In case you haven't heard, the Discovery Channel will be airing a new documentary, "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," in early March. In Da Vinci Code fashion, the executive producer, Titanic's James Cameron, and director, Simcha Jacobovici, claim their findings will rattle the foundation of Christianity and probably bringing down the whole house, thus changing history forever. Why? Because the supposed tomb of Jesus has been found, along with the ossuary that contains the bones of Jesus, his mother, brothers, wife, and his child Jude! Who knew?!
Needless to say, this shouldn't rock your faith any more than Dan Brown's fiction. At least Brown was forthright about his work being fictitious. Cameron and Jacobovici's is much worse; it's a farce.
Here are some very helpful links with nods to other great resources you should check out so you can understand what's going on. You never know the conversations you might have. Afterall, Jesus is pretty popular these day!
Pastor John Piper and Staff's Desiring God Blog: God's Unsinkable Ship.
New Testament Scholar, Ben Witherington weighs in: The Jesus Tomb? 'Titanic' Talpiot Tomb Theory Sunk From the Start
Internet Monk, Michael Spencer: Resources and Responses to the "Tomb of Jesus and His Family" Story
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Heaven's not the end of the world
"Heaven is important, but it's not the end of the world."
I haven't been able to get this quote from N.T. Wright out of my head this week! Over the past couple of years I've been experimenting, trying to speak about things the way the Bible really speaks about things. One result is that I have rid my vocabulary of the phrase "dying and going to heaven." The whole concept, let alone the phrase itself, is simply not biblical in that it stops short of what the Bible really says about the end of the world. Instead, I've been trying to remind myself and others that the end, the goal, of creation and redemption is New Creation, the New Heavens and New Earth (Isa. 65:17; 66:22; Rev. 21:1) So when I die someday, I will, along with all of the redeemed, die and go to the New Heavens and New Earth. But not only that, my new life in Jesus that I experience today is the beginning of this new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) that will come in its fullness when he returns!
--N.T. Wright, from a sermon entitled "The Road to New Creation."
I haven't been able to get this quote from N.T. Wright out of my head this week! Over the past couple of years I've been experimenting, trying to speak about things the way the Bible really speaks about things. One result is that I have rid my vocabulary of the phrase "dying and going to heaven." The whole concept, let alone the phrase itself, is simply not biblical in that it stops short of what the Bible really says about the end of the world. Instead, I've been trying to remind myself and others that the end, the goal, of creation and redemption is New Creation, the New Heavens and New Earth (Isa. 65:17; 66:22; Rev. 21:1) So when I die someday, I will, along with all of the redeemed, die and go to the New Heavens and New Earth. But not only that, my new life in Jesus that I experience today is the beginning of this new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) that will come in its fullness when he returns!
"HEAVEN IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD; God will make new heavens and new earth, and give us new bodies to live and work and take delight in his new creation. And the ‘good news’ of the Christian gospel is that this new world, this new creation, has already begun: it began when Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead on Easter morning, having faced and beaten the double enemy, sin and death, that has corrupted and defaced God’s lovely creation."
--N.T. Wright, from a sermon entitled "The Road to New Creation."
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Takin' the edge off of 3am
For the most part I'm clueless about parenting. Every first-time dad and mom is bombarded with so many opinions of how to calm a fussing baby, how to not make a fussy baby, how to get your baby on a routine, how to.... But 3am is like kryptonite
to all parental advice. And it also seems that some great ideas have a shelf life of about one week. Yet there are times throughout the day and even during the nearly God-forsaken hours of the morning that take the edge of off a bit. A cute smile, puppy eyes, hilarious crossed-eyes, girgling grunts, or sleeping on mommy or daddy's chest. Children are truly a gift from God himself (Psalm 127:3)!
to all parental advice. And it also seems that some great ideas have a shelf life of about one week. Yet there are times throughout the day and even during the nearly God-forsaken hours of the morning that take the edge of off a bit. A cute smile, puppy eyes, hilarious crossed-eyes, girgling grunts, or sleeping on mommy or daddy's chest. Children are truly a gift from God himself (Psalm 127:3)!
Three Generations of Ottes
My Dad, Phil, made the great trek across Maine to come visit his newest grandson. It was pretty cool to have three generations of Ottes under the same roof. There's not too many of us around and it's good to know Zechariah carries on the name.
Zechariah's Friends
Zechariah turns a month old tomorrow, and already he has bunch of friends!
Alyssa D.
Elisa D.
Kevin D.
Vicki N.
Dave R.
My best buddy Dave H., who get's an honorable mention for driving the furthest to come and see our little boy!
Kalila H.
Megan R.
Tim R.
Kaitlyn G.
Alyssa D.
Elisa D.
Kevin D.
Vicki N.
Dave R.
My best buddy Dave H., who get's an honorable mention for driving the furthest to come and see our little boy!
Kalila H.
Megan R.
Tim R.
Kaitlyn G.
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