Thursday, February 28, 2019

To profit from Scripture, one must take the right posture. At one extreme, the skeptic questions and judges whatever he/she reads. At the other, the overconfident believer, convinced he has mastered the biblical or systematic theology, ignores or explains away whatever fails to support his system. Interpreters should come to Scripture humbly, expecting to learn and be corrected and willing to observe Scripture closely and accept whatever they find. (Grudem, Collins, & Schreiner, 2012), Pg 12

They go on to lay out several key items to contemplate as we embark on this journey of discovery in the greatest story ever told.

The Narrative: The Greatest Story Ever Told

The Narrative refers to the on-going story that began In the Beginning and rolls right through Abraham, Jesus, Paul, and Me. The Bible, in large part, is handed to us as a narrative. The meaning of the “verse” one attempts to use to justify their position must fit within the overall context of The Narrative; and, it must mean to the original author/participants in that story what it means to you. We are part of that on-going story. The application we take away must be within the context of that larger story.

Did I Read That Right?

Before one can study, one must read The Narrative as it was provided. It is within this framework that the meanings can be gathered. Understanding the literary style is also important. The Bible can be read as Historical, Literature (including the Literary Style), and Communion with the Author Himself. Depending on the mindset you come to the Bible with, this affects Application and Teaching. Also, to be considered, Literal vs Allegory. Some find hidden meanings while others take the text at face value. The Literary Style should help us determine what approach we take for any given book or section. One should take the instruction to love our neighbor literally but not assume that a literal Dragon was coming to eat a woman’s child (Revelation). Genre matters.

Fire the Cannon

The manuscripts we have today are reliable. That is covered in great depth in the texts. The variety, age, and abundance of older manuscripts allow us to see that the text we have is reliable and is exactly what the authors wrote for us to read. Archeology does serve to reinforce the Historicity of the Bible (confirming events, names, and dates); however, it serves a more intricate purpose as well. Archeology paints the picture of the times and customs of the people we read about. That context allows us to immerse ourselves in the story, feel the sand beneath our sandals and in between our toes, and feel the upper room’s cold night air.

Lost in Translations

One of the reasons there are so many translations is that so many translators do the important work of helping us read the original language in our Modern English. I speak a modicum of Spanish. One day, in class, I said “Estoy Caliente’”, literally “I am (temporarily) hot”. My teacher corrected, with a big grin, “No. No. No, Senior Wolfe. Hace Calor”, meaning “it is presently hot”. Apparently, “Estoy Caliente’” in the culture has an entirely different connotation, “I am Hot (Horny/Attractive)”. This very simple misunderstanding is a humorous example of how easily one can mess up language-to-language translation. It is not enough to translate words, one must translate ideas and concepts in culturally accurate ways. In this same way, Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Latin, and other Biblically related languages (as they relate to manuscripts we possess) must be translated, and not simply transliterated.

The New Testament Makes Sense

Why not stop with the Old Testament. The Cannon of the Old Testament was largely firmed up by the time of Jesus. It was the Scriptures he referred to often “as it is written”. So why have a New Testament at all? Throughout the old covenant, God was promising a coming Messiah and new revelation. It follows then, as a continuation of The Narrative, that a new set of texts would be handed to us to preserve those steps in The Narrative. The New Testament makes sense because it is a continuation of the story. (Grudem, Collins, & Schreiner, 2012) Pg 82

Preach!

It is often the case today (and has been true since at least the Church Growth Movement of the 70s), sermons can be nothing more than Three Points, a Reader’s Digest Story, and a Joke… with a few supporting scriptures. The authors have the following to say about that:

The preacher must preach the text, not the idea that brought him to the text. He must stand behind the Bible, not in front of it. (Grudem, Collins, & Schreiner, 2012) Pg 64-65

This more common type of modern preaching leads to another issue: Verse Jacking.

Take Aways

Verse Jacking!

What is Verse Jacking? This is taking a set of hand-picked verses completely out of context, running them together as “proof” that your position is sound and “Biblical”. This is where your inner parent must come out, “Put that back where you found it!” If the verse doesn’t mean that in context, in The Narrative, and to the original author; it does not mean that to you.

Many Churches, Conflicting Ideas – Firmly held beliefs in conflict.

