Thursday, January 27, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
My Life Is Complete
My life is complete. For now that is. All of the music I’ve been without for the past two years is now safely back in one place…on my new Mac. The beauty of the world, the paragon of technology, and yet to me, what is this quintessence of perfection? I’ll tell ya…the quintessence of perfection! I’ve been missing both Mac and music so much so that I find all I want to do is scroll through my iTunes and play every song I had forgot I possessed. Ok, I admit, I’ve actually been doing that very thing for a few hours now. So I thought I’d share some of the music I’ve been listening to with great joy, along with a little shout out to the people who led me to the artist or song:
Russians by Sting
Chess by Andersson-Ulvaeus (Thank you Wilbur!)
The Roar of Love by 2nd Chapter of Acts (Thank you again Wilbur)
99.9 Percent Sure by Brian McComas
The Servant Way by Buddy Greene
OLE! by Bouncing Souls
Still Fighting It by Ben Folds
Losing Grip by Avril Lavigne (Thank you Bri!)
Green Into Gold by Angie Aparo
Kingdom Come by Cold Play
Babylon by David Gray (Thank you Dave!)
All My Ex's Live In Texas by George Strait (Thank you Der!)
Stupid Mouth Shut by HEM
The Curra Road by Jim Fidler
Cry Me A River by Justin Timberlake (Thank you JoJo!)
The Frog Prince by Keane
Doulos by Kemper Crabb
The Land of Ice and Snow by Led Zeppelin
Unwell by Matchbox Twenty
Glory To God In The Highest Chant by Nuns Of St. Paisus Orthodox Monastery (Thank you world!)
I Feel Home by O.A.R. (Thank you Misha!)
Samson by Regina Spektor
Hoppípolla by Sigur Rós
I Will Follow by U2
Little Bird by The Weepies (Thank you Jesse!)
Russians by Sting
Chess by Andersson-Ulvaeus (Thank you Wilbur!)
The Roar of Love by 2nd Chapter of Acts (Thank you again Wilbur)
99.9 Percent Sure by Brian McComas
The Servant Way by Buddy Greene
OLE! by Bouncing Souls
Still Fighting It by Ben Folds
Losing Grip by Avril Lavigne (Thank you Bri!)
Green Into Gold by Angie Aparo
Kingdom Come by Cold Play
Babylon by David Gray (Thank you Dave!)
All My Ex's Live In Texas by George Strait (Thank you Der!)
Stupid Mouth Shut by HEM
The Curra Road by Jim Fidler
Cry Me A River by Justin Timberlake (Thank you JoJo!)
The Frog Prince by Keane
Doulos by Kemper Crabb
The Land of Ice and Snow by Led Zeppelin
Unwell by Matchbox Twenty
Glory To God In The Highest Chant by Nuns Of St. Paisus Orthodox Monastery (Thank you world!)
I Feel Home by O.A.R. (Thank you Misha!)
Samson by Regina Spektor
Hoppípolla by Sigur Rós
I Will Follow by U2
Little Bird by The Weepies (Thank you Jesse!)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Servanthood
My first notions about what it means to be a servant were synonomous with what it means to be a slave. Both of those terms have taken on different and ever changing meanging for me over the years, but I still more often than not find myself linking servitude with bondage.
As a Bible study with my sister has coincided with the start of reading the Bible through in a year, I've been met once again with the opportunity to think through the meaning of servanthood. I've only begun to think, but the thoughts that are being connected have left me with a clearer picture on the meaning of the phrase "water is thicker than blood".
R.C. Sproul says in his book, Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow:
The motivation for Christian service is love for God. We serve not to earn salvation, but because Christ already has purchased salvation for us....We should be motivated to serve Him out of joy for what He has done for us, not out of grim obligation or as a means to gain heaven.
Elsewhere Sproul points out that God wants us to "invest in the future" and use our gifts "for the sake of the kingdom".
What a perfect Old Testament example God gives us in the story of Abraham's servant Eliezer. It is assumed that Eliezer is the one whom Abraham charges to find a wife for Isaac from his own land and his own kindred. It is said in Genesis 24 that this servant is the oldest of Abraham's household and in charge of all that Abraham possessed. These citings alone show that Eliezer was a faithful and trusted servant. Could Eliezer have been with Abraham since he and his family lived in Haran or even since Ur? Whether or not Eliezer had been with Abraham that long one thing is certain, he had an extensive family history and knew exactly what Abraham meant when he was charged to find a wife from among Abraham's land and kindred. It's pretty safe to assume that Abraham didn't give his servant a quick family history lesson and tutorial along with all the viable prospects for his son's marriage and then send Eliezer off hoping he'd get the job done right. No, if Eliezer was the most trusted and oldest of Abraham's household he most likely knew Abraham quite well. He probably could recite Abraham's family liniage all the way back to Adam. He could more than likely rattle off Abraham and Sarah's 4th-cousins-twice-removed without batting an eye. He probably could finish Abraham's sentences before Abraham himself could. He seems to be that kind of servant that defies all modern notions of what servants are supposed to be. Could he have bordered on friend?
