Scott Freeman

Blogs I Read: Jeff Richardson

September 21st, 2007

I read a lot of blogs. I mean a lot. The missus says I read too many and I think she is probably right. I need to trim my reader soon before it gets unmanageable.

One of the things I want to begin to do is begin to share with you some of the blogs I read. Each Friday I want to focus on the ones that are written by people I know and have some level of relationship with. Hopefully it will encourage you to get to know some incredible people.

First off, is Jeff Richardson. My reason for spotlighting him first is largely a selfish one: I want him to blog more often.

I first met Jeff back in 1985 when I began attending the same church. We became friends even though he would ultimately go on to set my yard on fire. He even spent a summer in college staying with me and my family. Outside of my dad I’ve been friends with him longer than anyone else on my sidebar.

I lost contact with Jeff over the years, a failure to remain in touch that I take sole responsibility for. However, the world of blogging has put us in contact once again. And that has been a tremendous blessing for me as he has helped me think through some complex and troublesome matters.

Reading Jeff’s blog will quickly alert you to his uncanny ability to cut to the heart of an issue or topic with amazing clarity, keen insight, and a scientists rationality that boggles my mind. I wish I was this smart. And he is a great guy to boot.

Read Run to Win here and then come back next week for another great blog recommendation.

Posted in blogs i read | 6 Comments »

Can Anyone Explain This?

September 21st, 2007

All contacts in my email address book that use gmail are gone. All my chat friends raptured into the air. What is going on?

Posted in Asides | 6 Comments »

Tremendous Quote

September 20th, 2007

Jesus never placed doctrine at the center of his good news. If anything he marginalized notions of doctrine (e.g., the sabbath is made for man). Thus, IMHO, I think any talk about doctrine (as typically conceived in our fellowship) as a central concern is a grave error. Wrong right out of the gate. If Jesus is our hermeneutic then doctrinal conversation should always be a marginal conversation. The early church was called The Way. Not a way of believing but a way of living. To miss that point is to, well, miss the entire thrust of Jesus’s life.

–Richard Beck

Posted in Asides | 2 Comments »

So, I Am Sitting In This Class…

September 19th, 2007

…about applying the book of Micah to the 2008 presidential race. How do we take the appeal to justice and transforming the culture and look at our current slate of candidates?

I really wish he would get to the meat of it. And no, Justin, he has not mentioned Ron Paul.

How do you think we apply the 8th Century prophets to the presidential race?

Posted in 2008 | 6 Comments »

Rich Mullins

September 18th, 2007

I was just reminded that Rich Mullins died 10 years ago yesterday. With all the schlock that makes up Christian music today Rich’s voice still resonates with meaning and power.

“Hold Me Jesus”

“Here In America”

“Sometimes By Step”

“My Brothers Keeper”

We still miss you Rich.

Posted in Church | 3 Comments »

Live Blogging: Joy At Work

September 17th, 2007

This is a three hour class. I don’t know if I’m continent enough to sit her through this.

I may have had the best barbecue ever at lunch.

JTB is teaching this class with 3 white guys.

OK, I’m bored with this.

Posted in Asides | 1 Comment »

Live Blogging the ACU Lectures

September 17th, 2007

We will see how this goes:

Amos: Experiencing God’s Lament

Reassuring thought: God’s primary characteristic is NOT anger.

As a matter of fact, God’s anger in scripture is out of character.

Question: How does a preacher communicate God’s anger without being dismissed.

Amos 1-2: God’s Oracles Against the Nations (Aram, Philistia, Phoenicia, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and Judah)

Aram–Ethnic Cleansin

Philistia–International Slave Trade

Phoenicia–Slave Trade

Edom–Trying to eliminate Israel

Ammon–Ethnic Cleansing

Moab–Post-death atrocities

Judah–Disobedience? He doesn’t say.

This moves into the oracle against Israel.

Leaving my Bible in the hotel room leaves me at a disadvantage.

Israel’s sins were doubly tragic (2:6-16). They knew better.

Israel repeats the cycle of abusive nations. They had come from an abusive nation and now they are doing it themselves.

The difference is it is against their own people.

God is not mono-ethnic despite what Israel believed.

God works on an international basis and an individual basis.

He cares about the nations and the house-servant girl.

How do you apply Amos’ thoughts as a military chaplain?

Focus: Because God expects all people to treat others with respect, he is especially angered when Christians dishonor each other.

Function: To enable the congregation to sense God’s anger and to feel the burden of standing under his judgment.

Amos 4:1-3 and 8:4-6: Parallel Oracles (Indictments against wealthy women and wealthy businessmen)

Man, I love a good prophet. Cows of Bashan! Living the good life. They are living their best life now.

It’s a lifestyle that oppresses the poor. Beef–food of the wealthy. Fish–food of the poor.

Let’s get the Sabbath over so we can fleece the poor.

8th century B.C. is more like 21st Century America than any other time in Scripture–Due to wealth–the gap between the haves and have nots.

How do we oppress and pad our pockets at the expense of others:

Price-gouging
Deceptive tricks of the trade–thumb on the scale type tricks.
Non-reporting of income
Padding mileage
Insurance fraud
Golfing on a work day?

Amos 6:1–7: When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough

17% of the world’s population controls 80% of the world’s wealth and most of these 17% claim some kind of Christian affiliation (Note: these figures are 40 years old.)

Posted in Asides | 3 Comments »

Pluto Loses It

September 14th, 2007

Posted in Asides | 8 Comments »

Chuck E. Cheese Inspired Questions

September 14th, 2007

Yes, we took the kids to that dreadful place last night, the bane of all parents existence. Fortunately, it was a fast and painless experience. We got there at 5 and were the only people there for the first half of our visit. There were just a couple of people who trickled in throughout. And no parties!

God is good.

Anyway, here are my questions for those so disposed to answer:

1. Do you let your kids beat you in games? If so, at what age do you make them start beating you?

2. When playing Skeeball do you go for the high risk/high reward 100,000 holes or do you keep it down the middle playing for the easier 40-50,000 holes?

Posted in Family | 7 Comments »

Recommendation: The ESV Literary Study Bible

September 13th, 2007

I have been preaching and teaching from the ESV for about the last 4 years. I appreciate its literal translation and allegiance to the original Greek while being highly readable. It’s like the best of the RSV and the NIV together.

On September 24th they will be releasing The ESV Literary Study Bible. It promises to present the Bible as literature focusing on the styles, genres and motifs that are used throughout.

Here is an html link to the PDF brochure.

You can pre-order it on Amazon here.

Posted in Books | 7 Comments »