The sun's arc is softer I can sense it in the long shadows That stretch like time When four o'clock lasts for hours Lazy hot afternoons of gold The chlorophyll is tired I can see it in the flat green leaves Mature and stiff and stale So unlike those bright sticky buds of spring Some of them are turning yellow at the edges The dry heat is savage I can smell it in the baking asphalt Fierce and desperate and reckless The last attack from a wounded animal As summer slowly dies I can feel the tilt of earth's axis In the sleepy sunlight In the brittle umber grass In the herbs that have already bolted She says we'll need the other blankets soon
The Bible is so intimidating that most of us are scared to even pick it up, even if we already believe in it. So in the hopes of making Holy Scripture less daunting to my friends and peers, here’s a brief summary of my “first impressions” of each book of the Bible. These short entries are just my own words, based on my own emotional responses and understanding (or lack thereof), but they might help to remove some of the murkiness from all those unturned pages.
It will take you less than 17 minutes to read this. Don’t be scared. ;)
Here’s how to understand the format:
Name of Book: Synoptic subheading to help you remember. Then a short summary of this book, focusing on whichever element(s) were most pronounced to me as I read it.
Some entries have an indented paragraph like this which is a more personal, subjective reflection or reaction to the book.
The Old Testament:
Genesis: The origin myth. This book explains the origin of all creation (especially Humankind), the origin of evil, and the beginning of God’s redemptive plan (the covenant with Abraham).
Myth can be just as true as history; Genesis is written in both of these literary traditions.
Exodus: God vs. Egypt. This book tells the story of the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt and the beginning of their time in the wilderness. God’s relationship with the Hebrews is founded on “what He has done for them” in this miraculous deliverance from enslavement.
Leviticus: The Law. This book is almost entirely a recording of God’s laws and commands as explained to the Israelites by Moses.
Numbers: In the desert. In addition to being “Leviticus Pt. 2” this book describes the adventures of the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering.
Essentially what God is doing is He’s beating Israel into the shape that he wants, much like a blacksmith violently hammering a piece of hot metal on his anvil. For me it’s disturbing to see the violence and death that God uses to discipline and shape Israel. So it’s important to remember that God, who gives life to each, also chooses the hour of death for each, and He can use earthly death as a tool to His ends. One of the most important things He had to accomplish initially was to make Israel fear Him and respect his power over that of other gods.
Deuteronomy: Moses’ last words. The whole book is Moses’ parting speech to the Israelites just before they enter the promised land, recounting the Law and the story of their adventures, from slavery in Egypt up to their present.
Joshua: Veni, vidi, vici. This book is the account of how the Israelites took the Promised Land by God’s force. The main recurrent theme is that the Lord fulfills all of his promises and He has the power to bless Israel the way He said He would. God is good, and God is sovereign.
Judges: The ugly reality. This book is about Israel’s repeated infidelity to God and His Law, and the consequences (lawlessness and oppression) that follow. But it also shows God’s mercy in continuing to redeem Israel through these heroic “judges”.
After inheriting the promised land, Israel repeatedly forsakes God and devolves into lawlessness. God allows them to be oppressed by other nations, but every time they repent, God is willing to rescue them by ordaining a “judge” who liberates Israel. In stark contrast to the idyllic and arcadian template of a near-perfect society, as set forth in the Law, this book shows the horrific details of what life in the promised land was actually like, as a result of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. This book is the story of my own heart: despite how constantly God proves his goodness and trustworthiness, I repeatedly forsake Him to “whore after other gods”. It’s astonishing how stupid Israel is, and yet: I am Israel.
Ruth: A vignette. This (short) book gives a glimpse of the Law in action, how it works as a blessing in the lives of Ruth and those around her. It also shows how the righteous actions of Ruth and her redeemer led to the birth of King David (and then to Christ), and ironically highlights the fact that David’s lineage has foreign blood in it.
1 Samuel: A star on the rise. This book tells the story of David’s rise to prominence in Israel, how he’s wildly successful in all that he does, and how he’s persecuted by the jealous Saul.
