wow, too much to write??

so, many times it seems there is not much to write about…course, I can always just throw up a couple of pics of Luke and that is sufficient. However, in the past week there has been solid teaching, amazing worship at church, personal study goodies, and random thoughts. these are coming…

for now, a half-random…okay not really….thought. I learned that the book of James in the NT is probably the first letter/book/writing in the NT. Most date it somewhere around 46-47 AD. Cool, huh?!! I think so. And guess what, it was one of the last books to actually be accepted into the canon (accepted by the early church as written by an apostle, inspired by the Holy Spirit, orthodox teaching). So, probably the earliest writing is one of the last to be accepted as Scripture. Interesting…well, my real thought is this: if James comes before Paul, why do we usually try to make James’ teaching fit Paul’s, rather than Paul fit James??

I know…I know…we are Paul-lovers! I am too, I just find this interesting.

Paul deservingly receives a lot of attention. He only wrote like half the NT and clearly (some say not-so-clearly) explains what Christians believe…and why.

Wanna talk fair?

Talk about fair came up tonight as I looked at Joshua 11 with some guys. Try this one out for our measure of fair:

For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Joshua 11:20

This takes place in the context of the Israelites entering the land of Caanan to wipe out its inhabitants, claiming the land promised to them by the Lord. Surely this is not fair, right?

Well, even though I don’t necessarily like it, this is God’s justice being carried out. A couple of comments:
- I think Rahab (Joshua 6) serves as an example that the Caananites had the opportunity for repentance and redemption. There is not much written about it, so the argument continues. Could God have created a people for the sole purpose of being destroyed in order to bring Him glory? As He is the Sovereign of the universe, and I being part of that which is created, I answer yes. I understand it differently, however.
- I understand this as the same justice that is carried out in the end times, as many, many people will be destroyed. Now is the time for God’s mercy and grace, which brings repentance and redemption.

Very brief, I know, but I am tired…