Worsham @codyworsham - Tumblr Blog

There’s nothing wrong with desire, desire is actually the engine of this passage. It’s your desire to live in to who God insists you truly are that unleashes the divine power within you. Our problem is we settle in our desires, we find ourselves wanting things that will never bring us the joy or satisfaction we crave. Your problem isn’t that you want certain things, it’s that you want lame substitutes that can’t deliver what you’re really looking for…

robbellcom

I love this one from Met. Kallistos Ware

True faith is a constant dialogue with doubt, for God is incomparably greater than all our preconceptions about Him; our mental concepts are idols that need to be shattered. So as to be fully alive, our faith needs continually to die.

from “The Inner Kingdom: Volume 1 of the Collected Works”

codyworsham

Shattering idols. Beautiful.

robbellcom

What is the Bible? Part 20: Questions, Questions

Start at Part 1 of this Series

What is the Bible? Part 20: Questions, Questions

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for a question:

jangosclone asked you: Just finished the latest in your series about the Bible and found it quite compelling. Can you recommend any further reading on this subject?

Sure.

I’d recommend starting with two books by Thomas Cahill. Especially if you’re burned out, disillusioned, trying to detox from unhealthy and unhelpful ideas about God, Jesus, Church, etc. that are swirling around your head and heart. First, The Gifts of the Jews and then The Desire of the Everlasting Hills.

If you’re interested in the history and background of the Hebrew scriptures, try Bruce Feiler’s books Walking the Bible and Where God Was Born. (He includes in the back of each of them an extensive list of references. Pure gold there.)

As far as commentaries on the Hebrew Scriptures, there’s a great one called The Five Books of Miriam: A Woman’s Commentary on the Torah by Ellen Frankel and then there’s the JPS Torah Commentary and The Bible As It Was by James Kugel. (Which is amazing.)

Now, a few about Jesus. If you’re new to the idea that Jesus was Jewish and everything he does is in that context, I’d start with Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus by Bivens and Blizzard, then Poet and Peasant by Kenneth Bailey, then Our Father Abraham by Marvin Wilson, then Excavating Jesus by Crossan and Reed and then you’ll want to end up at Lois Tverberg’s website

http://ourrabbijesus.com/books/

which is loaded with fascinating insights.

If you’re a pastor, and it’s Christmas time, don’t even think about preaching without reading Richard Horsley’s The Liberation of Christmas.

If you’re wondering if Jesus even existed, may I introduce you to a man named N.T. Wright? Get a book of his with Jesus in the title, sit down in a comfortable chair, and prepare to be firehosed with actual historical, intelligent, research and insight.

If you’ve got questions about the Bible similar to the one’s I’ve been dealing with in this series, I highly recommend Kenton Sparks outstanding book Sacred Word, Broken Word.

Now, a bit more personal. For me, chapter 3 of Dallas Willard’s book The Divine Conspiracy changed everything.

Robert Farrar Capon’s work has shaped me in innumerable ways, I’d recommend starting with The Mystery of Christ, then go to The Parables of Grace.

Jurgen Moltmann wrote a book called The Spirit of Life. I’m still recovering.

Alexander Shaia’s book The Hidden Power of the Gospels is a stunner.

And then anything by Richard Rohr, I’d start with The Naked Now. Also, anything by Frederick Beuchner, start with The Alphabet of Grace, anything by Abraham Joshua Heschel, starting with I Asked for Wonder.

Barbara Brown Taylor’s book Leaving Church is wonderful, and Francis Spufford’s book Unapologetic is my book of the year.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten some. Hope this helps. Enjoy.

Next - What is the Bible? Part 21: In Air, In Sea

Books to check out.

Shel Silverstein

Put something in.

Start at Part 1 of this Series

What is the Bible? Part 20: Questions, Questions

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for a question:

jangosclone asked you: Just finished the latest in your series about the Bible and found it quite compelling. Can you recommend any...

codyworsham

A buncha books to read

humansofnewyork

“You don’t do things alone. Nobody does things alone. Everybody always needs support. For a young man like you, you should never be too afraid or too shy to look for people who can encourage you or mentor you. There are a lot of people out there who want to provide advice and support to people who are trying to do the right thing. So you’ll have a lot of people helping you. Just always remember to be open to help. Never think that you know everything. And always be ready to listen.”

codyworsham

This whole story has me in tears this morning. Powerful.

humansofnewyork

“There are a lot of boys on the streets around here, aged 14 through 19, who are the real terrors of the neighborhood. They didn’t make it in school and most of them aren’t getting a second chance, so they go around causing trouble. I try to grab the kids early so they don’t go down that path. Most of my team lives in the housing developments, so they are surrounded by gangs and drugs. But basketball gives them a solace from all of that. When they’re on the court, it’s only about basketball.”

Oh boy a weekend at the camp makes Shaddy practically worthless. #australianshepherd #dogs #idigbr

#australianshepherd #dogs #idigbr

azizisbored

Reblog if ya goin. Tickets and other cities listed at tour.azizansari.com. #AzizAnsariLive #BatonRouge

codyworsham

Extra tickets at the door?!?

#aziz ansari

robbellcom

Start at Part 1 of this Series

What is the Bible? Part 13: Consciousness and Violence

So let’s talk about Lot, Sodom, Jericho, and every other violent passage in the Old Testament. And the New Testament, while we’re at it. Let’s include the stoning commandments (throwing, not...

codyworsham

Up at 11:24 because robbellcom is reminding me what it is to be moved spiritually by something. Literally moved. To be taken by an idea from one spot and transported forward, higher, in a positive direction. Good heart medicine, Rob. Thanks for being kind.