Due to Verse Jacking, we’ve got thousands of denominations. Every group has their corner staked out on The Truth. Although it’s true that we know in part while on this earth, and “they” may be seeing something I haven’t seen yet; it is also true that they may be Verse Jacking to create a position that God himself doesn’t hold.

Wrestling with Ideals

My own turmoil trying to wrestle with conflicting ideals stems from a life long search for The Truth. Over the years, I’ve moved from Christian group to Christian group in search of the most authentic, real, true, relationship with Jesus I can have. As a function of this search, I picked up many firmly held beliefs that I’ve since come to realize weren’t True. They were supported with Bible verses; however, they were not actually Biblical.

Resolution: The Narrative Context

With that in mind, here are some things I now realize will help me on the next phase of my journey.

· Proverbs are not TRUE, they are generally true. Just because a proverb says that the upright will be successful, doesn’t mean that all people who do right will never have a tragedy. It does, however, indicate that on trend the upright fair well on principle. Proverbs 2:7-8 ((NIV))

· Where does that verse belong? If it didn’t mean that to the author it doesn’t mean that to you. Put it back where you found it and see what it means inside The Narrative. Only then can you determine what it means.

· Any doctrine must be firmly based on the whole Bible, a thread neatly woven into The Narrative. When speaking about the variety of manuscripts and differences of interpretation, the authors of this text indicate that on rare instance you may come to find that a particular verse wasn’t saying what you thought it said. This includes, especially, End Times Prophecy. To this point, they write:

At times, a particular doctrine may not, after all, be affirmed in a given passage, depending on the textual variant. But this is not the same thing as saying that such a doctrine is denied. Just because a particular verse may not affirm a cherished doctrine does not mean that that doctrine cannot be found in the New Testament. In the final analysis, no cardinal doctrine, no essential truth, is affected by any viable variant in the surviving New Testament manuscripts. (Grudem, Collins, & Schreiner, 2012) Pg 116-117

With these tools in hand, I can continue my journey to find the most authentic relationship with Jesus, His Father, His Holy Spirit, and His Word.

Bibliography

(NIV), N. I. (n.d.). Proverbs 2:7-8. Retrieved from https://www.biblica.com/bible/niv/proverbs/2/

Grudem, W., Collins, C. J., & Schreiner, T. R. (2012). Understanding Scripture - An Overview of the Bible's Origin, Reliability, and Meaning. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Shalom: Live Long and Prosper!

Darrell Wolfe (DG Wolfe)

Storyteller | Writer | Thinker | Consultant @ DarrellWolfe.com

Written February 28, 2019 by Darrell G Wolfe

bible, Paper No comments

Friday, February 22, 2019

The Gospel of Luke:

Jesus was in the temple asking questions, his parents had been clueless and lost him. But he went home, was obedient to them, and grew in favor...

As I read that story, I was reminded of what it was like to grow up with a high IQ and more wisdom than average...

I realized, as I was meditating on this story, that God will ask you to submit to authority that often doesn't understand you and may not even be as intelligent as you... But submit you must if you will find maturity and favor.

How often do we buck authority because we think we know better?

Submission brings maturity and favor that all the intellect in the world can't bring.

Selah.

Shalom: Live Long and Prosper!

Darrell Wolfe (DG Wolfe)

Storyteller | Writer | Thinker | Consultant @ DarrellWolfe.com

Written February 22, 2019 by Darrell G Wolfe

bible, Daily Reading, Freedom No comments

Monday, February 4, 2019

Reflection Paper

Saving the Bible from Ourselves

Darrell Wolfe

BIBL-1300 Introduction to the Bible

Spring 2019, Online Session 1

January 30, 2019

Table of Contents

Review: Saving the Bible.. 3
We Complicated the Bible. 3
We Lost the History, Context, Story, and Narrative. 4
We Lost the Community. 4
We Lost the Elegance and Beauty. 4
The Take Away.. 5
I’m a Student. 5
I’m a Storyteller. 5
I’m a Solo-Artist (no longer). 6
Bibliography.. 7

Review: Saving the Bible

This is a review of the text, Saving the Bible from Ourselves (Paauw, 2016). Paauw begins by diagnosing a strongly felt problem throughout the Church in Western Culture. He summarizes it as follows:

“But we are also assured that even if we spend only a few minutes in the morning, we’re sure to find the spiritual gem to get us through. The Bible will brighten our day, encourage us and strengthen us, if only we will faithfully open it – even if just for a few moments. Those ‘Scriptures’ – which more typically refer to presorted sentences and snippets – are said to be powerful. And Yet. We know there is more to the story than the official line… The ‘and yet’ comes down to this: There is more guilt about secret non-compliance with Bible-reading standards in the self-proclaimed Bible-believing community than there is gratitude for promises realized.” (Paauw, 2016), 14-15.

