Proper copyright credit to the NIV

To give proper credit to the source of the Scripture quotations in Eleomai's posts, I include the copyright notice from my NIV Bible (from which all quotations are taken, unless otherwise noted):

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (R). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Grace in the Old Testament

I am currently reading through the Old Testament, and instead of simply reading it as a series of individual stories, I am seeking to better see how it points to the gospel. Leviticus 16:29-31 stuck out to me especially:

This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work - whether native-born or an alien living among you - because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. (NIV)

The whole chapter is an amazing read, and this passage in particular seems to clearly foreshadow the grace we find in the gospel. On the day of atonement, they were not to do any work, because atonement was to be made for them. This seems to be a strong way to phrase it, and seems to show that the atonement is God's work - something done for the people - and not something that the people do or earn. They were to abstain from work, and God would cleanse them from their sins. The gospel, foreshadowed in the Old Testament!

Obama's Diplomacy: "You Can't Come to my Cookout!"

In brilliant display of diplomatic prowess and soft power, the Obama administration rescinded an invitation to Iranian diplomats for a 4th of July Celebration next weekend. As if this story were not funny enough, the rescinded invite came after none of Iran's foreign service officers RSVP'ed!

Sanford Admits Affair

And we all thought he was a possible GOP contender for 2012... Another one bites the dust. Any politician want to step up and be faithful to their wife? Anyone?

WORLD's Best Reads of the Last 2 Years

This week in WORLD Magazine, editor Marvin Olasky writes on his "2009 Book of the Year," as well as some of his favorite reads from the last two years. Some of the list toppers include:

Kenneth E. Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (InterVarsity, 2008)

Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony (Eerdmans, 2006)

Alain Besancon, A Century of Horrors: Communism, Nazism, and the Uniqueness of the Shoah (ISI, 2007)

Phillipp Blom, The Vertigo Years: Europe, 1900-1914 (Basic, 2008)

Arthur C. Brooks, Who Really Cares? The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism (Perseus, 2006)

John Carroll, The Wreck of Western Culture: Humanism Revisited (ISI, 2008)

Caroline Cox and John Marks, This Immoral Trade: Slavery in the 21st Century (Monarch, 2006)

Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling (InterVarsity, 2008)

Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, Grand New Party: Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream (Doubleday, 2008)

Eric E. Ericson Jr. and R. Alexis Klimoff, The Soul and Barbed Wire: An Introduction to Solzhenitsyn (ISI, 2008)

Thomas Farr, World of Faith and Freedom: Why International Religious Liberty Is Vital to American National Security (Oxford University Press, 2008)

Robert George and Chris Tollefsen, Embryo: A Defense of Human Life (Doubleday, 2008)

Gary Haugen, Just Courage: God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian (InterVarsity, 2008)

Arthur Herman, Gandhi & Churchill: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age (Random House, 2008)

Michael Horton, Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church (Baker, 2008)

Al Janssen and Brother Andrew, Secret Believers: What Happens When Muslims Believe in Christ (Revell, 2007)

Michael Jones, Leningrad: State of Siege (Basic, 2008)

John Kekes, The Art of Politics: The New Betrayal of America and How to Resist It (Encounter, 2008)

Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (Dutton, 2008)

Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Dutton, 2008)

Alister McGrath, Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution (HarperOne, 2007)

Gerald McDermott, God's Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? (InterVarsity, 2007)

Steven Mosher, Population Control: Real Costs, Illusory Benefits (Transaction, 2008)

R. Albert Mohler Jr., Desire and Deceit: The Real Outcome of the New Sexual Tolerance (Multnomah, 2008)

Charles Murray, Real Education: Four Simple Truths for Bringing America's Schools Back to Reality (Crown Forum, 2008)

Patrick Nachtigall, Faith in the Future: Christianity's Interface with Globalization (Warner, 2008)

Michael O'Brien, Island of the World (Ignatius, 2007)

Tom Oden, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind (InterVarsity, 2008)

Meic Pearse, The Gods of War: Is Religion the Primary Cause of Violent Conflict? (InterVarsity, 2007)

Hugh Ross, Why the Universe Is the Way It Is (Baker, 2008)

Herman Selderhuis, John Calvin: A Pilgrim's Life (InterVarsity, 2009)

Amity Shlaes, The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression (HarperCollins, 2007)

Sun Shuyun, The Long March: The True History of Communist China's Founding Myth (Doubleday, 2006)

Harry Stout, Upon the Altar of the Nation: A Moral History of the Civil War (Viking, 2006)

Richard Swinburne, Was Jesus God? (Oxford University Press, 2008)

Mark Tabb, How Can a Good God Let Bad Things Happen? (NavPress, 2008)

Robert Webber, Who Gets to Narrate the World? Contending for the Christian Story in an Age of Rivals (InterVarsity, 2008)

David F. Wells, The Courage to Be Protestant (Eerdmans, 2008)

N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (HarperOne, 2008)

PETA Sends Obama a Gift

After the President's fly swat during an interview with CNBC, PETA, or "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals," sent Obama a "humane fly swatter," proving why the majority of Americans don't take this "animal rights" group seriously...

Skillful Ministry

I have worked several jobs in which I come into very regular contact with people. Throughout such experiences, and through one's desire to continue to do a job with greater excellence, it is a relatively simple and sometimes systematic thing to grow in skill socially. We learn how to read others; we learn what to say and what not to say; we learn when humor may lighten a situation and when a serious word is called for.

These skills are good. However, when improvement in them takes primacy in our life or our job (something I find I too easily fall into), we are not living the life of faith and dependence on God to which we are called. Ministry can, it seems, too easily become something in which those who minister seek greater skill, but neglect seeking a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I know I speak for myself in this. A salesman may appear friendly, amiable, and good-natured--all attributes which may well reflect his or her skill in relating to others, rather than a genuine attitude of care for others.

I can work at gaining ministry "skill," but having this skill does not itself mean that I have a heart for those whom I serve as a Christian. And if I do not truly love those I serve, then I believe that such service--though skilled--can easily become a mask that I put on. It does not then reflect my true desires, and such service can, it would seem, easily become burdensome and devoid of the joy of serving others in love.

Skill in important in ministry, but without a heart for service, I would hold that it is hollow. So how do we build a heart for those we serve? Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will show us the love of Christ, and allow us to love others. Then will ministry be something that engages our heart, and not simply our head. Genuine love--what is at the heart of true ministry--is not something that can be gained simply by systematic study or human effort; it begins with the love of God. So let us seek His love and the empowerment of His Spirit, that we may serve Him truly.