2 Samuel: David’s reign. This book gives an account of the major events throughout David’s (40 year) reign.
1 Kings: Dark times for Israel. This book follows the succession of kings beginning with Solomon, through Jehoshaphat, showing how the kings’ unfaithfulness to the Lord and their worship of other gods caused hardship and turmoil for all of Israel. Special focus is given to Elijah as he calls King Ahab to repent.
2 Kings: Darker (bloodier) times for Israel. This book is a continuation of 1 Kings, highlighting the evil deeds and idolatry of the kings of Israel and Judah, which inevitably lead to the exile into Babylon.
1 Chronicles: 1 Kings + genealogies. This book covers mostly the same material as does 1 Kings, but in closer detail and with extensive genealogies throughout. Special focus is given to the building of the Temple.
2 Chronicles: 2 Kings + focus on Judah. This book focuses on the kings of Judah, with special attention to the righteousness of kings like Hezekiah and Josiah.
All four of these books (both Kings & both Chronicles) use historical fact to illustrate a recurrent spiritual theme: that God blesses and prospers those who rely on Him and keep his Law, but things go horribly for those who forsake Him.
Ezra: Putting the pieces back together. This book tells of the Israelites’ return from the Babylonian exile, especially the rebuilding of the temple and repentance for straying from the Law so quickly after their return.
It’s interesting to note that God’s wrath subsided after 70 years, while the Israelites had been rebelling against him for hundreds of years. His actual punishment isn’t nearly as harsh as the threats He made during Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. God is merciful. :)
Nehemiah: Rebuilding the Wall and the Sabbath. Nehemiah was the man in charge of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. He also worked with Ezra to re-introduce the Jews to God’s Law.
What makes Nehemiah so admirable is his dauntless dedication to God’s service; he is unable to be cowed or intimidated despite vigorous opposition, because of his steadfast faith in “My God”.
Esther: Faith and cunning. During the Babylonian(?) captivity, a Jewish girl became queen, then prevented the genocide of the Jews by using her influence on the king. This story shows how God protected the Jews even during their exile.
Job: Bad things to such good people. This book tackles one of the most pivotal questions of all: why does a Good God allow good people to suffer? In poetic verse, Job has a back-and-forth discourse with his friends, exploring various explanations for Job’s suffering. In the end, God appears to confront Job with His unquestionable power and authority.
Psalms: How to praise God. There are many themes throughout these 150 songs/poems, but the main recurrent theme is worship and praise of God, followed closely by the theme of petitions for God to save the supplicant.
This collection of songs and poetry encompasses the full spectrum of human experience, from bloodlust and hatred to zealous joy and thanksgiving. What is so remarkable is that all of these passions are somehow turned over to God.
Proverbs: Wisdom. I love this book! Wisdom, insight, advice, all rooted in fear of the Lord and experience of life. I want to re-read this book always.
Ecclesiastes: What is life for? One of my newfound favorite books of the Bible, this piece wrestles with hard themes like the meaning of life and the futility of human endeavors. Its meditations on human mortality serve to underscore our need for the Resurrection.
King Solomon had it all, but at the end of his life he found himself just as disconsolate as the lowest slave. What does it all matter? What do wealth, power, and wisdom matter in the face of swift, irrevocable death? What’s the point of struggling through life, only to be snuffed out and forgotten? Solomon was writing without any belief in an afterlife, which serves to show why we need a Saviour who can give our lives purpose by making them eternal. But even still what Solomon writes about how to make the best of life rings true: to eat, drink, and take joy in your toil, and to keep God’s commandments.
Song of Songs: Sex. Well, it’s more than that. This poem is an unashamed depiction of sexual passion and erotic love within its proper context of marriage between a man and his bride.
The fact that this work is unanimously accepted in the Canon of Scripture is a bizarre affirmation that eros is a blessing and not an evil.
Isaiah: I will break you then heal you. This book is a compilation of the prophecies of Isaiah. It has two main (dichotomistic) themes: God's impending wrath and punishment on Israel for their sins, and also God's plans for reconciling Israel into an everlasting kingdom of peace. Isaiah was a prophet who called Israel to repent before the Babylonian exile.
I especially love the prophecies about the suffering Servant and the coming Messiah.