With this simple statement, he accurately defines a problem I’ve lived with my entire Christian life. Paauw then goes on to describe the reasons for this problem in more detail.

We Complicated the Bible

The Bible we know today has chapters, verses, headers, commentary, footnotes, cross references, blurbs of insight, photos, graphs, and maps… to name a few. But exactly none of these are from the original copies of the Great Book. The books of the Bible were written as texts, poems, letters, histories, stories, and revelations. These additives have hidden the real Bible from us, underneath layers of items that are helpful for Study but not for daily Reading. The result has been the average reader taking a “verse” as having read “scripture”. However, these books were intended to be read as any other book. Start on page one, and read forward.
We Lost the History, Context, Story, and Narrative

As a result of these additives and the “versification” of the Bible, we’ve lost the stories being told, the context and audience, the history of a real people in real places, the ongoing non-stop narrative flowing from Adam to Abraham to Jesus to Paul to Me.

We Lost the Community

The Bible was originally digested, primarily, in public gatherings. The original church didn’t have a book to hand to each person. Scrolls and codices were kept in safe places, and read publicly in large readings. Whole letters and books (or sections of the books) were read to those in attendance, and then they were discussed as a group. Pastoral leaders added insights and kept the conversation on track. Messages were given ad-hoc based on the texts read. This stands in stark contrast to our practices today, one verse from here and another from there, packaged as though they went together as stand-alone statements; all while reading them alone in pre-packaged apps or devotionals. We are each left to interpret as we will, without the benefit of community input.

We Lost the Elegance and Beauty

One of the subtle items we’ve lost is the elegance of the Bible. This is a combined book of Histories, Stories of Greatness, Poetry, Songs, and more. By having standard block text formatting with the insertion of chapters and verses, much of this is lost on the reader; even if they do try to read whole books or sections (as I have). Paauw proposes a new look that takes each of these literary styles, and brings them to light in a new formatting for modern English readers.

The Take Aways

I’m a Student.

I have often read whole books of the Bible and read the entire Bible through several times. I’ve spent months in a single book. I’ve even spent the last several years reading and re-reading the book of Job. Therefore, I appreciate what’s lost eating in verse-fragments as we so often do in our culture. However, that’s all study. It’s tearing down sentences to the root-words and looking for context and meaning. What I haven’t done is simply pick up the Bible and read (as I would a novel). As a result of reading this text, I ordered the Immerse: Messiah New Testament (Institute for Bible Reading, 2017). This is a project that Paauw himself worked on, as a response to the challenges he laid out in his text. I’m also having my kids read their own copies, and gave a few to friends.

I’m a Storyteller.

Throughout my life, one thread has weaved its way through my many adventures: I am a Storyteller. I enjoy story. The art of storytelling is the back-bone of every great movie, book, TV Ad, or Speech. When good stories are told, they capture the imagination. I’ve forgotten most of the 10-steps to this or 7-habits of that… but I can still feel the heat of Mordor as Frodo battles with himself to let go of the One Ring. This text was a fabulous reminder that I am part of an ongoing story myself. It began with my Father, Adam. It continued throughout history through men and women, great and small, and led directly to my bedroom, where I was saved at three years old; asking Jesus for Wisdom just like Solomon did.

I’m a Solo-Artist (no longer).

Finding community is a new challenge for me. As a fairly extreme introvert, INFJ (Briggs, 1920), I find myself constantly “in my head”. If I don’t have mass amounts of quality quiet time to process all of my thoughts, I begin to feel fatigued and overwhelmed. However, I allowed this knowledge of myself (and some unhealthy dynamics with my late-wife) to become excuses for hibernation. I went to work, church, and home. I spent decades without real human interaction outside of the home. This came to a head at the end of 2016 in Fort Worth Texas, when I suffered a nervous breakdown (mid-life crises some call it). My road to recovery began as a challenge to God. I couldn’t attend any of the men’s bible studies as they conflicted with my schedule. I told God I’d go if a 9 pm start time was posted. It was posted the next week.