The one place in all of Scripture where Eliezer's name is actually mentioned shows us that he was more than servant, more than friend. Genesis 15 says that Eliezer was heir to all that Abraham possessed. Before Ishmael. Before Isaac. When all hope of having a blood heir, a son, seemed lost, Abraham counted his most trusted, most faithful, longest standing member of his household as his heir.
The interesting thing is, Genesis 24 comes after Genesis 15. Common sense, I know. But when you look at it in terms of true servanthood we are reminded that Eliezer wasn't motivated by any prospective inheritance. The birth of a son to his master Abraham didn't deter him from his duty and purpose, rather it motivated his duty and purpose. He cared so deeply for his master that he was motivated to invest in the future, to use his gifts of service for the sake of the kingdom.
What a picture of selfless servanthood. What a picture of our role as servants of Christ, heirs of His great and precious promises.
As a Bible study with my sister has coincided with the start of reading the Bible through in a year, I've been met once again with the opportunity to think through the meaning of servanthood. I've only begun to think, but the thoughts that are being connected have left me with a clearer picture on the meaning of the phrase "water is thicker than blood".
R.C. Sproul says in his book, Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow:
The motivation for Christian service is love for God. We serve not to earn salvation, but because Christ already has purchased salvation for us....We should be motivated to serve Him out of joy for what He has done for us, not out of grim obligation or as a means to gain heaven.
Elsewhere Sproul points out that God wants us to "invest in the future" and use our gifts "for the sake of the kingdom".
What a perfect Old Testament example God gives us in the story of Abraham's servant Eliezer. It is assumed that Eliezer is the one whom Abraham charges to find a wife for Isaac from his own land and his own kindred. It is said in Genesis 24 that this servant is the oldest of Abraham's household and in charge of all that Abraham possessed. These citings alone show that Eliezer was a faithful and trusted servant. Could Eliezer have been with Abraham since he and his family lived in Haran or even since Ur? Whether or not Eliezer had been with Abraham that long one thing is certain, he had an extensive family history and knew exactly what Abraham meant when he was charged to find a wife from among Abraham's land and kindred. It's pretty safe to assume that Abraham didn't give his servant a quick family history lesson and tutorial along with all the viable prospects for his son's marriage and then send Eliezer off hoping he'd get the job done right. No, if Eliezer was the most trusted and oldest of Abraham's household he most likely knew Abraham quite well. He probably could recite Abraham's family liniage all the way back to Adam. He could more than likely rattle off Abraham and Sarah's 4th-cousins-twice-removed without batting an eye. He probably could finish Abraham's sentences before Abraham himself could. He seems to be that kind of servant that defies all modern notions of what servants are supposed to be. Could he have bordered on friend?
The one place in all of Scripture where Eliezer's name is actually mentioned shows us that he was more than servant, more than friend. Genesis 15 says that Eliezer was heir to all that Abraham possessed. Before Ishmael. Before Isaac. When all hope of having a blood heir, a son, seemed lost, Abraham counted his most trusted, most faithful, longest standing member of his household as his heir.
The interesting thing is, Genesis 24 comes after Genesis 15. Common sense, I know. But when you look at it in terms of true servanthood we are reminded that Eliezer wasn't motivated by any prospective inheritance. The birth of a son to his master Abraham didn't deter him from his duty and purpose, rather it motivated his duty and purpose. He cared so deeply for his master that he was motivated to invest in the future, to use his gifts of service for the sake of the kingdom.
What a picture of selfless servanthood. What a picture of our role as servants of Christ, heirs of His great and precious promises.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving
There is no great way to say this, but I’ve become an ivory tower idealist and I haven’t even hit mid life for there to be a crisis.
Today concludes a rather successful Thanksgiving celebration with my dear family. I say successful because I and my two sisters were in charge of planning for and cooking the traditional festive foods this day is know for, and we managed to pull it off. I say traditional because I am a firm believer in eating turkey and pumpkin pie on this of all days…but that’s a discussion for a later date.
