Nota aclaratoria sobre La Biblia

La Biblia no es un reportaje de «Associated Press» (Prensa Asociada), es una compleja colección de escritos de diferentes géneros, colmados de lenguaje simbólico, que retratan las muy diversas experiencias que tuvieron individuos y comunidades a lo largo de varios siglos en las tierras palestinas y sus alrededores. En ese maravilloso semillero de ideas (algunas de ellas muy disímiles y hasta contradictorias), encontramos destellos de eso que llamamos "Palabra de Dios" afirmando la vida, la paz, la justicia, y el bienestar integral como regalo divino para toda persona, alcanzando su máxima expresión en la vida y obra de Jesucristo.

Bien lo afirma La Confesión de 1967 de la Iglesia Presbiteriana (EUA):

La Biblia debe interpretarse a la luz de su testimonio sobre la obra de reconciliación de Dios en Cristo. Las Escrituras, dadas bajo la dirección del Espíritu Santo, son, a pesar de todo, las palabras de seres humanos, condicionadas por el lenguaje, formas de pensar, y estilos literarios de los lugares y épocas en que fueron escritas. Reflejan puntos de vista sobre la vida, la historia y el cosmos prevalecientes en aquel entonces. Por lo tanto, la iglesia tiene la obligación de acercarse a las Escrituras con entendimiento literario e histórico. Así como Dios ha hablado su palabra en diversas situaciones culturales, la iglesia tiene confianza de que Dios seguirá hablando mediante las Escrituras en un mundo cambiante y en todas las manifestaciones de la cultura humana. (9.29)

La palabra de Dios se comunica a su iglesia hoy en día dondequiera que las Escrituras se prediquen fielmente y se lean atentamente, dependiendo de la iluminación del Espíritu Santo, y de la disposición a recibir su verdad y dirección. (9.30)

Church as Wikipedia

«...how do we as the church expect to be the least bit appealing to people who increasingly go throughout their day knowing that they can “wiki it.” Anyone anywhere can log on to the Internet and edit the world’s largest encyclopedia. They can contribute to the “sum of all human knowledge,” as Wikipedia describes it. They can offer their gifts of knowledge to the world and to generations to come. Yet we expect them to walk into our churches and simply take what’s handed to them and do it the way we say they should? I don’t think so.» - Landon Whitsitt

Follow this link to read the entire article.

Maravilloso es Él

Aquí dos vidas cuya música me inspiró e influenció durante los años 80's.  Recientemente les encontré reunidos en este vídeo, que hoy me vuelve a inspirar...

The Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Listen, pray and enjoy...



Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth...

Avalon: "I don't want to go"

A beloved brother shared with me this song.  Enjoy...

Wisdom from Star Wars...

«I find your lack of faith disturbing» - Darth Vader, from Star Wars 4, "A New Hope".


Here's another wise thought:  «Do or do not.  There is no try» - Jedi Master Yoda, from Star Wars 5, "The Empire Strikes Back".

Think about these lines:
Luke: «I can't believe it!».
Yoda: «That is why you fail».

The best prayer I have heard in a long time

(Anonymous)

Heavenly Father,

help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father,

remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.

Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Amen!