Monthly Archives: November 2008

Discipleship, Ethos, Experience, Faith in Action, General, Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. It seems that lately the November turkey, the November family gatherings, and the whole idea of stopping to count ones blessings has been pushed to the sidelines by the December tree and the fat guy in the red suit.

Don’t just let this season of thankfulness pass you by and don’t just celebrate it on the fourth Thursday of November. Live a life marked by seasons of Thanksgiving year round.

“Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the power of human legs; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” (Psalms 147:7-11 TNIV)

I firmly believe that the song of your heart is lived out by your actions. Yes, sing out with thanksgiving. Every day. In every way.

Peace,
Felker

Collecting Experiences, Discipleship, Faith in Action, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Podcasts, Questions, Remarkable, Wrestling With Scripture

Romans 12:10

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

This verse has really been on my heart lately. I listened to a podcast where the minister really drove home this idea of what it means to “outdo one another is showing honor.”

To him this meant doing the hard things not for your glory or for your pride but doing the hard things so no one else has too. This is completely different from serving because we know we should (guilt) or serving because we want to look good (arrogance).

He specifically mentioned working in the parking crew so that when it’s cold and rainy outside that you say to yourself, “I’m going to serve in the cold and the rain so no one else has too.”

When the Holy Spirit begins to give us this attitude then our zeal for serving doesn’t diminish.

So, where can you begin to serve those around around you with this attitude? Maybe it is cleaning the toilets. Maybe it is picking up trash.

Doing something so someone else won’t have to seems to me to be the essence of living sacrificially.

Let’s outdo one another in showing honor!

2008, Adverts, Books, ESVSB, Ministry, Remarkable, Resources, The Word, Wrestling With Scripture, Youth Ministry

Review: ESV Study Bible

Matisyahu 3Why The ESV?
I have used the English Standard Version in my private reading, teaching, and speaking since 2003. While my primary teaching Bible has been the TNIV I like getting away from the familiar phrases and wording and into something a bit different like the ESV.

The ESV is a word-for-word translation in the vein of the NRSV and NASB. It can be a bit stiff in some places but there is a lot of life in these pages.

Why The ESV Study Bible?
Study Bibles are designed to help the reader dig deeper into the history, meaning, and application of God’s Word. I will be forever grateful to my first NIVSB for helping me begin to understand Scripture. That Bible logged many hours and late nights with me through high school and college studying for pleasure and studying for school. Since then I have used Life Application Bibles, devotional Bibles, “master” study bibles, reference Bibles, and the TNIVSB. In most of these Bibles the notes and study helps tend to overshadow or crowd out the text. With the exception of the TNIV, I have been unable to find a study bible that drives me deeper into the word or causes me to become enveloped in the passage and the study helps.

It is in this that the ESVSB succeeds.

Why the ESVSB Succeeds
The stats for the ESVSB look like this:

2 million words— of Bible text and insightful teaching in 2,752 pages.
20,000 notes— focusing especially on understanding the Bible text and providing answers to frequently raised issues.
Over 50 articles— including articles on the Bible’s authority and reliability; on biblical archaeology, theology, ethics, and personal application.
200-plus charts— offering key insights and in-depth analysis in clear, concise outline form; located throughout the Bible.
Over 200 full-color maps— created with the latest digital technology, satellite images, and archaeological research; printed in full color throughout the Bible.
80,000 cross-references— to encourage easy location of important words, passages, and biblical themes.
40 all-new illustrations—including full-color renderings and architectural diagrams of the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon’s temple, Herod’s temple, the city of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time and throughout the history of Israel, and many more. (from the official ESVSB website)

I’m not going to lie to you. 2 million words, 2,752 pages, and 20,000 notes do not a light Bible make. This thing is huge! It has to be huge to fit all this stuff inside the TruTone cover. However, don’t let these stats scare you away.

The notes are solid but do not take anything away from the actual text. The biblical text is in a large font at the top of the page while the notes are in significantly smaller somewhat italicized font on the bottom of the page. This makes for a smooth reading experience. I am currently working through the entire Bible again. While the goal is to simply read through the text, I have purposely slowed my pace down to take advantage of the study helps. This has been a huge blessing to me and has really made some of the more difficult passages come alive.

Winning Features of the ESVSB
illustration-solomons-temple.jpgColor Pages, Illustrations, and Charts
Color pages are nothing new but here is the first time that color pages in a Bible have impacted my study of scripture. From the subtle hints of olive green highlights on each page to the glorious, highly detailed illustrations to the colorific maps the ESVSB truly uses color to its advantage.

Take the illustrations as an example. The picture on the left is of Solomon’s temple and can be found on pages 604-605. This two-paged, full-colored rendering is quite beautiful and far exceeds anything I’ve ever encountered in a Bible. The same goes for the charts and diagrams. While reading in Numbers I was able to visualize for the first time how the Israelites were commanded to march and encamp through their wanderings. The tabernacle was to remain in the center of the camp and the people wether at camp or on the move. God’s presence is to be at all time central in the life of the believer. While on one hand this is a great revelation to me I am also saddened that I’ve never fully grasped this small truth before. Thank you charts on pages 267 & 269!

