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Could you be guilty of the sin of murder? Yesterday’s message in The Ten Commandments for Today series was on the sixth commandment. The message was called You Shall Not Murder, taken from Exodus 20:13.

Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.” (NIV)

The message explored the meaning of the sixth commandment as taught in Scripture and how it applies to life today. Here is the outline of the message:

I. The meaning of murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17)
    A. The taking of human life (Genesis 9:1-3)
    B. Pre-meditation or intention implied (Exodus 21:12-14; Numbers 35:16-21)
    C. A matter of private morality (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:3-4)
        1) different issue from capital punishment
        2) different issue from war

II. The prohibitions of the commandment
    A. Directly murdering another person (many verses)
    B. Accessory to murder (2 Samuel 11:15, 12:9-10)
    C. Murder for financial gain (Deuteronomy 27:24-25)
    D. Any physical harm or injury to another (Leviticus 24:17-22)
    E. All sinful motivations leading towards murder (Matt 15:19)
    F. Positive corollary: We should lay down our lives for others (John 15:13;
        1 John 3:16)

III. Reasons for the commandment
    A. Human life is God’s gift to give and revoke (Job 12:10)
    B. Human life is sacred (Genesis 9:5-6)
    C. Human life has eternal value (Matthew 16:26)
    D. Loss of human life brings grief to others (Acts 8:2)
    E. Murder defiles the land (Genesis 4:9-11; Numbers 35:33-34)
    F. Murder is directly identified with Satan (John 8:44, 1 John 3:12)

IV. Consequences for murder
    A. Lifelong guilt and remorse (Genesis 4:13-14; Proverbs 28:17
    B. Shortened life (Psalm 55:23)
    C. Judgment of the court (Romans 13:3-4)
    D. Judgment of God (Isaiah 26:21; Revelation 21:8,15)

V. Contemporary social issues
    A. Abortion (Exodus 21:22-25; Jeremiah 19:4-5)
    B. Euthanasia (Leviticus 19:32; 1 Samuel 31:4-5)
    C. Suicide (Matthew 27:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
    D. Embryonic stem cell research (Scriptures relating to sanctity of human life)
    E. Human cloning (Scriptures relating to sanctity of human life)

Note: To read the complete message, go to the Sermons tab at the top of the blog.

Dr. Sam Lamerson reflects on the sadness of doing something for the last time. “You never do anything, knowingly, for the last time without a feeling of sadness.”

Alan Nelson shares about the pastor who tells his paid staff: If we catch you doing ministry, you may lose your job. “Imagine getting fired because you were doing ministry. But if your job is to be developing others, then yes, it makes sense.”

The Internet World Stats web site provides you with statistical Internet usage data and population figures for over 265 countries and regions of the world, consolidated from various periodic surveys, presented in a unique and practical way. (HT: The Presurfer)

Matthew Cornell challenges you to read five books a week (and tells you how to do it). “This was just the whack to the head I needed! The essential idea I forgot? I don’t need to read the whole book. D’oh!” Matt’s post includes lots of luscious links related to reading more efficiently.

14-year-old McKay Hatch founded the No Cussing Club. Here is the club’s No Cussing Challenge: “I won’t cuss, swear, use bad language, or tell dirty jokes. Clean language is the sign of intelligence and always demands respect. I will use my language to uplift, encourage and motivate. I will Leave People Better Than I Found Them!” Way to go, McKay! What a great idea!

Curt Schilling thanks the many people out front and behind the scenes who helped the Red Sox win the World Series this year. “There are a litany of people that deserve huge kudos for what just happened. From a personal standpoint it starts with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What I have been able to experience, watch, be a part of, just adds to the already overflowing life of incredible memories I am totally undeserving of. To be able to participate in, and witness, events that millions of people around the world will never forget is pretty much indescribable.”

Jonathan Soros recommends a national primary with early voting allowed. “The only solution that treats every voter equally would be to establish a true national primary, with every state voting on the same day … Here’s one way it could work. Set a national primary date of June 30 and create a window for early voting that opens on Jan. 1. The early votes would be counted and reported at the end of each month from January through May … If we began counting and reporting the interim results in advance of a national primary, the voters who cast early ballots would play the same role as voters in Iowa and New Hampshire do now: they could signal viability or create momentum for their favored candidates. These early voters would be self-selecting, trading the opportunity to watch the campaign unfold for the ability to demonstrate early conviction.”

