The first class I'm taking is Apologetics 104 - Christian Worldview. I'm already really interested in it, and discovered that I know a lot of the material; I just didn't know the words behind the definitions! That does make it a little easier. One of the texts is The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. It presents, in reference form, a multitude of belief systems. I've already read several of the entries and learned quite a bit.
I was engaged in a conversation with someone about this particular class. She made the comment that I was learning it in a Christian school, from a Christian professor, with the implication that I already know what the class teaches and that I needed to learn about other world views from other sources. When I was talking about this with Matt, he pointed out that no matter what the source is, I am still filtering everything I read and hear through the worldview that I hold - a Biblical one. He's right. We don't live in a bubble. We all are influenced and shaped by a worldview, Biblical or otherwise. Our son and daughter in law just recently had their first child. She has said that they are going to raise him to be a free thinker, and let him choose when he gets older what faith, if any, to follow. Problem is right there they are raising him with a specific worldview. He will be influenced by many worldviews. Interestingly, I read about this very thing in the fourth chapter of my textbook, Consider, while reading ahead.
This post is a little more disjointed than the others. I'm still not 100% sure where I'm going with this blog, and I suspect, since I have very few followers, it doesn't really matter anyhow!
I've been reading Psalms lately. But I am reading it differently. I started at the back and am reading it in reverse order, five Psalms at a time. It's a fresh way of looking at them and I've really enjoyed it. I take time to write out verses that are meaningful to me, and if one of them reminds me of a hymn or other song, I'll usually pull it up and listen to it. There are so many Psalms that have inspired songs. Today's reading was Psalm 40-44. I particularly like Psalm 40. I remember when I was going through my divorce, how that particular Psalm spoke to me and comforted me. The Lord was truly good to me during that time.
Psalm 40: 1 (ESV) (from http://www.biblegateway.com/ )
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
but you have given me an open ear.[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance[b]
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!
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