A Renewing Mind

I had a great time fishing with Paul in the Northwoods of Wisconsin (Lake Holcombe, specifically), but it’s great to be home with family once again. I look forward to returning to a normal schedule, resuming Thursday Night Bible Study on a regular basis, and adjusting to the ebb and tide of everyday life.

I’ve been struggling in my study of late. I still enjoy it and I have received insights - lately into Habakkuk (say “Huh - back - uck”), but I am having trouble bringing the relevance of those insights to others. That is likely because I am having trouble making them relevant to myself! Habakkuk has an interesting dialog with God, other than Job the only biblical character I know to question God and his ways. Habakkuk questions God on allowing evil to perpetuate in Judah and then, when God says “look around, I’m bringing the Babylons to vent my wrath on Jerusalem” Habakkuk asks God “you’re too good; how can you allow such evil people to judge those more righteous than they?” Seems a reasonable question. God’s answer? He’ll also judge those wicked Babylonians. In the end Habakkuk seems to conclude that God is God and his ways are his own. More importantly, he submits himself to God and God’s coming judgement on Judah with a determination to exult in the Lord who makes him walk in high places with feet like those of a deer.

That last statement is an interesting one. I wonder what Habakkuk is saying? Maybe I’ll spend some time looking into deer references in the bible to see if I can gain some insight.

I read through Nahum (the prophet) this morning. I’d studied Nahum’s oracle earlier in the year as part of my participation in The Kings & Prophets study at Wheaton EV Free. At any rate, I’m struck by the fact that Nahum writes this oracle based on a vision he has received of Ninevah (the capital of Assyria), but addresses his oracle to Judah. This comes around 650 BC. About 100 years after Jonah went to Ninevah. About 70 years after Ninevah destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel (aka Samaria). About 45 years before Babylon will lay siege to Jerusalem and the first of the three exiles. Clearly Nahum wasn’t warning Ninevah, though the oracle focuses on the judgment of Ninevah. It is hard to believe the Nahum is offering hope to Judah by providing assurance that God is going to deal with those pesky Ninevites. After all, Jerusalem’s behaviors are only mildly better - a problem for which her judgment is forthcoming. No, I think perhaps the purpose of this book is to let Judah know that the fall of Ninevah is (was) God’s doing. By delivering this prophecy Nahum provided his audience with proof that the eventual downfall of Ninevah (which came around 612 BC, I think) was God’s doing alone. The warning “the guilty might no means go unpunished” in Nahum chapter 1 would have then carried even more weight with the Jews guilty of neglecting God.

Several years ago I read Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis in which he describes some of the early influences in his life that caused him to (eventually) seek God. One such influence was author George MacDonald and works like Phantastes and The Princess and the Goblin. I immediately determined to read these works, but have only just gotten round to doing so. I recently finished The Princess and the Goblin and have now started The Princess and Curdie. Both are filled with beautiful insights into human nature and wisdom for right living. Take, for example, the following points expressed with far less eloquence than MacDonald commands:

• That which we hate we must also fear.

• As our bodies begin to outgrow our minds the inevitable result is that we begin to grow stupider in that we believe less and less in that which we cannot see.

• While we may not have intended harm, if we did not intend good then we were certainly open to doing harm. Indeed, if we are not always striving to do good, then we are doing that which is not good.

I wish I could express these as beautifully as does Mr. MacDonald. His stories have captivated me and his timeless wisdom rings of truth.

I’ve been participating in a bible study, a ten-part series on the Kings and Prophets of the Old Testament. It has really opened my eyes to the cohesiveness of the Old Testament. I guess I have always thought of the kings of Judah and Israel, the people of Israel, and the prophets as separate, independent entities. This study has helped me see how they are all intertwined together - and how much can be learned about the kings and their rule from the prophets. This study has also provided some much-needed background of the geopolitical landscape during Israel’s history - the Egyptions, the Assyrians, the Babylonians (Chaldeans), the Persians, and so on. The study has given me not only insights into God’s plan for Israel, but a renewed appreciation for the authority and authenticity of his word.