(or, “How to live on only $737,000 a month”)

So, do you think you could you live on $737,000 a month? That is Britney Spears’ monthly allowance, and this is how she does it according to court papers released Thursday in her custody dispute with Kevin Federline.

Britney’s Monthly Budget:

• $102,000 on entertainment
•   $49,267 on mortgages
•   $20,000 in spousal support
•   $16,000 on clothes
•   $15,000 in child support
•     $4,758 on dining out
•         $500 to charity
•             $0 on savings
•             $0 on investments
•             $0 on education

Hmmm, that still leaves $529,475 unaccounted for. Perhaps that’s just miscellaneous spending money?

(HT: Don Surber)

I meet monthly with a group of local clergy for lunch, fellowship and planning. Over the past year we have been in conversation with the Superintendent of Schools about the possible addition of an elective class on the Bible to be taught at the high school level in our town. The superintendent has been very open to talking with us about this proposal and recently set up a meeting with the School Committee where we could present the course for consideration. A reporter from the local paper was invited, and you can read the summary of the meeting here.

The curriculum we are recommending is called The Bible and Its Influence, produced by the Bible Literacy Project. The course examines the Bible’s influence on literature and culture and is appropriate for use in public schools. I looked through the curriculum and was very impressed. It has received sterling endorsements from a wide variety of scholars and teachers. You can also preview the “inside of the book” at Amazon if you want to take a closer look for yourself.

Previous post in series:

• Bible Curriculum for Public Schools (1)

Books relating to Bible literacy:

• The Bible and Its Influence (Student Text)
• Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know–And Doesn’t (by Stephen Prothero)
• How to Read the Bible as Literature (by Dr. Leland Ryken)

Most people would agree that the Bible is one of the most important documents in history. However, because it is also a religious book, public schools are sometimes hesitant to teach about the Bible due to issues of separation of church and state. In 1963, however, the Supreme Court made a ruling not against the study of the Bible in public schools, but rather against the devotional, religious use of the Bible in public schools. Supreme Court Justice Clark stated:

“It might be well said that one’s education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization. It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literacy and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.” [School District of Abington Township v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203, 225 (1963)]

There are two main Bible curricula currently available for those public schools that would like to make an elective class on the Bible available to their students. These two curriculum choices are summarized below.

1. The Bible in History and Literature
   Produced by: The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools

   The curriculum for the program shows a concern to convey the content of the Bible as compared to literature and history. The program is concerned with education rather than indoctrination of students. The central approach of the class is simply to study the Bible as a foundation document of society, and that approach is altogether appropriate in a comprehensive program of secular education.

2. The Bible and Its Influence
   Produced by: The Bible Literacy Project

   A primary goal of the course is basic Biblical literacy—a grasp of the language, major narratives, and characters of the Bible. The course also explores the influence of the Bible in classic and contemporary poems, plays, and novels. Of course, the Bible is not merely literature—for a number of religious traditions it is sacred text. Our curriculum and online teacher training prepare teachers to address the relevant, major religious readings of the text in an academic and objective manner.

Further information concerning both of these curricula and their individual approaches is available at their respective websites as indicated above. Further information concerning the use of the Bible in public schools with respect to the First Amendment is available through the First Amendment Center at the following links:

• Religious Liberty: Bible in School
• The Bible and Public Schools: A First Amendment Guide

Next post in series:

• Bible Curriculum for Public Schools (2)

Here is a fascinating video called The Inner Life of a Cell. (This is the shorter version with accompanying music. There is also a longer version available with narration.) I first saw this video about a year ago and was glad to find it on the Internet again.

(Video length: 3:10)

The animation was produced by BioVisions at Harvard University. BioVisions is based on a collaborative community of Harvard scientists, teaching faculty, students, and multimedia professionals. It is directed by Dr. Robert A. Lue, who founded BioVisions with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Harvard University.

The potential of multimedia in the area of biology education has yet to be fulfilled. Indeed, multimedia as a means of imparting biological information is years behind its use in other areas such as entertainment. BioVisions is meant to close this gap by combining the highest quality multimedia development with rigorous scientific models of how biological processes occur.

You can find more information about the project at Studio Daily.

HT: The Presurfer (which has the longer version with narration)

John Piper writes:

I have recorded a section of Jonathan Edwards’ sermon on Romans 2:10. It lasts about seven minutes. The reason I recorded it is that I regard this section as the best thing I have ever read on the issue of varying degrees of reward and happiness and holiness in heaven. It is vintage Edwards. He has thought this through in an amazing way. It opens our eyes to the possibilities of heaven that we have never thought of before.