The morning began with food, as any good Thanksgiving morning should. For breakfast I made french toast smothered in 100% maple syrup accompanied by halved and roasted apples sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar topped with a cream cheese pumpkin filling. It was a smashing success—presentation and all. I’m not sure that everyone liked the apple and pumpkin concoction, but they ate it nonetheless to humor me.
Shortly after breakfast, lunch preparations were under way. Yesterday I put together the mixture that would be stuffed into the turkey—a medley of carrots, onions, small potatoes, sage, rosemary, garlic, and olive oil. I made it up really, those were just a few of my favorite things (and least favorite—I’m not an onion person) all thrown together. I stuffed the turkey and set it to cook, then the girls and I worked on what we could in the 2 hours until the bird was ready. Jenny set the table with the special red and white plates, Christi kept watch over the turkey and vegetables in the oven, and I mulled over how I could make everything come out at the same time without getting cold. Ok, I also mulled over how I could make everything as beautifully presentable as possible given space and serving dish limitations.
Picture time. This was not going down without a picture. As hungry as we all were we managed to get some pictures so that we could memorialize the entirety of our spread. I only took three. A person can only plead for so long for a smile from another person who’s determined to be grouchy. My attempted picturesque moment aside, we began to eat.
And what good eating it was too! Turkey, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, rosemary herb vegetable medley, rolls! Yum, yum, and yum! The girls had decided when we went shopping that we would have sparkling cranberry and grape juice to accompany our meal, so along with that and wine, the libations were as plenteous and pleasant as the feast. For dessert there was pumpkin pie and a spice cake in the shape of a turkey with a bourbon glaze. By that time I did not care as much about the presentation, I simply squirted as much Ready Whip on my plate as it could handle. Funny how ideals fly out the window when one has two whole cans of Ready Whip at your disposal.
Arriving home just now after spending a day and a half with my family, I open my computer to reflect on this day of giving thanks. I was immediately greeted by the desktop background I downloaded earlier this week. Picture this: half of a rugged oak table, forest green runner going down the middle, no table cloth, fire in the background just behind the table and slightly out of focus, the décor on what would be the middle of the table are fall leaves and stalks of corn bundled together and sitting upright. They too are just out of focus. Main scene is the main course—a beautifully browned turkey on a milk-white ceramic platter surrounded by herbs, stuffing, and small crabapples for presentation. Around the platter are goblets some half full of red wine, others half full of water. The place settings are red willow and genuine silver utensils.
Looking at that picture just now I realized that it embodied everything I wanted my Thanksgiving to be. In a word: perfect. This year, due to the fact that my mum went for a visit to see her brother in Colorado, I got to be in charge of the menu. I dreamed big. I was a stickler for turkey as opposed to chicken or Cornish hens because…well, because I could be, I was in charge. I was a stickler for cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie because…well, because I could be. And then there’s the presentation. This was my opportunity to make things look as good as they taste. To look, in a word, perfect.
Do y’all remember the Disney movie Aladdin? This is where the genie comes in on my behalf and says, “PHENOMINAL KITCHEN POWERS…itty bitty living space.”
My dreams of perfection ended when there was no gravy bowl to be had. They ended when one of my sisters put over-cooked baked beans on her plate, and when there was a grouchy face in the picture memorializing the entirety of our spread. In short, my quest for perfection ended when reality struck. When the pinkness of the turkey revealed that it hadn’t quite cooked all the way through. When the potatoes were still a little stiff. When I realized that I was not Bobby Flay nor were any of my family members a supporting Martha Stewart.
The funny thing is, most of this was subconscious. Not until I came home this evening and saw that ideal Thanksgiving spread across my desktop did I realize all along that was my goal. Well, I for one am glad it didn’t turn out that way. Turns out that kind of perfect little cozy scene isn’t for me. That’s not to say that I won’t strive to make great tasting food or beautiful presentations in the future, but what this thanksgiving has taught me is that there’s beauty in just plain ‘ol livin’ and lovin’ well.
There’s no great way to say this, but I’m a recovering ivory tower idealist who is extremely thankful that there’s grace for even the most persnickety of perfectionists.
Today concludes a rather successful Thanksgiving celebration with my dear family. I say successful because I and my two sisters were in charge of planning for and cooking the traditional festive foods this day is know for, and we managed to pull it off. I say traditional because I am a firm believer in eating turkey and pumpkin pie on this of all days…but that’s a discussion for a later date.
