Canoe Trip '07

Concession #1 (The Last, of Course)

The term apostle is used in scripture to refer to more than just the Twelve and Paul.

It is most certainly applied to Barnabas (Acts 14:4,14).

It is most probably applied to James (Gal. 1:19) Silvanus, and Timothy (I Thess. 2:6).

It may be applied to Andronicus and Juni(us)(as)(a) (Rom 16:7)

Several possible explanations and implications bouncing around in my head. But for now, I’ll just let the fact stand.

All Right, Pastor Eric.

I’m ready to start talking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to begin with some questions, but before that, how about a plan? I figure we can do this in two parts. I’d like to begin by working through our differences as to the nature of this phenomenon as it was actually occurring in the apostolic…excuse me...what shall we say? in Bible times? before the close of the canon? Well, perhaps I’ll just pick an arbitrary dividing line: how about before Jesus’ generation passed away? Anyway, what I’m trying to say is, how about we treat this in terms of what the nature of this baptism was then (whenever then was) and then later discuss the nature of the baptism as it may or may not occur now. I realize that your position will largely rest upon there being no difference between the two.

Ah, here we go…how about we begin by discussing the nature of this phenomenon solely as it is presented in the pages of scripture and then, only after dong so, consider how his phenomenon may or may not have changed since those scriptures were written? How does that sound?

Sorry about the stream-of-consciousness post. Not much time for revision these days.

Just Couldn't Pass This One Up

Quote from Administrative Law class:

The Lord's Prayer: 66 words.
The 10 Commandments: 179 words.
The Gettysburg Address: 286 words
The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words
The U.S. Government regulations on the sale of cabbage: 26,911 words.

How the Story Begins

The beginning of the story of Christ is a beginning unlike any other. For unlike the subject of other stories, we cannot look back to Christ’s beginning: all we can do is look back to him as being the beginning. The beginning of his story is itself the beginning of all beginnings. For he himself is the beginning, he is the alpha, he is the first.

In the beginning, before the foundation of the world, before all things—indeed, before all time—Christ was.

Christ was in the beginning, but he was never alone. He was with God, in the presence of God, and God loved him. He was with God, loved by God, and, thus, distinguishable from God. Yet at the same time, he was indistinguishable from God: he was the very image of the invisible God, the exact imprint of his nature. He existed in the form of God and enjoyed equality with him. What God was, Christ was. He himself was God.

In the beginning, Christ was. He was with God. He was God.

Being God, Christ possessed in himself the glory of God. He shared glory with him who says he will not give his glory to another. Christ was the radiance of God’s own glory so that, through him, God himself was glorified.

This then, is how the story begins. In the beginning, before the foundation of the world, before all things, before all time, Christ was. He was with God. He was loved by God. He shared glory with God. He was God.

One-Man Salvation Army Band

Minnesota Roots

This past week, the kids had the opportunity to experience some of their Minnesota heritage. Here are some pictures from the Duluth leg of the trip.

In front of the barn where their great-great-grandfather kept cows

At the coney-joint where their great-grandfather ate as a kid

On the Lake Superior shore, up at Two Harbors