I listened to this selection from Edwards’ message yesterday and enjoyed it so much that I chased down the written version of the sermon on the internet for my own reference. You can listen to John Piper’s recording here, or you can read the actual passage below. (Or you can read along while listening if you prefer!)

I love reading Jonathan Edwards, and I like how Edwards explains the varying degrees of glory and reward in heaven, that there will be no envy in heaven to disrupt one person’s happiness over another person’s reward. Rather, because we will be perfected in love, we will be glad for the other person that he or she has received a greater reward.

However, I must admit I am struggling with Edwards’ statement that there will not only be varying degrees of glory and reward in heaven, but also varying degrees of happiness and holiness. Will one person really be happier in heaven than another? Will one person be holier than another? If Christ died not only to forgive our sins but also to make us holy, will he not make us all perfectly holy upon entering into heaven? (Philippians 1:6) Aren’t happiness and holiness different issues from glory and reward?

Anyways, those were some of my thoughts as I meditated on this portion of Edwards’ sermon. What do you think? (Click “continue reading” below to read the selection from Edwards’ message. Or, click here to read the full message at a different website.)

Continue Reading »

Identical strangers. “Imagine a slightly different version of you walks across the room, looks you in the eye and says ‘hello’ in your voice.” Identical twins Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein discovered each other after being separated for 35 years. They had been deliberately separated at birth as part of an ongoing study on nurture versus nature. The sisters now live in Brooklyn and have written a book about their experience.

Cheap gas. Here’s the best price on gas you will find — 7 cents a gallon! That’s right. You can fill your 20-gallon tank for less than $1.50. Here’s the hitch – you will have to drive to Venezuela to get it.

Age of the clam. A clam found off the shore of Iceland is believed to be the longest-lived animal discovered. Scientists estimate the ocean quahog clam was aged between 405-410 years. “The clam, nicknamed Ming after the Chinese dynasty in power when it was born, was in its infancy when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne and Shakespeare was writing plays such as Othello and Hamlet.”

Well, the Red Sox did it again! They came back from a deficit in the ALCS to win the pennant and then went on to sweep the World Series.

A minute that used to recur like a comet, once 86 years or so and missed by generations of Sox fans, is now beginning to feel like a birthright. For the second time in four seasons, the Red Sox are World Series champions, Francona and the rest of the Sox dugout borne onto Coors Field last night by the same wave of euphoria that struck in 2004 …

The Sox join the Yankees as the only American League teams to sweep in successive Series appearances, and the third team overall, Cincinnati doing it in 1976 and 1990. The Sox became the 20th team in 103 years of World Series play to win by sweep.

But, as excited as I am about the Red Sox winning the series, I am really happy for Red Sox third-baseman Mike Lowell. Lowell was named the Series MVP after batting .400 (6 for 15) with six runs and four RBIs.

I have been following Mike Lowell since his Florida Marlins days (when the 2003 Marlins also won the World Series and Josh Beckett received the MVP). Lowell is a hard-working, down-to-earth, rock-steady player who often doesn’t get enough credit for his game, and it was nice to see him get recognized with the MVP last night. His future with Boston is up in the air right now, but I hope the Red Sox do what they need to in order to keep him on the team. He is a great player, and I would hate to see him go.

Go Sox! And congratulations, Mike Lowell!

Related post: Go Soox!

Yesterday’s message in The Ten Commandments for Today series was on the fifth commandment. The message was called Honor Your Father and Mother, taken from Exodus 20:12.

Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (NIV)

Here is the outline of the message:

I. Obligations of the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12)

      A. Children should honor their parents.
            1) Respect their position (Leviticus 19:3)
            2) Love and value their person (Proverbs 23:26, 31:28)
            3) Submit to their authority (Luke 2:51-52; Ephesians 6:1)
            4) Accept their discipline and instruction (Proverbs 1:8-9)

      B. Parents should help their children obey this command.
            1) Instruct them in God’s ways (Deuteronomy 6:7)
            2) Discipline them (Proverbs 22:6,15, 29:15,17)
            3) Provide for their needs (2 Corinthians 12:14)
            4) Do not exasperate them (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)

      C. Reasons why you should honor your parents:
            1) It is right (Ephesians 6:1; Proverbs 23:22)
            2) It pleases God (Colossians 3:20)
            3) It teaches you respect for authority (Romans 13:1-2)
            4) It places you under God’s protection (Proverbs 6:20-23)
            5) It brings peace and joy to your parents (Proverbs 27:11)
            6) It helps you grow in wisdom (Proverbs 4:1-4)

