Forget Hollywood, Read the Gospels

So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.--John 8:59 (English Standard Version)

Maybe this thought was not particularly deep, but as I meditated on this section, this was what jumped out at me.

I saw the movie Taken recently and loved it. It's tense, suspenseful, and action-packed. However, the gospels present a story which might actually be more interesting.

Look at this incident. Jesus was preaching in the temple. We can sort of relate to this: pastor in a crowded church or, maybe if the temple was as commercial as it sounds, a street preacher shouting out calls to repentance in a busy subway station.

So picture it. The Pharisees are shouting at Jesus, and he's shouting back. "Now we know that you have a demon!" (John 8:48). "You are of your father the devil!" (v. 44). Then the kicker: Jesus says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." (v. 58). Then what happens? The Pharisees (and remember these guys are seminarians, not thugs) start getting ready to kill Jesus.

John only devotes one verse to Jesus' escape, but I have to imagine it was a complicated affair. Perhaps Jesus dove to the dusty temple floor and hid amongst the crowds of worshippers. Maybe he fought off an attacker with a well-aimed kick of his sandal. Whatever happened, I'm sure it was as exciting as an action movie.

Feeling Presidential (and a bit prideful)

I got back today from my weekend at The Master's College in Santa Clarita. I had a fantastic time going to chapel, visiting classes, and just hanging with other guys around my age. I went up to interview for a competitive scholarship which would really help me out financially.

P.S. Don't hate on me because the first three sentences of this post started with "I". I (yes, that word again) try to avoid personal posts like this one: they sound like they were written by someone with a last name longer than your forearm and a butler who makes more than your dentist.

Fred Sanders Reviews the Shack

Over at Scriptorium Daily, Fred Sanders has not one, but five reviews of William Young's best-seller The Shack. Read them not only to get a balanced view of The Shack but also to see a genius in action.