At Rudy’s Bible study, we would read a whole chapter from a New Testament book, then discuss what each of us got out of it. I was shocked to realize, while reading Paauw’s text, that this was essentially the format of the original Church. I’ve subsequently ordered two more copies and sent them back to Rudy and Eric (the leaders of that group). Since moving to Idaho, my isolationist tendencies have been challenged in new ways. I’m finding community once more. But this was a strong reminder that I need community and community Bible reading, and a challenge to maybe start my own 9 pm group here… we shall see.

Shalom: Live Long and Prosper!

Darrell Wolfe (DG Wolfe)

Storyteller | Writer | Thinker | Consultant @ DarrellWolfe.com

Written February 04, 2019 by Darrell G Wolfe

bible No comments

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

What does it mean to be a Widower?

Today was supposed to be the day my third child, Azarea, was born.

We should have a crib ready, house buzzing with the excitement of "it's time". But instead, I sit sleepless in my room, two boys sleeping but suffering from grief in their own ways. Instead of adding a fifth member to the house, we lost Mom and Baby. We are three.

That was seven months ago.

I've tried to pick up the pieces as best as I can. Make new friends for me and the boys. I've tried to make the house livable for "our new situation" as it became called. I've made many adjustments, most hard, some good. I even recently made an enemy, through no fault of my own.

What does it mean to be a Widower?

It means not wanting to talk about it anymore with people who aren't here, who haven't been here through it with us.

It means trying to make it through each day without thinking about her, when she's everywhere. She's touched everything in this house.

It means going through her things, and packing up the items We Three won't ever use.

It means smiling through the tears. It means sleepless nights and a lonely bed. It means a lack of touch, extended hugs, cuddles, shared inside jokes and shows, and household rhythms.

It means "why" repeating over and over even though you have all the why's you're going to get.

Being a Widower means living... when she didn't. It means not just saying goodbye to the person, but the dreams, shared vision, partnership, plans... The entire trajectory of life changes.

There are no pieces to pick up. There's just absence and void. You have to forge ahead, and make new memories, new plans, new dreams... but you don't want to.

It means knowing you should play a game with the kids, or clean the house, but having no will to get up and do it.

Despite all of that...........

God's been SO good to us this year. We've seen financial blessings from a variety of sources. We've paid off debts, raised credit scores. We're getting ready to buy a new home and start a new life.

We've made quite a few friends and we're making more. We've seen God bring comfort, encouragement, and gentle reminders of His Love.

We've seen God show up with a friendly text, invite to join a group, classes, courses, events...

I've personally gained more clarity on my life, what's important and what isn't. What fights are worth it and which ones aren't.

I've started college again, which she and I always talked about.

Even the enemy will come around, he just doesn't know it yet. God's Love is bigger than his hate and fear.

Someday, we may add to our family again. But that day is not today. Today, I remember what was, what could have been, should have been, and then I look forward.

The beautiful, bittersweet, Truth, is that Flavia and Azarea are my future, not just my past. Heaven is not our home, but it is our resting place until King Jesus returns. They're safely there, playing and laughing.

Someday, should it happen before I die, I will meet my King in the air, and Flavia and I will be there together. And then, at some point after that, we'll all reside on earth again, in resurrected bodies.

What a joyous reunion that'll be.

For now:

Happy Birthday Blueberry (Azarea). Flavia is taking care of you there, I've got the boys here. Say hi to my family and friends, and to Jiminy Cricket's kid for me.

Peace!

Shalom: Live Long and Prosper!

Darrell Wolfe (DG Wolfe)

Storyteller | Writer | Thinker | Consultant @ DarrellWolfe.com

Written January 29, 2019 by Darrell G Wolfe

Lessons in Grief No comments

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

2019 Reading List

A list of the books I've been reading in 2019 (personal growth and for school).