II. Violations of the fifth commandment (Deuteronomy 27:16)

      A. Ways of dishonoring your parents
            1) disobeying them (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
            2) cursing them (Exodus 21:17)
            3) striking them (Exodus 21:15)
            4) stealing from them (Proverbs 19:26, 28:24)
            5) neglecting themin their old age (Matthew 15:3-6)

      B. Consequences for the home
            1) For the parents – joy or grief (Proverbs 10:1, 15:20)
            2) For the children – life or death (Proverbs 4:4, 30:17)
            3) For the household – harmony or strife (Proverbs 17:1)

III. Promises attached to the fifth commandment

      A. Live long (Exodus 20:12)
      B. Live well (Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2-3)

Note: To read the complete message, go to the Sermons tab at the top of the blog.

According to an AP report, William Shatner will not appear as Kirk in the new Star Trek movie, even though Leonard Nimoy will reprise his role as Spock. Granted, Kirk’s death at the end of the 1994 film “Star Trek: Generations” complicates matters, but with science fiction there’s always a way.

The new film is directed by J.J. Abrams, who is the executive producer for the TV series “Lost” and also directed “Mission: Impossible III.”

Abrams’ “Trek” film, whose plot is being kept under wraps by distributor Paramount, recounts an early adventure for the crew of the starship Enterprise, with Chris Pines as the young Kirk and Zachary Quinto as the young Spock.

The cast includes Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, Simon Pegg as engineer Scott, John Cho as helmsman Sulu, Zoe Saldana as communications officer Uhura and Anton Yelchin as navigator Chekov, roles respectively originated by DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig.

The film is due in theaters in December 2008.

HT: Alan R. Bevere

eBay is selling an unopened can of Bernard Dehydrated Water. “Empty contents of can into one gallon water. Stir until dissolved. Chill and serve.” You better hurry. The auction ends Monday, Oct-29-07.

Andrew Jackson unveils the Table of Contents to his upcoming book, “Mormonism Explained: What Latter-Day Saints Teach and Practice.” The book will be released by Crossway Books in early 2008.

Joanne Jacobs reports on the growing tend of educators requiring students to declare majors in high school. “To persuade teens that school matters, some states and districts are requiring them to choose a high school ‘major’ that will lead toward a college major or a career.”

Thomas Sowell explains why students may get a better education at a smaller college than at a big-name (and expensive) Ivy League school. “What you really want is not the ‘best’ college but the college that fits you best. For that, you need in-depth information, not statistical rankings.” (HT: Between Two Worlds)

Dan Edelen shares 100 things he has learned in his 30 years as a Christian. “1. Love God. Love people. It’s that simple. 2. Anytime we interact with another person, we should ask the Lord, ‘In what ways can I help this person grow closer to You?’ 3. Christians who take time to observe the world around them see God and gain wisdom.” Visit Dan’s site for the other 97.

Richard Barcellos shares his lecture notes on the Puritans. “Though the Puritans would be the first to say that they were not perfect . . . we learn that they were very theologically orthodox Christians, very passionate about the church, and, in many ways, provide us with an example of the serious-minded Christianity (so desperately needed today!) which seeks to live all of life for the glory of God and according to the Book – the Bible.”

David Brooks opines on the outsourced brain. “I had thought that the magic of the information age was that it allowed us to know more, but then I realized the magic of the information age is that it allows us to know less . . . A third of the people under 30 can’t remember their own phone number. Their smartphones are smart, so they don’t need to be. Today’s young people are forgoing memory before they even have a chance to lose it.”

Ken Fields shares five reasons why every Christian should be a student of church history (from RTS President Frank James). “Through studying Church History, we are granted the opportunity to sit at the feet of some of the greatest men and women God has given to the Church. There is great wisdom in the past, and we can benefit from yesterday’s wisdom. Don’t let a little thing like a thousand years get in the way!” Ken also lists some helpful online resources for those who would like to learn more.

Ben Shpigel discusses the role of Christian faith for many on the Colorado Rockies baseball team. “When you have as many people who believe in God as we do, it creates a humbleness about what we do,” [pitcher Jeremy] Affeldt said. “I don’t see arrogance here, I see confidence. We’re all very humbled about where this franchise has been and where it is now, and we know that what’s happening now is a very special thing.” I enjoyed reading about the Rockies’ faith, but I am still rooting for Boston. Go Sox! (I mean, “Go Soox!”)