Chappo

John Chapman (1930-2012)

How should we then live? (9)

God's economic upheaval

This is to be a time of unprecedented upheaval in the life and leadership of the people of God. Jerusalem, and the temple which is the focus of its authority, is about to lose its central role in God's economy. The divine government, the kingdom of God, is to find a new focus. 

The Gospel of Mark (The new international Greek testament commentary) RT France) p497-8 in the commentary on Mark 13:3-37. 

The Most Slandered Man in Christendom?

The most slandered man in Christendom is…our father in the faith Jacob: a blameless man throughout his life, rejected by his father, despised by his brother, swindled by his uncle, and slandered by generations of preachers ever since. Robbed of his birthright by his father, robbed of his bride and flocks by his uncle, he has been robbed of his reputation by us. But God is faithful to his promises: Jacob received his inheritance, his Rachel, and his sheep. Now, contrarian to the last, I hope to restore to him his name. 

In the next few posts, I hope to make a case that in his dealings with brother, father, and uncle, our father Jacob was just what Genesis tells us: a blameless man. I hope also to make the case that in misreading the story and portraying him as a scheming villain, we miss powerful lessons for our own lives.

Love it. I am looking forward to Matthew Mason's next posts! 

How should we then live? (8)

The Christmas Chord

Strikes a chord with me! 

Small and miserable!

Coming soon ... 

How should we then live? (7)

as Jesus was leaving the temple

The sack of Jerusalem, from the inside wall of the Arch of Titus, Rome

How should we then live? (6)

How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture - Francis Schaeffer

these great buildings

The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Under the Command of Titus, A.D. 70 - David Roberts

Remember this

As I prepare for Remembrance Sunday this is a sobering discovery:

British have invaded nine out of ten countries - so look out Luxembourg

Apparently it is easier to list the countries we haven't attacked in the course of our nation's history. Here they are:

• Andorra
• Belarus
• Bolivia
• Burundi
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo, Republic of
• Guatemala
• Ivory Coast
• Kyrgyzstan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Mali
• Marshall Islands
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Paraguay
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Sweden
• Tajikistan
• Uzbekistan
• Vatican City

So now I have another book to add to my Christmas list:

All the Countries We've Ever Invaded: And the Few We Never Got Round To!

everyday church

Starts tonight for our house group!

LIVE Western Wall Footage

Pretty amazing what you can do these days. I'm reading something in a book - google 'Western Wall' and get this: 

CLick here for live views of the Western Wall in Jerusalem!

This 'was not part of the temple, but only the supporting structure for the platform on which it was built' [The Gospel of Mark (The new international Greek testament commentary) France p 496].