Why didn't I Pay More Attention?

In school I can remember wondering about the purpose of High School English. Nouns and pronouns were not my favorite subject (pun intended). I also thought it was pretty funny when they would say, "Verbs, now that is where the action is"; being the analytical type that I am I still think it is a valid question to ask why we need to learn these parts of speech.

Although, I take total responsibility for napping during English I wish there would have been someone that would have given one good reason why these things were important. I can remember asking. I also remember that no one took the question seriously or maybe they just didn't know.

The blog today demonstrates why English is so important to folks who study the Bible. Our example comes from Matthew 28:19. Verbs are marked in red. Conjunctions are the words colored green (the green ones in the red I will explain later). Nouns are shaded blue. Pronouns are the words colored blue and the adjectives are underlined in blue. Allow me to pause, I can't believe I care! Not only do I care I am blogging about this so you will care. I admit I have become a grammar Nazi or at least a grammar Nazi want to be. I am studying parts of English. My flesh still rebels and I feel like Charlie Brown AAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGGG.

However, when you look at this verse and its syntax (definition at the end of the article) you learn something really cool. The command in this verse is to make disciples. I would have thought the command was to go. When you study the Bible inductively you find little nuances like the example here in Matthew 28:19 that impact your entire theology and this is where the green text inside of the red shading comes in. The green text inside of the red shading is my marking for imperative verbs. Imperative verbs are defined like this...
The imperative mood corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. Thus, Jesus’ phrase, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mk.1:15) is not at all an “invitation,” but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.
Larry Pierce, Tense Voice Mood. (Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.), TVM5794.

Realizing that our command is to make disciples as we go gives the truth of this passage. If I believed "Go" was the command in and of itself I would miss the point entirely.

Do you see grammar mistakes in the blog? Go ahead, blast me, I deserve it. I should have been paying attention in class.

_________________________________________________________________
Syntax
1 a : the way in which linguistic elements (as words) are put together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses)
b : the part of grammar dealing with this
2 : a connected or orderly system : harmonious arrangement of parts or elements
3 : syntactics especially as dealing with the formal properties of languages or calculi
Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary., Includes Index., 10th ed. (Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster, 1996, c1993).

Rise and Shine

When I crawl out of bed at 5 a.m. I am going deer hunting but recently I was invited to a Bible Study that begins slightly before the crack of dawn. Suprisingly I have found the study to be energizing. Not that I expected a bad study but walking through any doors at 5:50 means I am crawling out of bed before 0 dark thirty.

The study is held in a leased office complex. Brad teaches the lesson and does an excellent job including video clips to really drive his point home. A surprising revelation, for me at least, was last Wedneday morning when he couldn't get the video working properly. When I am in front of a group and something like that goes wrong I am pushing buttons as if I am trying to stop a nuclear attack. However, from my participant chair in the middle of the back row it wasn't a big deal at all. In fact, it just provided an opportunity to dialogue with Sam, my guest. It is amazing how your perspective changes when you move from leader to participant, emphasizing the fact that it is very healthy for me to be a participant as much as possible.

I love the Howard Hendricks quote, "If you output exceeds your input, your upkeep will be your downfall." Between Brad, the large group leader, and Frank, my small group leader I have gotten some great input. If you are looking for a men's study check this one out!
http://www.thequestformanhood.com

By the way the coffee is brewed and waiting for you when you walk in the door. I don't get this type of treatment going to my tree stand.

Bible Software

If you know me very well then you know that saying I am a fan of Logos Bible Software is something of an understatement. I think everyone should be building an electronic library! If you are thrifty and enjoy digital books check this out.

Logos provides two ways for you to acquire books at a greatly reduced price.

Community Pricing
Logos calculates how much it will cost to produce a title; when Logos users together place bids to total that amount, they produce the title. What makes this program unique is that, as more users bid the price moves lower!



This example shows my bid of $6 but since there was adequate bids to cover the book at $5 my final cost is $5. Community pricing is a great way to add books to your library inexpensively.

Pre-Publication

Pre-Pulbication is another way to add books to your libary at a lower cost. Currently there is a great deal on The Life and Epistle of St. Paul. This is a classic work that you need to put on your shelf (Wait a minute, digital books don't have a shelf). Anyway, follow the links on this page and check out the deals for yourself. I realize that if you have never heard of Logos these deals don't mean that much to you but maybe we have peeked your curiosity.

Resumes of Encouragers Wanted

Parenting is an interesting job. Your kids don't always listen and others, especially those without children, know exactly what you should do to solve any issue you might experience. The best advice is to follow the Words found in the book of James.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Jas 1:5). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

I think the folks that penned the following two quotes must have been reading the book of James since wisdom drips from each letter. Let's see what you think.

"Parents need to fill a child's bucket of self-esteem so full that the rest of the world can't poke enough holes in it to drain it dry." —unknown

"Children are developed the same way Carnegie explained that gold is mined: Tons of dirt have to be removed to get an ounce of gold. But you don't go in into the mine looking for the dirt. You go in looking for the gold." —Paul Lewis

OK, I know I said two quotes but Mark Twain had to be spending time in James too. Look at this.

"God has put something noble and good into every heart his hand created." —Mark Twain

If you are reading this and you work with kids just remember parents have plenty of help from the world tearing kids down but we are taking the resumes of people who can help fill the self-esteem bucket.

Three Bible Study Hours, Two Worships, One Heart

The obvious question is why. The answer to this question makes me think about the farm I grew up on in South Central Kentucky. We had an orchard and when I would pick apples in a five bushel basket I would try to stack extra ones on top even after the basket was filled. After a while I realized even though I was putting forth a valiant effort I was wasting time. A five bushel basket only holds five bushels effectively.

The fruit we gather at FB, Concord is much more important but the analogy is valid. God has blessed us and if we want to gather more fruit we must add another basket. Beginning August 20th we will have baskets (Bible Studies) at 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00. God has truly blessed us and this will be one more hour that we have to teach God's Word.

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!