Please visit our church's website: www.graceasheboro.org.
Looking forward to a great time this Sunday as we will be officially installing our new pastor, Tim Brieaddy.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
HCSB
Another reason I believe the Holman Christian Standard Bible is a better "modern" translation than the English Standard Version is found in Amos 4:6:
"I gave you absolutely nothing to eat in all your cities," HCSB
"I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities," ESV
The ESV rendering of this statement sounds to the modern reader like the Lord started a dental plan for the Israelites. The HCSB plainly makes the point that God brought famine over the land.
Again, I don't want to slam the ESV. I believe it's the best translation since the NASB (until the arrival of the HCSB), but I just don't understand why the translators felt it necessary to leave in a lot of the archaisms of the King James language. It just results in a type of "biblese" that is problematic for the 21st century reader. This is another example of my argument that the ESV was unnecessary when we already had the New American Standard Version.
"I gave you absolutely nothing to eat in all your cities," HCSB
"I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities," ESV
The ESV rendering of this statement sounds to the modern reader like the Lord started a dental plan for the Israelites. The HCSB plainly makes the point that God brought famine over the land.
Again, I don't want to slam the ESV. I believe it's the best translation since the NASB (until the arrival of the HCSB), but I just don't understand why the translators felt it necessary to leave in a lot of the archaisms of the King James language. It just results in a type of "biblese" that is problematic for the 21st century reader. This is another example of my argument that the ESV was unnecessary when we already had the New American Standard Version.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Chrome OS Update
The new commercial Chromebooks hit the stores this week to mixed reviews. I understand the pros and cons of this new toy and I must say I still enjoy my freebie CR-48 pilot Chromebook I received last year. The new "and improved" models from Samsung are intriguing but a bit too pricey for me. I might purchase one someday, especially if the prices drop. Except for bill paying, which I don't do on this computer, I am a casual user who stays mostly on the web. The Chromebook fits my lifestyle, but when it's all said and done, it is still basically my "backup" computer.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
More Palin Stuff
Gotta love the MSM. In spite of themselves, they're going to usher Sarah Palin right into the White House. In their latest Sarah witch hunt (the 24,000 emails), all they have uncovered is the former Alaska governor is not as stupid and illiterate as they have purported her to be over the past two and a half years. If the liberal media keeps shooting themselves in the foot with their PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome), they will become her biggest asset. Idiots.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Worship Styles
There has been a lot of debate in Christian circles concerning the "style" of worship services. My focus here is in two areas...formal vs. informal dress and the type of music and instrumentation used.
I grew up in and spent my early adult years in more traditional churches where dress was pretty much formal. Of course, in my early years most churches were formal (1950's & 60's). I don't think clothing is really an issue at all, as long as it is clean and modest. I suppose "modesty" is very subjective so let me use the phrase "in general good taste" (probably not much better).
When it comes to worship music, as a middle-aged guy who grew up on rock and roll, I actually see both sides of the debate. The "perfect" church for me, musically speaking, would offer both traditional and "contemporary" music and instruments. I like the old hymns as well as the more recent praise and worship choruses. In my view, the music question can get complex. Some hymns have been taken, modified and turned into modern worship songs. There are all kinds of cross over. I totally disagree with a former employer of mine in Christian radio who believes that drums are "of the devil". Psalm 150 says:
3 Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre.4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings.5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals.
A tambourine is a hand-held drum and the resounding and clashing cymbals speak for themselves. As long as our worship is God-centered and not man-centered, we should do well.
I grew up in and spent my early adult years in more traditional churches where dress was pretty much formal. Of course, in my early years most churches were formal (1950's & 60's). I don't think clothing is really an issue at all, as long as it is clean and modest. I suppose "modesty" is very subjective so let me use the phrase "in general good taste" (probably not much better).
When it comes to worship music, as a middle-aged guy who grew up on rock and roll, I actually see both sides of the debate. The "perfect" church for me, musically speaking, would offer both traditional and "contemporary" music and instruments. I like the old hymns as well as the more recent praise and worship choruses. In my view, the music question can get complex. Some hymns have been taken, modified and turned into modern worship songs. There are all kinds of cross over. I totally disagree with a former employer of mine in Christian radio who believes that drums are "of the devil". Psalm 150 says:
3 Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre.4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings.5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals.
A tambourine is a hand-held drum and the resounding and clashing cymbals speak for themselves. As long as our worship is God-centered and not man-centered, we should do well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)