Shelfari and My REAL Bookcase

I love the widget "Shelfari". If you scroll through the library I have posted, you can find about 90% of my actual bookshelf contents. While I can't wholeheartedly recommend all the books, I've included all that have helped me in various areas along the way. Naturally, I haven't read through the commentaries, but I'm delighted with the ones I've collected to date. I deliberately left out certain books I own that are way out there theologically since I would rather not lead anyone "astray" as I would define straying from truth. However, I think it's good practice to stay on top of arguments from the "other side" of whatever position I hold; hence, I own a few books that come from a non-conservative evangelical viewpoint. That being stated, I have included books from strong conservative theologians with whom I disagree on certain matters (e.g., infant baptism). While I do not espouse much of the rationale and exegetical/theological approach (on that specific issue) of these writers, I believe they articulate their position as well as anyone out there.

Feel free to ask me for my opinion on any of the books! "Lifechangers" for me include the works of Gerald Hawthorne and Gordon Fee on the Holy Spirit; G.K. Beale on the theme of the "Temple" from his work on that subject; Christopher J.H. Wright, Richard Bauckham, Andreas Kostenberger, etc. on God's Mission and our participation in it; and most anything on the Gospel -- the centrality of the Cross and the Resurrection.

Clearly, I'm not a novel reader. Sorry!

Why Here? Why Now?

Some of you may recall that I once had a blog entitled Iter Crucis -- The Journey of the Cross. I took a great deal of satisfaction from writing posts, mostly due to the fact that it helped me solidify my scattered thoughts on matters important to me into a more cohesive unit. Along the way, I think maybe a reader or two was encouraged and helped as well. Much time has passed since I last took on this endeavor. I have also changed somewhat in my objective. I want to continue to provide good and sound biblical thoughts, but I really want to focus more on encouraging action since time is short. So, here we go!

A writer named Graham Twelftree had this to say in one of his books in which he examines the writings of Luke: "Luke's emphasis on the miraculous and the outward focused mission of the Church is less appealing than Paul's comforting call to give attention to internal matters." This statement strikes at the very heart and soul of what is driving me to re-initiate a blog. Do you know why you're here on planet earth? Do you know why you are exactly where you live and with your current set of life circumstances? If you don't know the answers to those questions, you should as a true follower of Jesus.

So, going back to Twelftree's comment, do you understand what he's saying? I would like to give some examples illustrating his salient point and I would like to do so by asking a few questions. Why do you think it is ultimately important to understand "who I am in Christ"? Why do you think it's important to have a solid and loving marriage/home? Why do you think it's important for the Body of Christ to live in joy and at peace with one another? Why do you think it's important to know what your spiritual gifts are and to use them?

If your answers did not include something having to do with being on mission -- God's mission to redeem a lost and dying world -- it was, at the very least incomplete. If your answer was, "For the glory of God," just what do you mean my that? You can be 100% correct in saying that, but if it's just some nebulous and ethereal concept, you're off the mark. When one truly grasps what it means to bring God glory, then that one fully understands what it means to be on the mission of God! That, however (and Lord willing), will be explained in later posts. And once we understand God's mission better, we can all know more clearly why we're here on planet earth and why we live exactly where we do right now with our current set of life circumstances.

Meanwhile, please do me the honor of thinking through what is stated here. Feel free to give me your feedback. I'll do my absolute best to make reading Here and Now... and Why a really good use of your time!