Book Review: The Gifts of the Jews

I just recently finished a very interesting book and wanted to share a few insights from it. The complete title is, The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels. The book is written by Thomas Cahill who also authored, How the Irish Saved Civilization, which is another fine read as well.

One note about Cahill, he is not a Jew (though he has studied extensively at Jewish Theological Seminary), nor is he a Christian, and he is not a believer in the one true living God (However, I don't think he is an atheist...he's more of an agnostic). I mention those facts because what he uncovers about the Jewish people is really quite remarkable and in many ways strengthens the case for God's work in this world. If what he says is true, then there are two options regarding the history of the Jews: 1) The history of the Jews is an amazing coincidence that has greatly impacted most of the world's population; 2) or there is an author or director of life here on planet earth who has a very specific plan unfolding.

Here are a few ideas that really stood out to me:

• Wandering desert nomads, not highly skilled, educated, or sophisticated created a counter culture.
• The Jewish people did something amazing in their approach to religion--they were monotheistic. No one else was. This is a huge point. How does a people group step out of polytheism and enter into monotheism? Not only that, their belief in YHWH was vastly different from all the other gods of all the other cultures. YHWH was personal, relational, loving, and protective.
  
• The Jewish people introduced a linear approach to life. All the pagan cultures of the day were cyclical in their thinking and purpose, meaning essentially that life was meaningless. The Jews believed that YHWH was leading them to a destination. His involvement in their lives showed that they were on a journey moving towards an end goal.
• Sex. The pagan religions relied on sex as a form of worship and manipulating their gods to engage in their lives. YHWH called his people away from sexual immorality! That is a huge and difficult shift unless YHWH had revealed himself to them in some way...which he did.
  

Those are just a few of the observations I made. All in all it's a good read especially if you are interested in receiving a non-Jewish/Christian prespective on the history of the Jews.

"God just isn't enough."

There are many things that I could talk to you about here in this space, but there is one item in particular that has been on my mind for that last couple of day and I would like to share it with you. Most of you know that for the last several weeks we have been studying the Song of Songs and in so doing have discussed marriage, relationships, sex, men and women. Well, over the last few weeks I have received a couple of prayer cards from an anonymous young woman. Without going into great detail, she is asking for prayer because of an inappropriate relationship she is in. She knows that she needs to walk away from the guy she is with, but deep down she doesn’t want to because she enjoys being with him and the things they do. There is a phrase that she has used in both cards that has echoed in my mind simply because she is not the first to utter it. In fact every one of us has said or thought this phrase at some point in our lives…maybe even today. Here is the phrase: “God just isn’t enough.”

Now, if you’re a Christian and you read the Bible you know the statement is ludicrous. Honestly, how could the creator, sustainer, rescuer of the universe not possibly be enough? As ludicrous as it may be, there are times when we all swear it’s true.

You can’t pay your bills—God just isn’t enough!

A relationship ends—God just isn’t enough!

You lose your job—God just isn’t enough!

You can’t get into a relationship—God just isn’t enough!

You’re involved in a sin that you enjoy—God just isn’t enough!

So how should we respond to that statement when it pops up in our lives? Here are three responses from the Bible that can bring us back to the truth:

1) God is for us. He is on your team and he wants what is best for you, and he should know—he created you. The apostle Paul writes, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” ~ Romans 8:31

2) God is a giver. God’s character is marked by his generosity, grace, and love. So often when we articulate the phrase, “God just isn’t enough!” for one reason or another we have felt like God has taken something from us. Or at least he has denied us something great…from our perspective anyway. However, what is the truth? Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ~ John 3:16. Sounds to me like God is a big time giver!

3) God wants us to grow. Because God is for you he is going to shape you, nudge you, push you, and sometimes irritate you to grow. That means God will allow hardship to happen in your life. It means God will put people in your life who will tell you the truth and keep you accountable. It also reminds us as to why God gave us a law and commands. To keep us from pursuing things, people, or activities that ultimately will hurt us and keep us from a relationship with him. Jesus taught this, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” ~ John 15:1,

Now, to the young lady out there who is struggling with the idea that God just isn’t enough, I want you to know that I am praying for you. I’m praying that you will always remember that there is nothing that you can do that will keep God from loving you. God is crazy in love with you…more then any man will ever be! I’m also praying that you will know the truth about God and that the truth will set you free.

The Book of Revelation - South of the Border: Blog Post from Bob Lowery

Here is one of the blogs that I read on a regular basis. Bob Lowery is the NT prof. at Lincoln Christian Seminary. He has done a lot of work on the book of Revelation. Here is a great post he wrote recently, that would be well worth your time to read.

The Book of Revelation - South of the Border