The morning began with food, as any good Thanksgiving morning should. For breakfast I made french toast smothered in 100% maple syrup accompanied by halved and roasted apples sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar topped with a cream cheese pumpkin filling. It was a smashing success—presentation and all. I’m not sure that everyone liked the apple and pumpkin concoction, but they ate it nonetheless to humor me.
Shortly after breakfast, lunch preparations were under way. Yesterday I put together the mixture that would be stuffed into the turkey—a medley of carrots, onions, small potatoes, sage, rosemary, garlic, and olive oil. I made it up really, those were just a few of my favorite things (and least favorite—I’m not an onion person) all thrown together. I stuffed the turkey and set it to cook, then the girls and I worked on what we could in the 2 hours until the bird was ready. Jenny set the table with the special red and white plates, Christi kept watch over the turkey and vegetables in the oven, and I mulled over how I could make everything come out at the same time without getting cold. Ok, I also mulled over how I could make everything as beautifully presentable as possible given space and serving dish limitations.
Picture time. This was not going down without a picture. As hungry as we all were we managed to get some pictures so that we could memorialize the entirety of our spread. I only took three. A person can only plead for so long for a smile from another person who’s determined to be grouchy. My attempted picturesque moment aside, we began to eat.
And what good eating it was too! Turkey, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, rosemary herb vegetable medley, rolls! Yum, yum, and yum! The girls had decided when we went shopping that we would have sparkling cranberry and grape juice to accompany our meal, so along with that and wine, the libations were as plenteous and pleasant as the feast. For dessert there was pumpkin pie and a spice cake in the shape of a turkey with a bourbon glaze. By that time I did not care as much about the presentation, I simply squirted as much Ready Whip on my plate as it could handle. Funny how ideals fly out the window when one has two whole cans of Ready Whip at your disposal.
Arriving home just now after spending a day and a half with my family, I open my computer to reflect on this day of giving thanks. I was immediately greeted by the desktop background I downloaded earlier this week. Picture this: half of a rugged oak table, forest green runner going down the middle, no table cloth, fire in the background just behind the table and slightly out of focus, the décor on what would be the middle of the table are fall leaves and stalks of corn bundled together and sitting upright. They too are just out of focus. Main scene is the main course—a beautifully browned turkey on a milk-white ceramic platter surrounded by herbs, stuffing, and small crabapples for presentation. Around the platter are goblets some half full of red wine, others half full of water. The place settings are red willow and genuine silver utensils.
Looking at that picture just now I realized that it embodied everything I wanted my Thanksgiving to be. In a word: perfect. This year, due to the fact that my mum went for a visit to see her brother in Colorado, I got to be in charge of the menu. I dreamed big. I was a stickler for turkey as opposed to chicken or Cornish hens because…well, because I could be, I was in charge. I was a stickler for cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie because…well, because I could be. And then there’s the presentation. This was my opportunity to make things look as good as they taste. To look, in a word, perfect.
Do y’all remember the Disney movie Aladdin? This is where the genie comes in on my behalf and says, “PHENOMINAL KITCHEN POWERS…itty bitty living space.”
My dreams of perfection ended when there was no gravy bowl to be had. They ended when one of my sisters put over-cooked baked beans on her plate, and when there was a grouchy face in the picture memorializing the entirety of our spread. In short, my quest for perfection ended when reality struck. When the pinkness of the turkey revealed that it hadn’t quite cooked all the way through. When the potatoes were still a little stiff. When I realized that I was not Bobby Flay nor were any of my family members a supporting Martha Stewart.
The funny thing is, most of this was subconscious. Not until I came home this evening and saw that ideal Thanksgiving spread across my desktop did I realize all along that was my goal. Well, I for one am glad it didn’t turn out that way. Turns out that kind of perfect little cozy scene isn’t for me. That’s not to say that I won’t strive to make great tasting food or beautiful presentations in the future, but what this thanksgiving has taught me is that there’s beauty in just plain ‘ol livin’ and lovin’ well.
There’s no great way to say this, but I’m a recovering ivory tower idealist who is extremely thankful that there’s grace for even the most persnickety of perfectionists.
Monday, October 04, 2010
Something more to talk about!
We have our official logo prepared for the Ragnar Relay! For more information on just what that is, read below:
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Something to Talk About
Often times someone just needs something to talk about. As an individual who gets paid to use words on a daily basis--and a lot of them at that--I find that by mid-afternoon I have used up my word allotment for the day. Being an introvert doesn't help. And being a busy introvert doesn't help either.
