Moving to Wordpress

I finally decided to move my blog to wordpress.com. That would allow me to do a lot of cool things my friends are doing at wordpress.com. Please update your blog roll accordingly. The link below will take you there:

christmyrighteousness9587

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard (HT:Justin Taylor)

This is marvelous, amazing, astounding. Unbelievable!
Anybody out there: BUY ME ONE!!!. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Farmer and Stein on the Relationship Between the Synoptics

In his influential work, The Synoptic Problem: A Critical Analysis (1976), William R. Farmer makes the following observations as they pertain to the history, nature and relationship between the Synoptic Gospels:

First, he traces the historical issues about how the Griesbach hypothesis was rejected to the adaptation of the two-source theory; this was due in contention against the Tubingen School hypothesis. He maintains that Matthew is the earliest Gospel to be written, followed by Luke, and Mark precedes the second Gospel. In other words, he rejects the priority of the Gospel of Mark that is now embraced by the majority of NT scholars. Luke is dependent upon Matthew for its general order and form of his Gospel (201). Mark is an abridged version of Matthew and Luke. In this case, the order is as follows: Matthew, Luke, Mark.For literary evidence clearly demonstrates Mark's reliance on and familiarity with Matthew's and Luke's Gospels. On the other hand, he suggests that Matthew and Luke probably used one or more written sources in producing their Gospels. Luke used Matthew, he argues. In conclusion, Farmer notes, "The similarity between Matthew, Mark, and Luke is such as to justify the assertion that they stand in some kind of literary relationship to one another... (202) There are eighteen and only eighteen fundamental ways in which three documents, among which there exists some kind of direct literary dependence, may be related to one another" (208).

Robert Stein (my former Biblical Hermeneutics teacher), in his helpful introduction to the Synotpic Gospels ("Studying the Synoptic Gospels: Origin and Interpretation," 2001), reiterates the old argument for Markan priority, this time with more precision. First, Stein outlines four common features that stand out in his investigation of the the Synoptic problem: (1) Agreement in wording, (2) Agreement in Order, (3) Agreement in Parenthetical Material, and (4) Usual Literary Agreements. This positin, in essense, assumes that the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke respectively reflect some common literary [inter-] dependence in terms of their sayings/words used, their order of reported accounts, events, an discourses, and their parenthetical notes underlined by the three Evangelists. As for a Markan priority, Stein argues that Mark is the shortest Gospel (The Argument from Length), Mark exhibits a poorer writing style (The Argument from Grammar), Mark's redundancy (repetition) is also an issue. Moreover, Mark's reading is harder than the other two Gospels (excluding John), his descriptions of the disciples are sufficiently negative, the Gospel of Mark demonstrates primitive theology of the earliest Christianity, the argument from redactionism, the argument from literary agreements, and the arguments from verbal agreements and order as we have already remarked, all contribute to the priority of Mark (19-97). That the Gospel according to Mark was the first to be written.

Severe Financial Crisis at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary And Paige Patterson

While SWBTS staff and faculty are being laid off and salaries reduced, the Pattersons continue to maintain a large personal staff. Mrs. Patterson has an assistant and a research assistant. Dr. Patterson has an executive assistant, secretary, personal assistant, and four interns. The Pattersons also have a large staff at their house. They have employeed at least one chef, though it is widely believed there are at least two chefs, possibly more, on the payroll. There are a minimum of four hostesses/servers, a director for the Presidential house, two people who are paid to walk their dogs, and other staff paid to clean their cars and do other household chores and errands for the Pattersons, Wade reports.

I'm just not sure what to say about this extravagant lifestyle. This is what happens when too much power is given, and thus (it)corrupts. Where's the Spirit of servanthood in this? Generally, great (Christian) leaders have always known to be servants of the people they serve and lead. (The Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep). Normally they put the need of people first before seeing themselves. Perhaps, I'm not in the position to evaluate the character of those in high powered places or positions in the SBC, however, the SBC as a denominational body needs a thorough cleansing and redirection for a more better biblical vision of leadership and management.

If This Isn’t Slavery, What Is?

Reported by The New York Times. Here's an excerpt:

Pross was 13 and hadn’t even had her first period when a young woman kidnapped her and sold her to a brothel in Phnom Penh. The brothel owner, a woman as is typical, beat Pross and tortured her with electric current until finally the girl acquiesced.

She was kept locked deep inside the brothel, her hands tied behind her back at all times except when with customers.

Brothel owners can charge large sums for sex with a virgin, and like many girls, Pross was painfully stitched up so she could be resold as a virgin. In all, the brothel owner sold her virginity four times.

Pross paid savagely each time she let a potential customer slip away after looking her over.

“I was beaten every day, sometimes two or three times a day,” she said, adding that she was sometimes also subjected to electric shocks twice in the same day.

To finish the reading click here. (HT:Eugene Cho).

Racial Harmony Event: 'Bearing the Image'

Racial Harmony Weekend at John Piper's church, Bethlehem Baptist Church. Click here for more information. Thabiti Anyabwile will be the Guest Speaker.

The Wisdom of God

19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king's matter.”

