Ordinary Days #33: Wisdom

Have you considered

    Job’s integrity? (Job 2:3)

Dear Priscilla,

I see you study Job next week. It’s all in Job. Pay attention to Satan’s second round; and, in particular what God says about Job and about Himself: “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? …He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.’" (Jb 2:3). Can it be true that Satan incited God to destroy Job “for no reason”? Your BASB chicken’s out. What do you think?

The Book of Job has the courage to raise all sorts of troublesome questions. It is a theologian’s nightmare. His friends seem to say what is theologically correct while Job seems to say what is suspect at best. But, in the end, God says, his friends were wrong and Job had it right (42:7). Maybe the thing that is right about Job is that he speaks with integrity. After all, that was the wager.

Love, Papa

Ordinary Days #32: Life

 I came to give you life. (John 10:10)

Dear Priscilla, 

Today you “run the lines” on national television. I’ll miss it. While you are running the lines, I’ll be doing the eulogy message for Julianna Gladys. I don’t know if you remember her. She was our hairdresser—a wonder of God’s saving grace. She died “full of years,” as the Bible says, but still, we long for more—for eternity.

Don’t let our sorrow diminish your day. Run with joy—the sheer joy of being alive on God’s beautiful green earth. Julianna loved life. I have a feeling if one doesn’t love this earth, fallen as it is, they might not be happy with the “new heaven and earth” God is preparing for us. So, have fun. I’ll record it, and see if I can spot you.

Love, Papa

 

Ordinary Days #31: Required Course

Scripture speaks

   of me. (John 5:39) 

Dear Priscilla,

Thank you for sending me your “Christian Scriptures” syllabus. It’s good—very good. You can tell it is a well thought out introductory course—required course. I had to write a few “syllabi” of my own. It’s not easy. Pay attention to those synopsis prompts—they are very helpful.

The syllabus refuses to parrot popular education jargon like “Learning Outcomes,” and sticks to its classical calling: “The procedures and presentations of the course will conform to the philosophy, spirit, and requirements of Baylor University and its Department of Religion.” That’s good. It means the professor is not on his own; but, nurtured and disciplined by his peers and the vision of the university. You can tell the syllabus is the product of the university, and in particular, the Department of Religion.

At first, I thought the title “Christian Scriptures” a bit odd. Our intro classes were “Introduction to the Old Testament” and “Introduction to the New Testament.” But, after reading the syllabus and thinking about it; I like it. When we break up “old” and “new” sometimes we forget that the O.T. is Christian scripture. The first generations of Christians spoke of Jesus before the N.T. found its way into the Sacred Text—before the N.T. became the N.T. Israel’s scriptures reveal the God of the Gospel. The stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob become our stories too. We have been adopted into the family of Abraham. We call Abraham our father too. That, of course, goes for Sarah and Rebecca and Rachel as well. What we call the O.T. was and is, of itself, “able to instruct for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2Tm 3:15).  For Christians, Jesus is the inner logic of scripture.

Although this course is called an “introductory course;” the truth is, all courses are introductory. We never get the whole of it. The university introduces you to a whole new world of thoughtful thought that will be with you for the rest of your life, even into eternity. Our Creator and Redeemer and Sustainer is so big that it will take all of eternity to learn of Him.

Love, Papa

 

Ordinary Days #30: Fun

 Rejoice in your youth. (Ecclesiastes 11:9)

Dear Priscilla,

You “run the lines” Saturday, September 25 against 14^th ranked Iowa State. That’s perfect. Your mom and dad and sister Abby will be there. The game is so big it will be nationally televised; so, Grammy and I will be glued to the screen to see if we can spot you “running the lines.”

There’s much buzz about Owen flying out to attend your game against West Virginia. I’m told it’s a miracle story having to do with how it is that he will be dorming with your friend whose roommate just happens to be, by surprise, Owen’s friend. What are the odds? A computer scientist, like yourself, should be able to calculate that. Or, maybe it’s, like God things, incalculable. Be good to your cousin. Have fun.

Love, Papa