This is a great song

Amazing

Ladies and Gentlemen, I Present to You Polycarp

Get this guys music…Andrew Osenga is amazing!

The Man Himself…

Two Months to the Day

In exactly two months I will leave the single life and enter the married one.  WOW!  God is good and gracious for giving me a girl like the one I got.  She is hot!  Smart!  Hot!  Incredible!  Loving!  Hot!  She is everything I could ever want in a woman and a wife.

Another One of My Favorite Song-Writers

I can still remember when I first came across the now defunct band The Normals. I thought that they were a pretty good band, but never gave them much of a thought after that. But when they released their second studio album “Coming to Life,” I was hooked! I fell in love with melodies and the passion that was portrayed in the lyrics. To this day, when I hear “No Alibis” or “These Times” it reminds me of my fiance, and that is a good reminder for me (Thanks to the Normals for these two songs!). I highly suggest that you pick up “Coming to Life” and just listen to the passion and incredible song-writing.

All of that to say this: Andrew Osenga is probably my second favorite songwriter of all time (he might actually be tied for first with John Mayer, and on a good day he is my favorite). I love his music and lyrics! I have listened to his album “Photographs” countless number of times, and each listen brings new found love for his writing. I recommend that you get your hands on his stuff. Be one of those people who say, “I have been listening to Andrew long before he was big!”

Check out his site and download his EP “Letters to the Editor, Vol. 1.” This is only a sample of what he is capable of. Whatever you do, go to iTunes and get “Photographs.” That is one amazing piece of art!

Cool Campaign Add Video

I am in no way endorsing Huckabee, I just like the video.

My Favorite Guitarist and Songwriter

Some Thoughts on Suffering, Temptation, and Persecution in Hebrews

The themes of suffering, temptation, and persecution are at the forefront of Hebrews. They are important to the authors development of his homily, especially as it relates to Christ.

1. Jesus, Crowned with Glory and Honor Because of the Suffering of Death (Heb 2.9)

The author (from here on out, Auctor) continues his comparison of the angels with Christ in Heb 2. Auctor informs us that the world that is about to come (την οικουμενην την μελλουσαν) has not been subjected to the angels (2.5). Auctor then quotes from Ps 8.5-7(LXX) as scriptural proof that the world to come is subjected to the Son, although not everything is yet seen as being subjected to him.

In midrashic style, Auctor informs us that the one we see for a little while lower than the angels is none other than Jesus. In an amazing event, the crowning with glory and honor is seen in relation to the suffering that Jesus experienced in death. Heb 2. 9 reads: “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” The crowning with glory and honor that the Messiah experienced was only because he was willing to die, by the grace of God, for everyone.

Suffering in Endurance

I received in the mail today Endurance in Suffering: Hebrews 12.1-13 in its Rhetorical, Religious, and Philosophical Context, by N. Clayton Croy. I am looking forward to beginning this volume, for it is the area of research that I hope to explore for my M. A. thesis.

Another Youtube Video

First seen at: Old in the New

Go Jesus, It’s Your Birthday!

Why Do We Suffer?

More and more James 1.2 is becoming an anchor for my sanity. Life can be so cruel, and so can people. But I have learned that trials come so that I can be strengthened in my faith and grow in the grace of God. These trials come to take the world out of me and set my affections on the Savior. They come to give me endurance for the next trial; and yes, there will always be a next trial. They are as certain as death and taxes. But I am loving the closeness of the Savior in the midst of my present trial. “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet 5.7). This is more true now than it has ever been for me.  I want to live like the saints in Heb 11. I want to share in the sufferings of the Messiah. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom every knee will bow in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!

Cindy Westfall and I

While at SBL in San Diego, I had the privilege of meeting one of my favorite scholars on Hebrews, Cynthia Westfall. She currently teaches with Stanley Porter at McMaster Divinity School, in Hamilton, Ontario. I picked up her book at SBL, and she was kind enough to sign it for me. I hope someday, if the Lord wills, to study Hebrews with her in pursuit of a Ph.D.

My Experience at ETS and SBL (part 1)

Well, I arrived at San Diego for ETS on Wednesday afternoon. I heard papers from Dr. William Varner and Andrew Pitts from McMasters Divinity School. I have only talked with Andrew via facebook, so to be able to meet him in person was a blessing. What a scholar and amazing guy! I heard a lecture from Doug Moo and a session on Richard Bauckham book, which was ok. I had lunch with Rick Brannon from Logos Bible Software. That was the highlight of the day. He is a really smart fellow, who loves the Lord and his word. It has been fun rooming with Dr. Varner. We have laughed and joked and prayer together. This is a vacation like none other. I am have a really good time.

Today I got to hang out with Andrew and his friend Chad for awhile. I also listened to a paper by Stan Porter on the lexical importance of πιστις in the πιστις χριστου debate (thanks again to Andrew for helping me understand the gist of his Porter’s argument). Now I am sitting in my hotel room relaxing and reading some of the books (some as in quite a few!) I purchased. I will list them all in another post. Blessings to all!

SBL and ETS

Well as many of you know, SBL/ETS is right around the corner. This year it is in San Diego, and that means I am able to go. It will be my first time going, so I am unaware of what to expect. I have read many blogs in the past that chronicled their journey to and experience of SBL. But this year it will be my turn to take all of it in. I am looking forward to meeting new people, meeting people who I have interacted with via blogging, and meeting scholars. Any advice would be much appreciated.

The Apostolic Fathers are a fun Read.

I love this section from The Fragments of Papias. Enjoy.

Judas was a terrible, walking example of ungodliness in this world, his flesh
so bloated that he was not able to pass through a place where a wagon passes
easily, not even his bloated head by itself. For his eyelids, they say, were so
swollen that he could not see the light at all, and his eyes could not be seen,
even by a doctor using an optical instrument, so far had they sunk below the
outer surface. His genitals appeared more loathsome and larger than anyone
else’s, and when he relieved himself there passed through it pus and worms from
every part of his body, much to his shame. After much agony and punishment,
they say, he finally died in his own place, and because of the stench the area
is deserted and uninhabitable even now; in fact, to this day no one can pass
that place unless they hold their nose, so great was the discharge from his
body and so far did it spread over the ground (18.1).

Michael W. Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers : Greek Texts and English Translations (Updated ed.; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1999) 583.

Powered by ScribeFire.

A Blog for the Study of Hebrews

I have started a new blog that is focused soley on Hebrews. Please check it out and let me know what you think:

In These Last Day: A Blog for the Study of Hebrews

I Found It!