A Long Overdue Post on a Really Cool Book

So I was just talking with someone on the onething forums about the book of Daniel, when I realized that I have not written a single blog post about this amazing book. Those of you who know me will recognize how remarkable that is. I am a bit of a Daniel junkie. I love reading the book, even though I’ve studied it through several times. I jump at the chance to talk about it and I always walk away hyper from discussions about it. I want to be like Daniel when I grow up. If there was a book of Daniel fan club, I’d sign up for it. Maybe I should start one.

Anyway, all that to say it’s high time the book of Daniel made its debut on this blog.

More than a Name

I got to thinking about this the other day as I was thinking about our NightWatch babies. I was thinking how striking it was that, even as they are limited in their ability to interact with the world around them, you can already totally see their personalities coming out — and most remarkably, you can also see how their personalities match up awfully well with their name meanings.

However, as I was pondering this, I got to thinking of Someone else who has lived up to every name ever given to or claimed by Him…

Luke 1:30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest

 Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born…. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 1:29 “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Jeremiah 23:6 Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Revelation 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

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*all quotes from the NKJV

Some Days are Like That. Even in Australia.

If you recognize that quote, you are my hero. It’s from a really cute children’s book I remember reading when I was little, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst. While it’s a very dramatic title, it’s a silly and fun way to keep things in perspective. Alexander’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day is part misfortune, part self-inflicted goofiness, and part sour attitude… which is usually a pretty accurate description of me when I have one of those days.

Something for which to be Thankful

With Thanksgiving come and gone, I have had some time to take stock of what I’m thankful for. Many things come to mind. There are the basics of life that God has been so faithful to provide for. There are the people in my family whom I love dearly and who have been such a place of safety and support for me all my life. There are my excellent comrades here at the House of Prayer, whose company I have particularly enjoyed over turkey dinner… and turkey dinner again… and leftovers. There is the fact that God has set me as a “watchman on the wall,” getting to spend my life before Him in prayer and service.

Yet because of the studying I’ve been doing lately in Christology, one thing is standing out to me above all. Perhaps it sounds a bit cliche. Perhaps it sounds a bit religious. But I can’t help myself; it’s completely blowing me away this year. I’m thankful that God became a Man.

Meditating on the book of John has been absolutely undoing me. Who is Jesus that He would become so utterly humble, so near to us? What kind of pure humility and love does it take for the uncreated God to assume human flesh forever? What kind of beautiful Sovereign would voluntarily constrain Himself to the body of a baby, coming into the world through the messy and common avenue of birth?

I survived.

Trying to buy cranberry sauce at Wal-Mart on the day before Thanksgiving is… uh… exciting.

The people who are hosting Thanksgiving dinner emailed today, asking if anyone could bring the cranberry sauce to dinner. I happen to really enjoy that stuff, and can’t imagine Thanksgiving without it, so I happily volunteered… not thinking about the fact that it was the day before Thanksgiving.

Wal-Mart was down to the last dozen or so cans by the time I got to them. In fact, I was standing there in the canned fruit aisle, wondering why the cranberry sauce wasn’t there. I tried to think of where else it could be kept in the store, if not here. I was just about to try looking in another section when… I saw it. A sad, badly dented can that had rolled near the edge of the (mostly empty) bottom shelf. A lonely can of cranberry sauce. I hoped against hope that it wasn’t the only one left.

Do you suppose its a sign of cranberry dependency that I actually got down on my knees to retrieve it?

And I tell you what, there’s nothing quite as nerve-wracking as being up to your shoulder in shelf when you hear two ladies yell behind you, “There it is!!”

Thankfully (Thank-fully…. HA), I made it out in one piece and with four cans of sugary cranberry-y delightfulness.

I hope to post a more thoughtful post tomorrow, but hey, this is what you get with me and my little addled brain today.

Word of Life Update (plus random d’oh moment)

First, the Word of Life update.

Only one of our ladies was able to make it today. We had a good talk about the Incarnation anyway, starting with Jesus’ family life. What must it have been like for your older brother to be literally perfect? How can you look at the boy you watched grow up, the boy you’ve played games with, the boy who had to learn how to spell His own name and drive a nail straight into a piece of wood — and then come to the conclusion that He really is God? For a time, Jesus’ brothers couldn’t do it (John 7:5). But we know at least two of them (James and Jude — see Galatians 1:19 and Jude 1) eventually came around.

We also talked about what Oden calls “the scandal of particularity”.

Random Fun Thing to Say:

Inanimate Anemone.

Try it… it’s fun.

Word of Life Meeting 7 (Late post, sorry)

So I am just realizing that I neglected to post the Word of Life Bible Study update! For shame and for horror!

Actually, I just got busy and forgot. I’ll post the abbreviated version:

We talked about the Incarnation again last Saturday. We’re not out of chapter 4 yet. I tell you what, it will fascinate your heart no end to really get ahold of this reality, that eternal God took on flesh (which He still has, by the way) and stepped into our world. We talked a lot about how Jesus had to learn and grow… including the question, “Did Jesus always know He was God, even from the manger?”

Hee. I’m not going to try and answer that one here, because I would like to see other people’s thoughts in the comments first, if you feel so motivated.

Still on chapter 4 for next week… at which time I will try to post in a much more punctual fashion.

Things that Have Made Me Happy in the Past 3 Days

(in no particular order)

• Drinking eggnog spiced chai’s at Higher Grounds. If you can convince your local coffee shop to make you something like this, you must. Yummmmmmm.
• My worship team. We spent a half hour the other day just saying the different things we were thankful for about each other individually and as a whole team. Nothing will kill a mopey mood faster than that, let me tell you.
• Seeing my brother in his stunning Target rent-a-cop uniform
• Cooking fun food that I’ve never tried before — and it worked!
• Watching God do unbelievably crazy, fun things with just a little bit of cash sown into the kingdom
• Talking about Christology
• Doing favors for people I love and appreciate
• Watching baby Isaac boogey down to the music in the prayer room
• Spending some quality roommate time with Christine
• Studying the book of Daniel with Thamika
• Seeing Natina’s engagement ring and hearing how Tom proposed to her (YAY!!!)

I guess you can say it’s been a pretty terrific weekend. God is good.

Bella

If it’s showing in your area, go see it. I’m serious. This is one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen.

If you want to get all picky about movie-making techniques, there are a couple places where it moves kind of slow, but it’s certainly not difficult to sit through. And there are several key moments in the film that will absolutely knock you off your feet.

I cried. It takes a lot for a movie to do that to me.

I say again: GO SEE IT. Besides supporting a great cause, I am positive you will be blessed by it and will want to pray for the issue of life.