Fiction

Author: Lauren Stinton (Affiliate Link)

The House of Elah (Volume 1)

The Alusian's Quest (The House of Elah) (Volume 2)

The King's Man (The House of Elah) (Volume 3)

Should I Choose to Die Again (The Hamal Books) (Volume 1)

The One-Eyed Man (The Hamal Books) (Volume 2)

Non-Fiction

Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box, by The Arbinger Institute

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear

Where Is God When It Hurts?, by Philip Yancey

Elements of a Christian Worldview, by Michael Palmer

Saving the Bible from Ourselves: Learning to Read and Live the Bible Well, by Glenn R. Paauw

Author: C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity

Author: Dr. Henry Cloud

How To Get A Date Worth Keeping: Be Dating In Six Months Or Your Money Back

Boundaries in Dating: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Relationships

Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life

Author: Peter Scazzero

The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life Will Deeply Transform Your Church, Team, and the World

Other not otherwise catagoried
101 Conversation Starters for Couples by Gary Chapman and Ramon Presson

Intellectual Foreplay: A Book of Questions for Lovers and Lovers-to-Be, by Eve Eschner Hogan

41 Will Come: Holding On When Life Gets Tough--and Standing Strong Until a New Day Dawns, by Tate, Chuck E.

The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: NKJV Edition, Black Genuine Leather (Key Word Study Bibles), by Publishers, AMG

Shalom: Live Long and Prosper!

Darrell Wolfe (DG Wolfe)

Storyteller | Writer | Thinker | Consultant @ DarrellWolfe.com

Clifton StrengthsFinder: Intellection, Learner, Ideation, Achiever, Input
16Personalities (Myers-Briggs Type): INFJ

Written January 01, 2019 by Darrell G Wolfe

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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Shots in the dark...

For the first time since my wife passed, June 25, 2018, I've decided to start writing again. Not sure if this will make it into the final cut of the novel I'm working on (Distortion, a White Noise series), but I thought I'd share the rough draft of my first words back.

***

Wet hail assaulted the thin metal roof of the RV like a barrage of weapons fire. Ash sat on the floor, back against the couch, dripping red water onto the floor, a mix of his own from a rough patch and hers... His mind was black as the room, his thoughts hidden from himself like the storm had hidden the stars.

Like the random hits of blue lightning outside the windows, images flashed through his mind of the night's events. What he could have done differently. What he could have done to prevent it. Every plan had been stunted, but they persevered, until the end. He kept coming up blank. Every alternative could have ended them here. He was lost. Blank. Mind racing on a track with no destination.

He was forced to leave Destiny’s body on the ground as he ran from the sniper. By the time he’d doubled back, the nest was cleaned and empty. Police, Fire, Ambulance now covered the scene below, they’d tend to her better than he could.

Chester looked terrified as they put the hood over his head, and stuffed him into one of the five black armored Escalades and drove off.

Escape. Run. Drive. Ash found the RV parked at the rendezvous point; now a rendezvous of one. After driving for two hours, Ash found his arms and legs shaking too much to continue. He pulled off onto an old mountain road, snaked up into the hills, and pulled over in a clearing covered by tall pines.

Now he sat. Shaking. Blank. He should be feeling… something. Angry. Sad. Something. But he just sat, staring at the small refrigerator door, the faux grains making moving patterns in his head when the lightning revealed them.

The next morning... TBC

***

Thank you for reading,

Shalom: Live Long and Prosper!

Darrell Wolfe (DG Wolfe)

Storyteller | Writer | Thinker | Consultant @ DarrellWolfe.com

Written December 11, 2018 by Darrell G Wolfe

distortion, White Noise No comments

Monday, September 24, 2018

Embracing Grief - The process God gave you to heal

The following was a question from a Widow/Widower support group I belong to:

What is the most important thing you've learned about grief?

My Answer:

Grief is a process to be embraced and walked through.

Your physical brain has developed protein structures (memories and muscle memories) that tell your body to react in a certain way.

These structures tell the leg to move when walking and they tell the body and mind to be a certain way at home with your spouse, certain expected norms.

Just as when a Vet loses a limb, a widow(er) loses something much more profound, their other half.

The new treatment for those who lose limbs is to activate the new nerve endings by rubbing them frequently with various materials (hard, soft, scratchy, smooth, hot, cold) so the brain can learn the new nerve endings. This helps alleviate "Phantom Limb Syndrome".

God gave us Widows(ers) the gift of Grief to help us recognize and process these protein structures in the brain as they relate to our late spouse. They are gone. Grief helps us come to terms with that and then continue to live a God-given fulfilling life.

This only works when we embrace the grief process, instead of burying and ignoring the process.

That's been the more precious, if not hardest, lesson I've learned.

Shalom: Live Long and Prosper!