeur and that the heavens, truly, declare the wonder of our God.

Messiah No. 1-4

Recently I've discovered a very nice series of Messiah uploaded on youtube and would like to share here on my blog. It's in the 1980s, but the quality is nothing short of pristine. Some note worth mentioning is the King's college choir, consisting of boy sopranos, countertenors, tenors and basses, essentially all men - very sweet and light combination indeed.

This is but the first scene of the very first part of Messiah, and it tells of the fulfilment of the prophecies in the old testament, particularly the prophet Isaiah at this instant:

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,
and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned:
for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway
for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough places plain:

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

Isaiah 40: 1-5

The first scene consists of the Overture, the very gentle recitative vv1-3, the aria v4 and finally the chorale singing through v5.

Isaiah 40 is recognised as the turning point in the book of Isaiah - that the Lord no longer calls down judgement to the people of Israel, but calls them back to Him. Isaiah's tone changes from confrontation to assurance, with the Lord promising a Messiah that will one day come and display His glory to all the people. Verse 3 is later cited in the gospels of Matthew and Luke on John the Baptist as the one preparing the way, and pointing thus towards Jesus Christ the Messiah.

I have not included the lyrics of the last part of the video as it is part of Scene 2 (No.5).

Summer Breeze

For the fist time in my life, Australian summer became a subjective truth. It wasn't as bad as I've anticipated it to be (yet), since we've always heard of forest fires and soaring 40 deg temps over down under.

Weather has been terrific since I arrived - breezy, warm and dry. As I arrived in the morning, hunger pangs struck at around 9am local time, and we went for breakfast. I had some very well made Eggs Benedict, and the rest of the day was spent lying on the couch reading or sleeping.

My sis and bro in law has shifted since the last time I came, and their humble abode is really lovely. I spent some time catching up with Casper and with my mum. But of course, the biggest change this time I'm here at Sydney is my status. I've been promoted to an 'uncle', in the very literal sense. It was my first encounter with Matthew, my nephew, and he is such a darling.

This brings me thus to the very real topic of parenting. I don't have much knowledge about it since I've not gone through it myself,
but it's always good to be prepared. Seeing my family reacting to the addition of Matthew set me thinking - it's not an easy job having kids. From the difficulty of one kid, it's hard to imagine our grandparents used to have them in the dozens. There might be some economies of scale, but having just three kids screaming for your attention is no small joke. The reason I mention "three" is because there is a possibility that I might end up with three kids in future.

Now before anyone goes about concluding that I'm lamenting my future situation - I'm not. It's difficult to handle kids, but it's also a blessing from the Lord:

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of warrior are the children of one's youth." Psalm 127: 3-4

I'm more than convinced that having children will inevitably reduce your time and freedom (and money of course); but I'm equally convinced that having godly children is a blessing not just to ourselves, but to those around us as well. It's through divine providence that children are born into the family, and there is no other way than to entrust their lives into the hand of Him who formed us.

Maybe I'm being idealistic. Maybe it's because I have not had terrible experience on parenting. Maybe it's this and that. But if we don't start believing in the Lord and conquering the battle, it will always be an obstacle.

Reflections

Truth is sometimes painful, and sometimes really discouraging. After a meaningful conversation last night about writings and expression of my thoughts, it pains me to reflect on my own inadequacy.

I’m not good at expressing myself.

The reason why this blog needs restarting countless times proves this very point. There were times when full post drafts were just deleted because I felt that it would not be adequate in expressing what I really thought of a subject. There were times when posts were conjured up in my mind, only to find themselves hidden there and never to appear again.

It’s the same with this very post. The reason then, why I am posting this up here is because I made a resolution to put into proper words to express what I feel or think about certain things.

Upon reflection, it dawns to me that part of the reason why I do not like to express my own thoughts too often over public arena is because of my sinful pride. Paradoxical as it may seem, the very idea of remaining silent sometimes propels myself into the position of a judge, criticizing what others are lacking in their writing (albeit silently) but defending my own position, giving the excuse that I did not expound on the subject. Or in other words, I always try to 一鸣惊人。Sometimes trying too hard by writing some aphoristic quotes and leaving the readers confounded in mystery, when I myself do not really know what I wanted to convey in the first place.

Of course, I do not mean that everyone (more so myself) should express what they feel or think with the motive of impressing others what they know or how much they know. That’s the opposite of what my situation is anyways, and both arises from pride.

As I write this post, I am reminded of a verse:

“For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1John 2:16

Pride can be so subtle sometimes, it exists merely in the mind. Silent comparisons between my own talents with others who are lacking became the foundation of my self-esteem. But the most venomous nature of such comparisons is that it is silent. Outward expression of prideful comparisons normally end up with boastful statements; but quietly comparing and seeking comfort in the idea that I’m some ways “better” than the other party renders myself no less than a hypocrite.

It is this pride that causes me to delete many posts so as not to appear foolish when expressing myself. It is this pride that I’m struggling with everyday.

Reflection sometimes brings us face to face with the Truth that we do not want to bear with. It is the Truth that we all want to suppress with our very sinful nature. It is only in Jesus that I can find my ultimate answer and comfort. Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Struggling by myself is pointless, but struggling with the hope of eventual sanctification and eternal life is more meaningful than anything one can find in his life.

It is with this attitude that I’m “restarting” my blog again – to express myself and my thoughts as honest as I can, making mistakes but admitting them whenever possible and submitting myself to the Truth. 

The Lack of Writing

Many things have come and go during the period that I’ve remained silent on this blog.

Have decided to blog today because of my prayer answered. As mentioned in my last post, my taste in music has gradually changed over the years. Most of the time now, my iPhone is streaming out strings and chorales instead of drums and guitars. I guess the advantage is that you can play Messiah 13534623242 times and not get bored of it, but if you played contemporary songs, your ears will be numb on the 5th time repeating.

So I made a prayer sometime end of last year, hoping that at least once in my life, I get to sing arguably, the most important Christian song ever composed – The Messiah. Not to sing because it’s great, but to sing to our High King of heaven because He is worthy of such grandeur in music.

And so I return home today from Choir, having known from the announcement that we will be singing Messiah this year. It’s great joy indeed, that you know you are given the opportunity to serve. For though we are unworthy, He has chosen us before all Creation, to serve Him and give Him glory until the end of time into eternity.

Decisions have been made in 2012 to go down the path of no return. But that will be another story in another post on another day.