I've been in biblical and theological studies for several years now, as well as a youth pastor for many years more. I want to share with you a great resource which I use with frequency in my studies, my research, and my writing. It's Logos Bible Software. It contains an incredible amount of language resources, as well as a theological library. What's more, you have the constant ability and option to add in new resources or texts.
Case in point. Two years ago I was working on an exegetical paper focusing on Matthew 16:13-20. Imagine my delight at finding that I had the electronic version of Kittle's sitting right in my Logos software! I was able to cut and paste citations right into my paper. That same story has been repeated on more occassions than is worth noting. But Logos also contains resources for general interest reading and studying, as well as devotional material.
Right now, in an effort to further their position as a major provider of electronic biblical and theological studies resources, they are inviting you to check them out, and get something for free for your time - the Matthew/Mark volume out of their brand new electronic version of the upcoming Cornerstone Biblical Commentary from Tyndale. Just go to http://blog.logos.com/archives/2008/08/matthew_mark_cornerstone_biblical_commentary--free.html, and you can see for yourself. This is a great chance to begin a collection, or add to it, if you're already a Logos user.
In the mean time, God's blessings on your own ministry or personal studies in the Word of God!
Saturday, September 06, 2008
The Encouraging Word
22 "Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.
24 They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone
are deliverance and strength.' "
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame.
25 But all the descendants of Israel
will find deliverance in the LORD
and will make their boast in him.
Monday (read Sept. 1, 2008 entry: A Comfort for My Ache) I was struggling as I got word I didn't pass my German Reading exam. But later this week I got word from my advisor not to fret, not to bear that burden so heavily. He gave me much encouragment and hope, and a reminder that God had called me to be at school.
This morning's Bible reading from WordLive (from Scripture Union, UK) was from Isaiah 45:22-25. The Lord reminds us all, and me in particular, that He is the salvation that He offers, and that He has sworn this, and so it shall be.
You are good, O Lord, and my hope needs to be constantly anchored in You, and You alone. Forgive me, Lord, for the [many] times that my eyes lose focus. Like Peter, I have stepped out onto the waters of a new future, outside of the boat that I know, and sought to walk to You. And like Peter, I too often make more note of the waves, the rain, and the wind, and I fear.
But You are always there, O Lord, to take my hand, and lift me from the deep.
Who shall put my trust in? To whom shall I cry out? To the Lord alone, to He who is strength and deliverance. For to Him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord. O Lord, You give me the grace to awaken every morning. You give me the grace to seek You in Your Word. You give me the grace to know You are the God who is there.
May it always be. To You, O Lord, I entrust my heart, my life, my all. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen.
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.
24 They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone
are deliverance and strength.' "
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame.
25 But all the descendants of Israel
will find deliverance in the LORD
and will make their boast in him.
Monday (read Sept. 1, 2008 entry: A Comfort for My Ache) I was struggling as I got word I didn't pass my German Reading exam. But later this week I got word from my advisor not to fret, not to bear that burden so heavily. He gave me much encouragment and hope, and a reminder that God had called me to be at school.
This morning's Bible reading from WordLive (from Scripture Union, UK) was from Isaiah 45:22-25. The Lord reminds us all, and me in particular, that He is the salvation that He offers, and that He has sworn this, and so it shall be.
You are good, O Lord, and my hope needs to be constantly anchored in You, and You alone. Forgive me, Lord, for the [many] times that my eyes lose focus. Like Peter, I have stepped out onto the waters of a new future, outside of the boat that I know, and sought to walk to You. And like Peter, I too often make more note of the waves, the rain, and the wind, and I fear.
But You are always there, O Lord, to take my hand, and lift me from the deep.
Who shall put my trust in? To whom shall I cry out? To the Lord alone, to He who is strength and deliverance. For to Him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord. O Lord, You give me the grace to awaken every morning. You give me the grace to seek You in Your Word. You give me the grace to know You are the God who is there.
May it always be. To You, O Lord, I entrust my heart, my life, my all. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen.
Monday, September 01, 2008
comfort for my ache
I just got an email this morning me telling me I had not passed a language proficiency exam required for my doctorate. It was the second time I had not passed it.
I'm feeling low. Real low. Almost as low as the first time I didn't pass it.