Jeremiah: The Bulldozer. Similar to Isaiah, this book focuses on God’s “tearing down and uprooting… his rebuilding and planting”. Jeremiah lived and prophesied before, during, and after the Babylonian exile and the fall of Jerusalem. He remained in the city after most of the Israelites were deported. There is a recurrent image of Israel as an adulterous, whoring wife whom God is jealously pursuing.
This book is brutal. I think of it as the “I will kill you all and watch the streets run with your blood” book. It was very difficult and abrasive for me to read.
Lamentations: We lie in ruins. As the name implies, this short piece is a lament for the grim fate of Israel in the Babylonian exile, and a sort of funeral dirge for Jerusalem.
Ezekiel: The death & rebirth of Jerusalem. Ezekiel was taken in the first wave of captivity, about 14 years before the fall of Jerusalem. He prophesied about the destruction of Israel and the punishment of the surrounding nations, as well as detailed visions regarding the reinstatement of God’s covenant with Israel and the restoration of Jerusalem. This book is richly symbolic, with stunning visions such as the valley of dry bones. God’s primary objective is repeated throughout the book as a sort of refrain: “Then you shall know that I AM the Lord”.
Daniel: Steadfast faith rewarded. Daniel was an exile of Judah who was promoted to high status under King Nebuchadnezzar, and prospered because of his unwavering devotion to God. This book contains radical examples of faith, such as the three young men in the fiery furnace, and Daniel in the lion’s den.
Hosea: Israel is a whore. No really, that's the word that is used to describe Israel's conduct towards The Lord. But like a loving husband God pursues her nonetheless.
Joel: Repent or be judged. This obscure prophet warned that if Israel and Judah did not repent, they would be punished on the "day of The Lord" just like the surrounding nations.
Amos: Let the good times roll. In the time before the Babylonian Exile, Amos called Israel to repent with a special focus on the need for social justice and the wrath that they incurred for neglecting the poor and distorting justice.
Obadiah: Edom you’ll get yours. During the oppression of Israel by the Chaldeans, the Edomites betrayed their kin-nation by rounding up Jews and turning them over to the Chaldeans. Obadiah condemns them for this.
Jonah: God’s compassion. Johan was an idiot, but that’s not the point of this story. The point is to show how eager God is to show mercy and compassion on any anyone who repents of their sins.
Micah: Warning and hope. This short book alternates between warnings of punishment for sin, and messianic prophecies of hope.
Nahum: Nineveh will fall. A century after Jonah, Nahum prophesied that this city, the capital of Assyria, would be destroyed for its sins.
Habakkuk: Tools in God's hands. This book explores how God can use even the evil aims of a skewed nation to accomplish His good will.
Zephaniah: Impending doom. This book warns of the impending judgement on all nations. It asserts that Israel will also be judged, yet later restored to prosperity.
Haggai: Rebuild my temple. Even as soon as the Israelites returned from exile they needed correction again. This book warns that God would not bless them with prosperity as long as they neglected His temple.
Zechariah: The day of The Lord. Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai who called the Israelites to renew the covenant as they rebuilt the temple. His prophecies also reached further, to the Messiah and cryptic narratives of the impending judgement and cosmic re-ordering on the Day of the Lord.
Malachi: 400 year cliffhanger. There is a lot going on in this little book. It denounces various hypocrisies within the Israelites' religious observances, and prophesies the coming of John the Baptist (Elijah) and Christ.
The New Testament:
Matthew: Jesus and the Jews. This book explains Christ’s ministry in the context of Jewish Law and tradition, with a special focus on how He goes head-to-head with the religious powers-that-be.
Mark: Mercy and miracles. This book pays special attention to Christ’s mercy, gentleness, and compassion for the people he meets.
Luke: The historical details. This book reads more like a work of scrupulous journalism. It’s very concerned with the matter-of-fact details in a very straight-forward presentation of Christ’s life.
John: The Metaphysical Gospel. This book is concerned with abstract Christology, especially Jesus’ relation to the Father. The entire crux of the book is the question “Who and what is Jesus? Are His claims true?” and the answer “Come and see; the Word made flesh”.
Acts: The Paul Show. This book begins by describing the activities of the original apostles and the church that surrounded them, then shifts focus to Paul’s missionary efforts. It shows the emerging identity of Christianity, how it defined itself as a continuation of the Jewish Law, and how it became accessible to Gentiles.
