A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and John the Prophet

November 27th, 2006

What in the world does Charles Dickens, the nineteenth century British author, have to do with the first century prophet John? I made a connection just the other night after reading Dickens’s short story, A Christmas Carol. The re-reading of this classic work intersected with a paper I had graded earlier in the evening, a paper written by one of the students enrolled in my class on Revelation. Over the years I have discovered that reading novels and short stories enhances my reading of Scripture and that Scripture helps me evaluate the stories offered by such individuals as Dickens. This discovery helped me merge the theology of John and Dickens late that evening.

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Poem From A Friend

November 27th, 2006

Within a few days of receiving from the publisher ten complimentary copies of my book, I was talking to a friend about the joyful experience of holding a copy of the book in my hands for the first time. I remember praising God for the opportunity to write the book, and as I prayed a flood of memories came pouring forth, memories of people who and events that influenced its birth. Within a few hours this friend was able to capture the emotions I found on that August day. With permission, I share the poem with you. –Bob

REVELATION’S RHAPSODY—A PRIVATE MOMENT
To see,
To hold,
To admire.
To rub expectant hand across the cover,
To leaf through pages,
To discover.
To inspect,
To confirm,
To approve.
TO SMILE.
To reminisce,
To feel the company of lost dear ones who loved and molded,
Who hoped for such a moment.
To feel the joy of those closest,
Family and friends,
Who shared and still share the dream.
To wonder where this fits among life’s defining moments:
Childhood, young manhood, and maturity
Collapsed between these covers.
TO SHED A TEAR.
To consider those who will read critically,
Who will judge,
Who will dismiss.
To reflect on those who will read approvingly,
Who will delight,
Who will embrace.
To foresee those who will hunger,
Who will hope,
Who will search and be transformed.
TO ANTICIPATE.
To wonder whether I really did it at all,
Yet to know my heart and my mind infuse it,
And my labors brought me to it.
But to know it is bigger than myself,
That many enabled and influenced it,
That many lent a hand and others cheered.
To ponder words of appreciation,
To feel inadequate to express,
To feel words flowing.
TO HUMBLY THANK.
To know that it will take a life its own,
Piercing hearts and minds where it is sown,
Yet, remaining always part of me.
To remember life is born of Heaven’s spark,
And only He can carry to its mark
To hearts He has prepared to receive.
To lift it up and let it go
Wherever God may bid it go,
And pray that it brings honor to His Name.
TO STAND ASIDE.
To see the weakness in this jar of clay,
To contemplate the roadblocks ‘long the way,
To marvel that it ever came to be.
To see the distant vision drawing near,
The muddled forms becoming ever clear,
As valleys filled and mountains broke away.
To recall the light that came in dead of night,
Or afternoon or flash at break of day,
To know that Heaven’s Muse was having sway.
TO VIEW THE MIRACLE
To know that this could only have been done
By grace of God, His Spirit, and His Son,
And that its work has really just begun.
To know that it is only by His power,
That the Message will begin again to flower,
Mending hearts who diligently seek.
To offer it up to ALMIGHTY GOD,
Whose hand has surely guided from above,
Who gifted Revelation’s hope in love.
TO WORSHIP.
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Proper Interpretation as an Act of Witness

November 9th, 2006

Last night I read an essay and a book review that should create embarrassment for Christians who are concerned about their witness in American culture which is showing ever-increasing hostility towards disciples of Jesus.

First, the essay. It is part of the cover story “The Politics of Jesus,” in the November 12, 2006 issue of Newsweek (see pp. 42-43). In an essay entitled “The Case Against Faith,” bestselling author Sam Harris (see his Letter to a Christian Nation and The End of Faith), picks up on popular approaches to Revelation in which the book is used to predict the return of Jesus. Noting that 44% of Americans are confident that Jesus will return in the next 50 years, he comments on “the terrible liability of this sort of thinking”: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by bob
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Logos Edition… Shipping… When?

November 8th, 2006

Dr. Bob recently received word that the Logos edition of Revelation’s Rhapsody would be shipping November 20. The site, however, now lists November 8 as the ship date. We’ll try to get this sorted out and let you know.

Either way, the preorder price of $12.95 is still available!

UPDATE: The electronic version of the book is now available directly from Logos at the link above.

Posted by michael
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