Reference Materials
Not only are there highly academic intros to each biblical book and the usual concordance here but there are also a ton of scholarly articles and features covering everything from Biblical Ethics to Reliability of the Cannon to What Role the Bible Played into Evangelical Protestantism throughout history. There is a MA in Biblical Studies available at your fingerprints here.

Online Features
Everything on page between the TruTone covers is available online to everyone who purchases a physical copy. That includes the illustrations, notes, charts, text, and supplemental readings. The online area also allows you to upload your own notes as you study and since the feature is web based you can access your notes from any computer. Very forward thinking feature.

So that does it for this extended commercial. While the ESV isn’t my favorite translation this Study Bible has proved to be an invaluable part of my study. I would highly recommend this Bible for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper into God’s Word.

Thank you Crossway for all your hard work. The effort has truly paid off!!!

Apple, Customer Service, Rants, Technology, Unremarkable, Youth Ministry

That’s a Shame

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Earlier today I tried to download a demo for a program designed to help youth ministers manage their ministries. The program tells ministers that their software will help them track attendance, events, money, birthdays and help them follow up with visitors.

Sounds promising.

So I registered with their website and clicked download. OOOPS! The program is PC only.

I run a Mac. So do a few other youth ministers.

“No big deal,” I thought. I’ve gotten by thus far without this product so I moved on with my day.

Seriously, not 5 minutes later my phone rings. It is customer service with this program. They were wanting to chat me up about their product. I informed them that I was unable to run their program because I don’t have a PC.

The following is a direct quote from their customer service lady (best read with the voice of the secretary from “Ferris Bueller”)

“Oh, you don’t have a PC? That’s a shame!”

No, no it’s not.

No what is a shame is that the instructions on your CD-rom from 2007 tell people to:

Click Start.
Click Run.
In the run dialog box, type (CD drive letter):Setup
Then Enter.

Wow. Ever heard of Autorun? That’s a shame!

Study, The List, Wrestling With Scripture

The List: 10 Levitical Rules That I Follow (Without Really Trying)

I spent 2 grueling days reading and studying through the book of Leviticus this week. As I wrote earlier I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of rules and regulations while also being joyful that the sacrificial system is over and done with. Through out the reading I would pause to study a little deeper into some of the study notes behind certain sacrifices or certain rules. I am proud to say that I found quite a few laws that I have always and (hopefully) will always keep without question. So here is this week’s The List: 10 Levitical Rules That I Follow (Without Really Trying)

1) I have never eaten a camel or a rock badger. (11:4-5)
2) I have never eaten an eagle, vulture, sea gull, or barn owl. (11:13-19)
3) I don’t eat road kill (11:39-40)
4) I don’t make sacrifices to goat demons. (17: 7)
5) I don’t eat blood- I’m a medium well kinda guy. (17:10)
6) I have never — and will never — ever — approach a relative and “uncover their nakedness.” Ewww. (18:1-30)
7) I have never cursed the deaf or purposely tripped the blind. (19:14)
8) I avoid necromancers. (19:31)
9) I have just balances and measures (my tape measure and calculators are fair) (19:36)
10) I will not give my child to Molech. (20:1-5)

Of course these rules are pretty easy to keep. They seem so bizarre and antiquated that is is easy to laugh at them and pull them out as examples of the “old law.” However, let us not poke fun at these rules at the expense of the ones that can be applicable to today. Rules that speak to living holy lives full of justice and mercy dedicated only to the LORD Almighty. Laws about helping the poor, outcast and alien. Laws that make us different from the surrounding culture.

Let us never forget the laws that relate to the pursuit of holy living and honoring the God that calls us to be set apart for his purposes. He alone frees us. He alone cleanses us and makes us his own.

Awesomenessness, Collecting Experiences, Firm on the Rock, Live Music, Music, Popular Culture

Concert Review: Matisyahu @ the Palladium Ballroom

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Matisyahu 3 I had the chance to see Matisyahu in concert last night. This marked the third time I have seen his electric stage show and I loved ever minute of it. For those of you who don’t know about Matisyahu here is a one sentence bio:

Matisyahu is an Orthodox Hasidic Jew who blends reggae, rock, and hip-hop beats into some extremely awesome music.

There. That sums it up nicely.

In 2005 I was heading out on a long trip and the album cover to Live at Stubb’s jumped out at me. I grabbed it and then proceeded to wear my iPod battery out listening to this amazing artist blend reggae and rock with the Old Testament in ways deeper and more meaningful than ever. I have been hooked ever sense.

The concert was at the Palladium Ballroom in downtown Dallas. I had been told that the Palladium was a dive but I really liked the venue. It was in a sketchy part of town but the actual concert area was very nice. There was a great open space, no smoking, and friendly staff and security.

Matisyahu opened the set with L-rd Raise Me Up and captured the crowd with his unique sound. From there the show built to a fevered pitch as the band went through songs old and new. The band is working through a few new songs in anticipation of the new album due out in early 2009. They tried out So High So Low and Smash Lies from the recently released EP, Shattered, on the crowd to much fanfare. The new songs fit well into set and made me excited for the rest of the album.