One of the most stark ironies of this book is that it focuses on the mission work of an apostle who never knew Christ in His earthly body, neglecting to tell the adventures of those apostles that spent years discipling with Christ in the flesh. This serves as an encouragement to all of us who’ve come to faith post-Ascension, that our connection with Christ can be as valid as the connection that the initial 11 disciples had.
Romans: Righteousness through faith. That’s the theme that Paul dwells on most extensively throughout this letter.
This letter also contains the infamous 9th chapter, the most favorite scripture for supporting the heresy of Calvinist predestination. But Paul contradicts his own implications time and time again, so it’s impossible to get any coherent stance on predestination out of him. It’s very frustrating for me.
1 Corinthians: Sexual immorality. That’s what stands out to me in this most recent reading of this letter: Paul’s persistent warning against sexual sins.
2 Corinthians: Paul’s fundraiser. This letter deals with many themes, but focuses extensively on the right context and motives for financial support within the church.
Galatians: Faith not Law. In this letter Paul is trying to clean up a heresy which asserts that gentile converts to Christianity must be circumcised and fulfill the Jewish Law. Paul crushes this idea like a boss.
Ephesians: Christian Life. Typical of Paul’s writing, this letter is packed with advice on how to live properly as a Christian.
Philippians: The happy letter. Written by Paul while in prison, this letter is a powerful call to “be content in any circumstances”.
Colossians: Christ over religion. In this letter Paul argues against the pitfalls of man-made religion and calls his audience to depend on the power of Christ rather than the power of religion.
1 Thessalonians: The gentle letter. If Corinth was the problem child, then Thessalonica was Paul’s straight-A student. This letter is full of tender affirmation and joyful encouragement to a church that was doing very well.
2 Thessalonians: Spiritual check-up. In much the same vein as the first letter, this is a gentle spiritual check-up, encouraging this church in a time of persecution, and giving reminders of certain truths.
1 Timothy: How to run a church. Paul’s letter of instruction to Timothy who was in charge of the church at Ephesus.
2 Timothy: How to run a church continued. More of the same goodness of the previous letter, punctuated by the poignancy of Paul’s impending death in Rome.
Titus: Some more pastoral advice. In a similar vein with the letters to Timothy, this short letter contains advice on how to run a church, combat heresies, and encourage Christian living.
Philemon: Template for reconciliation. Paul sends a runaway slave back to his former owner with instructions to forgive him and receive him as a brother, no longer a slave. This is a perfect example of the high standards of forgiveness and patience that Christians are called to live by.
Hebrews: The Law 2.0. This letter provides a metaphysical explanation of Christ’s role as High Priest, and proves through scripture that He came to alter people’s relationship to the Jewish Law (replacing the first law with the second law).
The author’s recurrent use of the phrases “shadows of things” compared to “true things” reminds me a lot of Plato’s theory of true forms.
James: The works letter. This letter sits in apparent tension with Paul’s writing about the relationship of works, faith, and salvation. James forcefully emphasizes the necessity for Christians to behave according to their faith.
1 Peter: Enduring persecution. This letter is mainly an encouragement to Christians in the midst of persecution; why and how to endure for the sake of Christ and their salvation.
2 Peter: Enduring heresy. This letter is a continuation of his first, with more emphasis on heretics who attacked the idea of Christ’s second coming. Peter encourages his readers to stay faithful and await the coming judgement of the Lord.
1 John: Christ is the Son of God. This letter deals mainly with heresies that attached Christ’s humanity or His divinity. John asserts the dual nature of Christ in much the same language as his Gospel.
2 John: Hospitality and heresy. John advises a woman in the church not to allow her hospitality to become a support for heretics.
3 John: Hospitality and authority. John writes to his friend to encourage his hospitality, in contrast with another leader in the Church who acted out of self-interest and abuse of power.
Jude: Fake christians. Jude calls out and sheds light on those insidious “members” of the Church who preach sensuality and immorality under the disguise of being real Christians. He tells his readers to treat these people with love (to “snatch them out of the fire”) but not to be fooled by them.