But every once in a while something will come up that just needs to be talked about. Enter...The Ragnar Relay!
Here's the short of it: Running 200 miles in 24 hours with 11 dear friends to raise money for King's Meadow Study Center's Chalmers Fund. Why do such a crazy thing? Well, for starters because it's going to be a lot of fun, but the main reason I will be both running and volunteering in this incredibly wonderful craziness is because I believe in the purpose. Raising scholarship money for prospective students for both Franklin Classical School and New College Franklin is a worthwhile calling.
I've been in school all my life--first as student, now as teacher. I have been a beneficiary of sacrificial giving from individuals who felt called to give to scholarship funds so I could get through highschool and college. And now it's my turn to both give back and encourage others to do the same.
Now that's something to talk about!
Follow my progress as I join the Sum Ergo Zoom running team on November 5th and 6th, and tell everyone you know to donate by going to my online fundraising site: www.crowdrise.com/amyshore
It really is something to talk about...so TELL EVERYBODY!
But every once in a while something will come up that just needs to be talked about. Enter...The Ragnar Relay
Here's the short of it: Running 200 miles in 24 hours with 11 dear friends to raise money for King's Meadow Study Center's Chalmers Fund. Why do such a crazy thing? Well, for starters because it's going to be a lot of fun, but the main reason I will be both running and volunteering in this incredibly wonderful craziness is because I believe in the purpose. Raising scholarship money for prospective students for both Franklin Classical School and New College Franklin is a worthwhile calling.
I've been in school all my life--first as student, now as teacher. I have been a beneficiary of sacrificial giving from individuals who felt called to give to scholarship funds so I could get through highschool and college. And now it's my turn to both give back and encourage others to do the same.
Now that's something to talk about!
Follow my progress as I join the Sum Ergo Zoom running team on November 5th and 6th, and tell everyone you know to donate by going to my online fundraising site: www.crowdrise.com/amyshore
It really is something to talk about...so TELL EVERYBODY!
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Kingdom Context
I love it when you come across a “plaque verse” that you’ve known all your life and rediscover it again for the very first time in its proper place in the context of Scripture. But more than that discovery, I love it when that verse comes to mean so much more because of that context which was previously stripped from its meaning. I love it when you have that realization, that “AhHa” moment when you see that there is more truth, more richness, more depth lent that commonly heard verse because the uncommonly heard verses surrounding.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
Sometimes when Christian kitch stores want to be able to have one plaque for families to hang in their kitchen they’ll only make a plaque out of the first part of the verse. But when they want to be able to have one plaque for saints going through a rough time in life they’ll add the latter half to the former:
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
But wait, there are other plaque verses contained within the twenty-two verses of Psalm 34. Do you need a verse for your Scripture memory program that will remind you to keep your mind ever focused on the Lord? Well then try:
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (v. 1)
How about a verse that reminds you to praise His name even when you don’t feel like it:
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (v. 3)
Or what about a verse that reminds you to not gossip:
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” (v. 13)
Or what if you are in desperate need of a rescue verse, a reminder that God’s going to make everything better and get you out of this hard time:
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” (v. 17)
I don’t know about you, but each of those verses, standing alone, only afford me a little comfort, a small reminder, a minor hope. A comfort, remembrance, and hope that is real, to be sure, but one that lacks enough depth to keep me grounded when the hard times come, lacks enough substance to keep me vigilant when my heart runs low on praise. But together, with every verse in its proper place from 1 to 22 this Psalm does more than offer depth and substance.
Samuel 21:10-22:2 affords us an even clearer context for this particular Psalm of David:
“And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,
‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”
And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.”
Wait, after all this David’s first words in Psalm 34 are, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”?
Wait, this is the context for verse 3 when he says, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!”? With an exclamation point and all?
Ok, so the refuge part I get in verse 8, but he’s really still calling the Lord good?
Wait, wait, wait, wait, verses 13 and 14…he’s not really talking to himself, is he:
"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
How could anyone, especially David, slip up and say or do something they shouldn’t have when they’re the one getting pursued by kings, running for their lives, having to act like a loony case out of fear, and being exiled to a dark damp cave? Surely David’s not, I don’t know, calling his own heart, through the gracious leading of the Spirit, to repentance in the midst of all this craziness, is he? Why would he do that?
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” (v. 17)
But surely David’s not expecting God to take him out of this hard spot instantly, right?
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (v. 18)
If the Lord is near, if He cares enough about crushed spirits then no matter how many afflictions over how long a period of time, there is more than just rescue, right?