Highlights from the concert include an extened versions of Jerusalem (Out of Darkness), Youth, Time of Your Song, Chop Em Down, and of course, King Without a Crown. They played for well over two hours. I (reluctantly) had to call it a night at midnight but the band was still going strong as I made my way to the parking lot. I’ll be interested to see a completed playlist to see what I missed!

I only paid $25 bucks for this show but after what I saw last night I was reminded that I will have to fork out a lot more dough the next time see him. Music like this doesn’t stay cheap forever.

I have already pre-ordered a recording of last night’s set from MatisyahuLive. If you sign up for the Matisyahu mailing list at MatisyahuWorld you can redeem a free song and a free concert. You definitely need to check this guy out. If you like what you hear get Live at Stubb’s, one of my Top 10 Albums of All Time.

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Matisyahu 5

Matisyahu 6

Matisyahu 2

Study, Theology, Wrestling With Scripture

Leviticus

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I have spent the last few days plowing through the book of Leviticus. When I finished reading Lev. 27:29 yesterday afternoon I was physically and mentally exhausted.

I can honestly say that this was the most intense reading “of the Levites” that I have ever done. I learned a ton of interesting facts and tidbits thanks to my ESV Study Bible but I was left with an overwhelming sense of relief and freedom — and not just because I was finished reading!

Leviticus is the third book of the Pentateuch and it details the rights and rituals of the priests during the Tabernacle period. Right off that is difficult enough to wrap our modern heads around. I found myself (almost for the first time) understanding the enormity of the sacrificial system.

Blood, livestock, fatty organs, fire, dung, water and ashes. Day in. Day out. That was the life of a priest.

Thank God that it is not this way any longer. Thank God for the sacrifice of his Son.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might dies to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds we are healed. (1Peter 2:24)

2008, Apocalypse, Music, Popular Culture

I’ll Believe It When I See It

King Solomon’s Mines. Atlantis. Bigfoot. Nessie. Smurfs. Fraggles. Needles in movie theatre seats. Cloned dinosaurs.

Add to the list of things that may or may not incredible myths Guns ‘n’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy.

Year after year after year music critics begin to salivate as the long awaited album begins to make its way to store shelves. Then year after year after year everyone is disappointed when Axel and friends can’t pull it together and make the impossible a reality. I was 14 years old when the album was first supposed to be released. A lot has happened since then.

Low and behold I log onto iTunes this morning and I see a pre-order special for the almost-2-decade-in-the-making-album Chinese Democracy. So there’s an album cover. There are apparently a number of tracks. There’s even a release date of Nov. 23.

Will we finally get to hear Chinese Democracy? I think we are closer than ever. Not that I really care. I’m not a GNR fan at all. I can’t stand Axel Rose and I feel unclean just looking at Slash (that dude could use a shower). By all accounts this isn’t even a GNR album per se. It is an Axel and friends album. It is a GNR album in the same way that Smile is a Beach Boys album. That is to say not much.

But seriously, I really need some closure on this… and a free Dr. Pepper.

2008, Blabbering, Discipleship, Faith in Action, Lauds, Leadership, News, Politics, Popular Culture, Prayer, Religion, Theology, Wrestling With Scripture

The Day After

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I couldn’t help but log onto Facebook last night to watch all the status updates change (almost by the second) in reaction to the news that Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States. The status updates volleyed between fear and excitement, despair and relief, anger and “nanny-nanny-boo-boo.”

Some friends cried foul and vowed to move to Mexico. Some ridiculed others because their candidate came out on top. Some lifted up prayers of lament. Some merely gave thanks.

Throughout the campaigns I tried to avoid updating my status with cute platitudes or sarcastic zingers because, quite frankly, I try to avoid sounding stupid.

That’s right. I said it. Updating my Facebook status to sound off on the political process would make me feel stupid. Without tooting my own horn, I take pride in being as culturally informed as I possibly can. I read, I watch, I discuss, I weigh, I ponder, I worry, I step up, I step back, and I still, at the end of the day, with much fear and trepidation, can honestly say that I rarely have a good answer much less a snappy quip to throw around for the whole world to see.

After looking at the status updates last night my head hung pretty low. It is obvious that today we are still divided. It is ok to hold differing views and it is ok to disagree (often this is necessary). However it is never ok to demonize someone because they are different from you, even when they are radically different. This goes for both sides.

So I updated my status.

Not with a pithy statement about my disappointment. Not with a zinger about how thrilled I was. I updated my status with one of those “hard teachings” found in scripture.

Hard Teachings are those passages that you read and then say, “Great! Wish I hadn’t read that!” because you now know that what is required from you is an attitude and a heart that submits to God rather than your own desires. These passages require a mental, spiritual, and, some times, physical 180 from the way you want to do things to a new way. A God way.

So, regardless how you feel about last night…

Regardless how you feel today…

Regardless…

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
(1Timothy 2:1-4 TNIV)

Want to make a difference today? Do you want to really enact change? Start with yourself.

Lift up the men and women who won last night. Not just the winners in blue and not just the winners in red. Pray for ALL those who now have authority over us.

Regardless how you feel about last night…

Regardless how you feel today…

Regardless…