Just because they go to church and call themselves Christians does not mean they follow Christ.
Revelation: The final resolution. This book is packed with cryptic, symbolic imagery describing the end times. It is primarily concerned with Christ's final judgement and resolution of the struggle between good and evil (the “Day of the Lord”). It also paints a picture of what life will be like in the new creation (Heaven).
I’m surprised at the unmistakable similarities this book has with the Old Testament prophecies, especially the book of Ezekiel; John is very blatantly imitating and referencing the imagery and content of prophets such as Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and a few of the other minor prophets.
I'm loathe to write a blog that attacks the actions of other Christians, so I'll try for a gentle correction instead:
Recently my wife and I drove past a church sign (you know, the ugly kind with black plastic letters stuck to a grooved white board) that read:
"FREE TICKET TO HEAVEN. DETAILS INSIDE."
As we kept driving I said aloud "That kind of thing is the reason our world wants nothing to do with Christianity."
Of course I wasn't just talking about a mildly tasteless church sign. I was talking about the recurrent misconception within Christianity that we have to sell something to the world, and that the thing we're selling is some kind of eternal beach-side resort or a sanctimonious get-out-of-jail-free card for an afterlife that (as far as most people are concerned) may or may not exist.
At its best, Christianity isn't selling anything. It doesn't have to. What Christianity does is it serves as an introduction to the Truth that is so good and wonderful and liberating and fulfilling and delightful that we can't help but love Him.
What Christianity does is it names the Truth that underlies our whole existence. This Truth isn't some fortune cookie mantra or the promise of eternity spent sitting on clouds playing harps (yuck). This Truth is a person. And once you've been introduced to that person, you know that He's the Truth because of the way your life subtly rotates towards Him just like a plant that turns towards the sunlight.
I'm convinced that Jesus Christ has something wonderful and powerful to give to everyone: His own Life, and all of the side effects that come with it including peace, justice, joy, healing, wholeness-of-being, and (you guessed it) eternal life. Again, this is not the vacation sweepstakes kind of eternal life. It's the kind that begins here and now and starts repairing the damaged parts of lives and the intolerable suffering that even the most privileged of us find ourselves trapped in.
What we Christians have to vigilantly avoid is the temptation to present a "marketable" (falsified, cheapened, defaced) impression of what it is --Whom it is-- that we have found.
All we have to do is show Christ. He will handle the rest.
There are basically three steps to becoming an architect. I will unpack each step to the best of my knowledge. This is not a simple process, but it helps to have a basic understanding. What follows is the information I wish I'd had to begin with.
1) Go to an accredited school.
What it is: The NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board) essentially determines the legitimacy of your college or university. If your school meets the criteria of the NAAB and is accredited, then your IDP time will be shorter and it's easier to get licensed as an architect. You can tell if your degree is accredited if it's actually called a "bachelor's of architecture" as opposed to something else (like "environmental design") but you should still check with your school to make sure. WATCH OUT! Some states require you to have an accredited degree in order to complete the IDP. If your degree is not accredited (mine wasn't) don't worry, you're not out of luck. It will probably just take longer and there may be some extra hoops to jump through.
What you do: Talk to someone at your school to make sure the degree you're working towards is accredited by the NAAB. If it's not, check your state's government website to make sure you understand the extra steps involved in getting licensed.
2) Complete your AXP (formerly IDP)
What it is: The Architectural Experience Program (formerly called the Intern Development Program) is basically just getting experience. You have to work for an architecture firm for a given period of time (which varies depending on what kind of degree you get). You will track your time and create "experience reports" that need to be approved by your boss (usually a licensed architect). You CANNOT report any experience from more 6 MONTHS AGO so make sure to keep your reports current! Usually your IDP starts once you graduate and get a job, but experience can still count after a certain amount of school (check with NCARB for details).
What you do: Make an account with NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) AS SOON AS YOU CAN! Basically, none of the time you spend in school or working for an architect counts towards your IDP unless you currently have an NCARB account. I lost almost two years of experience because I delayed registering with NCARB.
Advice: If your school ever offers an informational meeting about the AXP/IDP, you must go to it! This will be invaluable for you.
3) Take the AREs.