“The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” (v. 22)
“And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.” (Samuel 22:2)
Kingdom context: Herein is comfort. Herein is remembrance. Herein is hope.
Psalm 34
Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech,
so that he drove him out, and he went away.
1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
Sometimes when Christian kitch stores want to be able to have one plaque for families to hang in their kitchen they’ll only make a plaque out of the first part of the verse. But when they want to be able to have one plaque for saints going through a rough time in life they’ll add the latter half to the former:
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
But wait, there are other plaque verses contained within the twenty-two verses of Psalm 34. Do you need a verse for your Scripture memory program that will remind you to keep your mind ever focused on the Lord? Well then try:
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (v. 1)
How about a verse that reminds you to praise His name even when you don’t feel like it:
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (v. 3)
Or what about a verse that reminds you to not gossip:
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” (v. 13)
Or what if you are in desperate need of a rescue verse, a reminder that God’s going to make everything better and get you out of this hard time:
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” (v. 17)
I don’t know about you, but each of those verses, standing alone, only afford me a little comfort, a small reminder, a minor hope. A comfort, remembrance, and hope that is real, to be sure, but one that lacks enough depth to keep me grounded when the hard times come, lacks enough substance to keep me vigilant when my heart runs low on praise. But together, with every verse in its proper place from 1 to 22 this Psalm does more than offer depth and substance.
Samuel 21:10-22:2 affords us an even clearer context for this particular Psalm of David:
“And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,
and David his ten thousands’?”
And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.”
Wait, after all this David’s first words in Psalm 34 are, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”?
Wait, this is the context for verse 3 when he says, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!”? With an exclamation point and all?
Ok, so the refuge part I get in verse 8, but he’s really still calling the Lord good?
Wait, wait, wait, wait, verses 13 and 14…he’s not really talking to himself, is he:
"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
How could anyone, especially David, slip up and say or do something they shouldn’t have when they’re the one getting pursued by kings, running for their lives, having to act like a loony case out of fear, and being exiled to a dark damp cave? Surely David’s not, I don’t know, calling his own heart, through the gracious leading of the Spirit, to repentance in the midst of all this craziness, is he? Why would he do that?
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” (v. 17)
But surely David’s not expecting God to take him out of this hard spot instantly, right?
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (v. 18)
If the Lord is near, if He cares enough about crushed spirits then no matter how many afflictions over how long a period of time, there is more than just rescue, right?
“The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” (v. 22)
“And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.” (Samuel 22:2)
Kingdom context: Herein is comfort. Herein is remembrance. Herein is hope.
Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech,
so that he drove him out, and he went away.
1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Stanley Kubrick on Society and Man
"I think that when Rousseau transferred the concept of original sin from man to society, he was responsible for a lot of misguided social thinking which followed. I don't think that man is what he is because of an imperfectly structured society, but rather that society is imperfectly structured because of the nature of man. No philosophy based on an incorrect view of the nature of man is likely to produce social good." —Stanley Kubrick in an interview with Michel Ciment
Stanley Kubrick on Film Music
"Unless you want a pop score, I don't see any reason not to avail yourself of the great orchestral music of the past and present. This music may be used in its correct form or synthesized, as was done with the Beethoven for some scenes in A Clockwork Orange. But there doesn't seem to be much point in hiring a composer who, however good he may be, is not a Mozart or a Beethoven, when you have such a vast choice of existing orchestral music which includes contemporary and avant-garde work. Doing it this way gives you the opportunity to experiment with the music early in the editing phase, and in some instances to cut the scene to the music. This is not something you can easily do in the normal sequence of events."
—Stanley Kubrick in an interview with Michel Ciment
—Stanley Kubrick in an interview with Michel Ciment
Stanley Kubrick on Modern Art & Movies
"I think modern art's almost total pre-occupation with subjectivism has led to anarchy and sterility in the arts. The notion that reality exists only in the artist's mind, and that the thing which simpler souls had for so long believed to be reality is only an illusion, was initially an invigorating force, but it eventually led to a lot of highly original, very personal and extremely uninteresting work. In Cocteau's film Orpheé, the poet asks what he should do. 'Astonish me,' he is told. Very little of modern art does that—certainly not in the sense that a great work of art can make you wonder how its creation was accomplished by a mere mortal. Be that as it may, films, unfortunately, don't have this problem at all. From the start, they have played it as safe as possible, and no one can blame the generally dull state of the movies on too much originality and subjectivism." —Stanley Kubrick in an interview with Michel Ciment