I am reading Darwin’s Black Box by Michael J. Behe this week. It’s been a fascinating read thus far. Behe’s key point, thus far into the book, is not so much an objection to evolution per se (he makes it clear that evolution does work at a micro [adaptation] level). What he questions is Darwinian evolution’s ability to explain how complex systems came into being. He lays down the gauntlet by arguing that many complex systems (blood clotting, for example) are irreducibly complex and thus cannot be the direct result of evolution. Similarly, a round-about approach to evolving such systems fails to meet the needs of minimum functionality. That’s a very high-level summary intended only to whet your appetite.

I have heard that there is a counter-argument to Behe’s Irreducible Complexity argument. I assume it has been advanced by Richard Dawkins and I would love to find out more about it. Behe makes it clear that he respects Richard Dawkins for his intellect, his passion, and his capacity for explaining complext topics in a light style. I have to confess that I have looked on Dawkins with some disdain, but Behe has influenced me. While I still disagree with Dawkins, I am certainly willing to read and consider his opinions on evolution. Behe has also written a follow up, The Edge of Evolution, to address these counter-arguments. This will be my next read, after looking into Dawkins’ objections.

We had a great youth retreat at the Lake Geneva Youth Conference Center this weekend. I’m still beat and will need another day to recover. I had a great time on the Zip Line, in worship, playing Ultimate, and building relationships with young people.

I led a session entitled “Walking in the Valley”. It was loosely inspired by St. John of the Cross’ classic “Dark Night of the Soul“. I was trying to share something of my own recent experiences, hoping to enlighten and encourage others should they encounter something similar. It was a tough session in that I don’t think I made my points very well and so was unable to generate a lot of discussion. On the other hand, I’m fairly convinced that God laid it on my heart to approach this topic and so I’ll hope that I at least planted some seeds for future thought.

JK, our bus driver, promised epic skiing today atGrand Targhee and he was right. Lot’s of light, fluffy powder fell over night and even though two of their three main lifts were closed, we had a great time. No wet cement today (like yesterday over at JH), this stuff was pure joy. High winds, falling snow, and low clouds made for poor visibility so Steven and I made for the trees whenever we could.

We saw learned something about mountain passes on the return trip this afternoon. Wyoming Hwy 22 is a major pass through the Tetons for this area. It’s a steep pass,  a 10% grade and a peak at 9,000 feet (the ski area peaks are about 10,400 feet here). It is not uncommon for the highway to close for avalanches and the cliff-hugging hairpin turns add to the excitement. Tire chains are required equipment and semi-trailers are not allowed at this time of year (or at least not during the current inclement weather). We followed a truck driver carrying a load of granite that decided to try his luck. He got stuck as soon as the grade got steep and he had no place to go. JK tells me that not only will the driver get hit with a steep fine but he will also have to pay for his own rescue. I wonder how they do that? Maybe a big wrecker with chains.

My friend Tim returned from a week of cat-skiing in Park City, UT last week and told me he was up to his arse in snow. He had the pictures to prove it. Now I know the feeling. We had 12 inches of new snow last night, albeit a wet, heavy, skiing in wet cement kind of snow. It was rough going between the thick snow, the continued flurries, and the incredibly flat light, but, hey, it was a whole lot better than a day at work. Tomorrow we’ll go over to Grand Targhee on the other side of the Tetons. The base there is about 1,000 feet higher so I’m hoping the snow will be a little fluffier (and easier to work with).

It is my habit each morning to stop at my local Hoffman Estates Starbucks. I generally spend about 40 minutes engrossed in bible study while nursing a mocha. Once in a while I will instead stop at another Starbucks in Arlington Heights that is on the way to work. Such was this case this morning when, due to the inclement weather in Chicago, I thought I’d stop in Arlington Heights since it is a bit closer to work. Part way through my study in walks Garry, a weekend barrista from my local Starbucks who stopped on the way to his “regular” job. Busted! Garry acted hurt, accused me of being unfaithful, and then sat down to discuss a range of topics - healthcare in the US, politics in Britain, software development practices.