What they are: The Architectural Registration Exams are the tests you take to become a licensed architect. (Until you're licensed, it's illegal to call yourself an architect or say that you provide architectural services.) There are several different tests (I think currently there are 6) that you will take several weeks apart from each other. Once you take the first test, you have a "rolling clock” of 5 years to complete the rest of them. There are study guides to help you prepare. You can only re-take each section 2 more times if you fail, and you must pass all of the exams in order to become licensed.
What you do: Once you've completed your AXP/IDP and gotten the green light from NCARB and your state government, take the tests. Find out from NCARB how much each section costs, as well as where, when, and how often you must take the tests.
So those are the three steps to becoming an architect. Below are the ways you can go about it in Colorado, as an example of how it's done. But these options vary with each state, so check yours.
Examples:
No degree + 10 years IDP + ARE exams = Architect (I strongly advise against this choice)
Unaccredited Bachelor's degree + 6 years IDP + ARE exams = Architect (this is what I'm doing)
Accredited Bachelor's degree + 5 years IDP + ARE exams = Architect
Accredited Master's degree + 3 years IDP + ARE exams = Architect
If you have questions, let me know and I'd love to explain more about what I've learned so far. If you know for sure that any of the above information is wrong in every state, please correct me.
Helpful Links:
NAAB: www.naab.org
NCARB: www.ncarb.org
Colorado Government: http://cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=DORA-Reg%2FDORALayout&cid=1251632130538&pagename=CBONWrapper (as an example; your state will have it's own department)
When it’s so cold like this everything looks and smells different. There’s something mysterious about how the frigid air transforms the trees, the sky, the snow, the headlights of the cars, the street lamps, everything. When my face is burning from the cold and my lungs hurt from breathing it in,...
It's a silly question. Of course they are. What I mean is: do we view them as real human beings? Or do we see them as something else? I think global culture tries to see celebrities as spectacles or entertainment, rather than commending these (famous) people as being persons with exceptional talents and dedication.
Here are some of the celebrities (human people) that I especially admire:
Denzel Washington
Several years ago I read an interview with Washington. I can't remember which magazine it was in, or exact quotes from the article, but the gist of it (which I know that I am not misconstruing or exaggerating) was that the Most Important Thing to Washington was being a good father to his family. Wow. One of the most critically acclaimed actors of our time, and the thing he sees as being paramount is not himself, nor his career, nor his fame, but his wife and children. I respect his priorities.
Will Smith
He was an excellent rapper. He is an even better actor. One of the things I appreciate about Smith is that I can see the way his career has evolved and matured over time. I compare the Fresh Prince with Ben in Seven Pounds, and I see an artist who has taken his natural talent and grown it exponentially by hard work and persistence.
What I "know" about Smith on a personal level (and how well can we know any celebrity without having actually met them or spent time with them?) comes from his music. He holds that he is a man of Christian faith, and a man who (like Washington) regards his family as being of tantamount importance.
I find it interesting that he has, in effect, given up his career as a musician (despite his obvious passion for it as seen in his last album "Lost & Found" released 2006) to cultivate his repertoire as an actor instead. I see this as a mature recognition of his own abilities and shortcomings, and it's been rewarding to watch as his endeavors have paid off.
Orson Scott Card
I listened to a recent interview with Card in which he discussed the issue of copyright dispersal in the event of his death. To paraphrase, he said that he wasn't so concerned with who got what rights to which book; what he cared most about was that his wife and children would be provided for. Big suprise: another family man has won my respect.
Card's books are full of wisdom and insight in various fields: morality, psychology, religion, micro-biology, sociology, etc. But one of the main things he concerns himself with in his writing is the topic of human relationships; the connections between persons. He excels at exploring the profundity of relationships; how one character relates to another (or others). Within this context Card's writing inspires me to live out Christ's command of "loving one another as I have loved you".
Celebrities don't deserve veneration or idolization. Instead I find it helpful to see them as talented workers within a specific craft. I look for the people who exemplify (albeit imperfectly) some of the values that I hold so dear.
"Hey, look at this small white rock I found." "Hmm. Where'd you find it?" "It came out of a chicken's butt." "No kidding." "And on the inside its full of boogers." "Oh my." "I think we should eat it."