I need to find my comfort and encouragement in Jesus.
Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8, 11-12
1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
...
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
...
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
12 and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
according to what he has done.
I'm honestly not feeling "rest" in Him, and I do feel quite "shaken" right now. But I'm trying to look past what I'm feeling right now. I'm trying to find comfort for the ache I feel in Him who created me, Him who knows me best, the God who called me to this point, this place, this time.
But it's hard. But I have no choice, for who else has the words of life, but the One who gives me life.
"I love You, Lord, and I life my voice.
To worship You, O my soul, rejoice.
Take joy, my King, in what You hear.
May it be a sweet, sweet sound, in Your ear." (Keith Green)
I'm feeling low. Real low. Almost as low as the first time I didn't pass it.
I need to find my comfort and encouragement in Jesus.
Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8, 11-12
1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
...
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
...
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
12 and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
according to what he has done.
I'm honestly not feeling "rest" in Him, and I do feel quite "shaken" right now. But I'm trying to look past what I'm feeling right now. I'm trying to find comfort for the ache I feel in Him who created me, Him who knows me best, the God who called me to this point, this place, this time.
But it's hard. But I have no choice, for who else has the words of life, but the One who gives me life.
"I love You, Lord, and I life my voice.
To worship You, O my soul, rejoice.
Take joy, my King, in what You hear.
May it be a sweet, sweet sound, in Your ear." (Keith Green)
Psalm 63:1-8 (NIV)
This was the Scripture text for worship and the sermon at North Suburban E-Free Church in Deerfield, IL, where I worshipped this morning. I am indebted to the pastor for sharing this message with us. I am reminded that my heart needs to feast on the Lord; that I need to not find things to preoccupy myself. Rather, I need to spend time with the One who created me and knows me best. I need to find my satisfaction in the presence and fellowship with the Triune God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. May it be so ... to God's glory.
Psalm 63:1-8
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:1-8
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
all that we've been waiting for
hard to believe that tomorrow is it ... the German Reading Exam.
I arrived in IL eight and one-half weeks ago and began the roller coaster ride of Theological German studies.
now it comes down to tomorrow, August 14.
a Thursday afternoon.
1 pm, CST.
my classmates and I have studied, we have prepared, we have done exercises, and we have prayed together and for one another and for all of our fellow German students.
a number of us have formed the new friendships that such a common and intense experience brings - new friendships that are necessary and required if one wants to survive not only the summer of German, but also the Ph.D. program in general.
Jake, Lance, middle Dave, Scott, Craig, and Neal and I have varying degrees of friendship, and we have shared jokes, family stories, past experiences of ministry and studies, and offered one another trust.
tomorrow several of us will meet before the exam for prayer - to calm ourselves, to bring focus, to offer petitions, pleas, and requests, to beg that somehow, in someway, the journal article excerpt that we are to translate will be easy enough, and that we will all do well enough in accuracy and amount that Herr Professor will be glad to recommend we pass.
this is it.
all that we've been waiting for.
may You, O LORD, our God, have mercy on us, and give us the grace to bring You glory, and for us to do well.
Amen.
I arrived in IL eight and one-half weeks ago and began the roller coaster ride of Theological German studies.
now it comes down to tomorrow, August 14.
a Thursday afternoon.
1 pm, CST.
my classmates and I have studied, we have prepared, we have done exercises, and we have prayed together and for one another and for all of our fellow German students.
a number of us have formed the new friendships that such a common and intense experience brings - new friendships that are necessary and required if one wants to survive not only the summer of German, but also the Ph.D. program in general.
Jake, Lance, middle Dave, Scott, Craig, and Neal and I have varying degrees of friendship, and we have shared jokes, family stories, past experiences of ministry and studies, and offered one another trust.
tomorrow several of us will meet before the exam for prayer - to calm ourselves, to bring focus, to offer petitions, pleas, and requests, to beg that somehow, in someway, the journal article excerpt that we are to translate will be easy enough, and that we will all do well enough in accuracy and amount that Herr Professor will be glad to recommend we pass.
this is it.
all that we've been waiting for.
may You, O LORD, our God, have mercy on us, and give us the grace to bring You glory, and for us to do well.
Amen.
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