Daniel 2:19-23

2009 Reading List

So far my reading list for the new year includes the following:

1. Cultural Interpretation : Reorienting New Testament Criticism by Brian Blount

2. Silencing the Past:Power and the Production of History by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

3. Living Gently in a Violent World: The Prophetic Witness of Weakness by Stanley Hauerwas and Jean Vanier (Courtesy of IVP, thanks to Adrianna Wright)

4. Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace, and Healing by Emmanuel Katongole & Chris Rice (Courtesy of IVP, thanks to Adrianna Wright)

5. Blackening of the Bible: The Aims of African American Biblical Scholarship by Michael Joseph Brown

6. How to do Things with Words by J. L. Austin

7. The Lord's Prayer through North African Eyes by Joseph Brown ( A courtesy of T & T Clark

8. The Drama of Doctrine by Vanhoozer

9. The Witness of Jesus, Paul and John: An Exploration in Biblical Theology by Larry R. Heyyer (Courtesy of IVP, thanks to Adrianna Wright)

10. New Horizons in Hermeneutics by Thiselton

11. The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge by Peter L. Berger

12. Limite Inc by Jacques Derrida

13. Of Grammatology by Jacques Derrida

14. Orientalism by Edward W. Said

15. Color Conscious: The Political Morality of Race by K. Anthony Appiah and Amy Gutmann

16. Foundations of An African Ethic: Beyond the Universal Claims of Western Morality by Benezet Bujo

17. The Afrocentric Idea by Molefi Kete Asante

18. The Psychic Life of Power by Judith Bulter

19. The Representation of Self in Everyda Life by Erving Goffman

20. Facing Racial Revolution: Eyewitness Accounts of the Haitian Insurrection

21. Masters of the Dew Jacques Roumain

22. Before Haiti: Race and Citizenship in French Saint-Domingue by John D. Garrigus

23. The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter

24. Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo by Mary Douglas

25. God in Serach of Man By Abraham Joshua Herschel

26. A Concise New Testament Theology by I. Howard Marshall (Courtesy of IVP, thanks to Adrianna Wright)

27. Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments by Childs (Courtesy of Fortress)

28. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism by Vincent B. Leithc (ed)

29. African Americans and the Bible by Wimbush

30. Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John by Malina and Rohrbaugh

31. Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective by Sanders an Issler (Courtesy of B & H Academics)

32. Believers Baptism by Schreiner and Wright (Courtesy of B & H Academics)

33. Enthroned on Our Praise by Pierce (Courtesy of B & H Academics)

34. Doctrine that Dances by Smith (Courtesy of B & H Academics)

35. Buried Hope or Risen Savior? by Quarles (Courtesy of B & H Academics)

36. The Renewal of Trinitarian Theology by Leupp (Courtesy of IVP, special thanks to Adrianna Wright)

37. The Spirit in the Gospels and Acts by Keener (Courtesy of Hendrickson)

38. The Holy SPirit and Spiritual Gifts by Turner (Courtesy of Hendrickson)


On Writing

1. On Writing Well: The Classic Gudie to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser

2. Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering Writing Process by Peter Elbow

3. Style: Toward Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams

* In addition, I'm writing five book reviews for 3 professional journals, 3 papers to be published, and I will be given 2-3 paper presentations this year. That's all I can handle for now. So help me God!

Time 4 Change

My friend Tony has written another excellent post. He expounds a few propositions about the call of God on one's life, and the importance of submitting to God for change.

The whole biblical account in the Bible is about people responding to God's call for change. Abraham was called a friend of God because he obeyed God's call for change. He believed and trusted in God to lead and provide for him and his family. Often it is a step into the unknown. Abraham was called to leave his country, his homeland for a place where he did not know. The command was simply, "Go to a place that I will show you." It is a test of our faith when we step out without knowing what the future holds. Humanly speaking it is a terrifying experience. If you are in a stable job with take home pay of S$10,000.00 p.m., why change and move on? The fear of falling into financial hardship is all too real. Worse, we fear poverty may be our lot if we give up on something secure and safe for the unknown of following after Christ. Stepping out in faith does not mean we leave our minds behind. We plan as much as we can and as much as it is possible we have sufficient financial resources to see us through the period of change and transition before we settle on something more permanent. But often because people refuse to take the risk even when the call is loud and clear, the greener pastures and promised land on the other side is never reached. We never arrive at our full potential and maximize our gifts if we are afraid of change.

The ESV Study BIble

A little over three weeks ago I received a copy of the ESV Study Bible. Honestly, I don't reember how I got this Bible, but one thing I know for sure it's a gift from Crossway Books. Thanks to the good foks at Crossway Books for sending a gift copy. My friend Nick provides an excellent review of it. Below is the content:

ESV Study Bibles
With 20,000 notes, 50 articles, 40 illustrations, and 200 full-color maps. Learn more at ESVStudyBible.org.

9-point type, single-column layout for the Bible text; 7.25-point type, double-column layout for the notes
Concordance
Size: 6.5″ x 9.25″
2,752 pages
Over 80,000 cross-references on the inside margin
Words of Christ in black
Premium Calfskin edition has two ribbon markers. TruTone, Bonded Leather, and Genuine Leather editions have one ribbon marker. Hardcover does not have a ribbon marker
Online Study Bible access included with purchase
Not thumb-indexed

The ESV Study Bible is reader friendly, contains valuable information about how to get the most from God's Word. It is now my favorite Study Bible.

Quote of the year

Commit yourself to read the Bible this year, not what people wrote about it

Free Books Offer from CMRM

Christ, My Righteousness Ministries is giving away free books (running offer: January 1-31, 2009). Yes totally free! All you have to do is look through the list below and select 1 book. You’ll be responsible to for the shipping. (normally $ 3.99 per book). Click here for access.

Conditions:

1. 1 book per person
2. Pay for the shipping
3. Provide a physical address to mail the book. Drop us an email at cmrm@christmyrighteousness.com. We will not share your information with people. It is totally confidential.
4. Running offer: January 1-31, 2009.
5. Please do not request a book you’re not going to read. Save it for someone else.

Happy New Year!

May the Great God guide and direct your steps this year and for the rest of your life. May you seek his face more earnestly during this new year.

Have a blessed, God-glorifying New Year 2009!!!
Katia, Lou, Terrence & Joshua.