Posts

Posted on

Do We Need Temples Today? (Part 3)

In part two of this series, I examined the creation narrative to describe the relationship between the Eden Temple and Adam and Eve’s role in relationship to it. We saw that God commissioned Adam and Eve to subdue and rule the world by exercising their God-given offices of priesthood and kingship. Adam’s assignment to “work” and “guard” the garden identified him as a priest in God’s sacred temple and his identity as an image bearer ascribed to him the status of a royal son of God (Gen 2:15; 1:26–28; cf. Gen 5:1–3). As Adam Eve fulfilled the creation commission to be fruitful and multiply, they would have propagated the divine image to the far corners of the earth so that God’s rule and reign (i.e., kingdom) would encompass the entire planet. Implied in this commission was the fact that the borders of Eden would need to expand as the human race multiplied. The sacred space of the garden-sanctuary would push outward into the outer spaces of the earth until the entire earth became the dwelling place of God. Continue reading “Do We Need Temples Today? (Part 3)”

Posted on

How do we know the unknowable?

Of all the prayers of Paul recorded in Scripture, Ephesians 3:14–19 is my favorite.

Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV) — 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Continue reading “How do we know the unknowable?”

Posted on

“Do More Better” by Tim Challies

Do_More_Better

I have nearly finished reading Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity  by Tim Challies. I am thankful to Mr. Challies for writing this book and I highly recommend it. He articulates a biblically based approach to productivity and offers extremely practical tips for becoming a more organized and productive person. I appreciate his definition of productivity: “Productivity is effectively stewarding your gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God.”

I have pretty much adopted his strategies for productivity in full and I am reaping the benefits. Thank you Tim Challies for this immensely helpful book.

Posted on

Do We Need Temples Today? (Part 2)

In my last post, I began a biblical-theological investigation into the meaning and purpose of temples in the Bible. I argued that the garden of Eden is Scripture’s first temple. Yet more must be said about the function of Eden in God’s plan for the world. It is not enough to simply demonstrate that Eden functioned as a primeval temple; we must also consider Eden’s purpose in light of God’s design for humanity. If we do not understand God’s creation project, then we will misunderstand God’s redemption project and the role Israel’s temple played in bringing God’s redemptive purposes to pass.

Continue reading “Do We Need Temples Today? (Part 2)”

Posted on

Reflections on sleep, fear, and faith

Sleep is a dangerous enterprise. Every night we lie down unconscious and vulnerable for multiple hours. This is why it is safe to assume that most of us lock our doors at night before we go to bed. I go through my routine every night: close the garage door; lock the garage door; lock the back sliding door; lock the front door. I never set an alarm on my phone to remind me to lock the doors. I always remember and I always do it. It never fails. My wife never asks me to lock the doors, she just knows that I do it. And if I am gone, she never forgets to do the same thing even though she is not in the habit of doing it. Why do we do this? And why do I think it is safe to assume that virtually everyone who reads this blog post does the same thing? Is it simply because more crime happens at night? In actual fact, a lot of crime happens in broad daylight. But the reason we lock our doors at night is because we know that we are about to lie down and become unconscious. We do not know what might be going on around us while we are sleeping or who might be awake in our presence so we try to make ourselves as safe as possible before going to bed. Continue reading “Reflections on sleep, fear, and faith”

Posted on

Do We Need Temples Today? (Part 1)

When I mention the word ‘temple,’ what comes to mind? Maybe you think of a house belonging to a deity. Maybe you think of a place where religious people gather to worship their god or gods. Maybe you think of the stories in the Bible, the people of Israel and their kings. Maybe you think of a beautiful building that has all the glitz and glamour of a five-star hotel. Or maybe you think of movies like Star Wars and its Jedi temple or the TV series Lost, where a temple played a significant role in the story’s plot structure. Whatever you think of, I am sure you have some conception of what a temple is. Continue reading “Do We Need Temples Today? (Part 1)”

Posted on

Thank you, Dr. Gentry

Thank you, Dr. Gentry, for pushing me beyond my own limits while I was in seminary. To this day, I feel as if you are hovering over me every time I sit down to diagram a Greek text. Your ghost runs through all of my study and all of my preaching.

Posted on

Do Not Hinder Them

do_not_hinder_them

In Mark 10:13–16, Jesus rebukes his disciples when they hinder children from coming to him because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Mk 10:14). Surely we would have never made such a foolish mistake if we were in the disciples’ shoes, right? Well we may not find ourselves in the same situation as the disciples, but we can hinder our children from coming to Jesus in other ways. How so? Let me give you six to consider: Continue reading “Do Not Hinder Them”