The Anti-Psalm 23

One way of getting insight into Scripture is to think of the antithesis of that passage.

Antithesis  is a counter-proposition and denotes a direct contrast to the original proposition. In setting the opposite, an individual brings out a contrast in the meaning (e.g., the definition, interpretation, or semantics) by an obvious contrast in the expression.

-Wikipedia

What would the antithesis of a well-loved passage such as Psalm 23 look like? From Justin Taylor's blog :

Antipsalm 23

I’m on my own.

No one looks out for me or protects me.

I experience a continual sense of need. Nothing’s quite right.

I’m always restless. I’m easily frustrated and often disappointed.

It’s a jungle—I feel overwhelmed. It’s a desert—I’m thirsty.

My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. I can’t fix myself.

I stumble down some dark paths.

Still, I insist: I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want.

But life’s confusing. Why don’t things ever really work out?

I’m haunted by emptiness and futility—shadows of death.

I fear the big hurt and final loss.

Death is waiting for me at the end of every road,

but I’d rather not think about that.

I spend my life protecting myself. Bad things can happen.

I find no lasting comfort.

I’m alone . . . facing everything that could hurt me.

Are my friends really friends?

Other people use me for their own ends.

I can’t really trust anyone. No one has my back.

No one is really for me—except me.

And I’m so much all about ME, sometimes it’s sickening.

I belong to no one except myself.

My cup is never quite full enough. I’m left empty.

Disappointment follows me all the days of my life.

Will I just be obliterated into nothingness?

Will I be alone forever, homeless, free-falling into void?

Sartre said, “Hell is other people.”

I have to add, “Hell is also myself.”

It’s a living death, and then I die.

Ponderings

Ponder: To reflect or consider with thoroughness and care.



1. Jesus is my Savior. Is he my Lord?

2. I love Jesus. Under my own terms or under the gospel?

3. I'm all convinced that God is Sovereign. Am I just as convinced that he is good?

4. Sundays: entertainment-oriented or Bible-oriented worship?

5. Paradoxes in Christian living: suffering and comfort, humility and glory.

6. Government leaders : rant or pray?

7. AND LASTLY....

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

-2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

Indiana Jones got his theology right. It's the carpenter's cup that is able to bear God's glory. Not the golden chalice of kings. Why? Because God doesn't want you to keep staring at the cup.

Video is in Spanish...can't find the English version but you'll get the story.

A Sign You Are Growing in Grace....

    Compiled by Timmy Brister, these are a series of tweets by Scotty Smith on "signs that you are growing in grace". I've selected a few that made me laugh and repent. For more go to Timmy Brister's blog.

How little we know and how much we still have to learn about living in the grace of God!

A sign you are growing in grace is that you are more disgusted with your critical spirit than offended by others’ sins.

A sign you’re growing in grace: As intriguing as iPhones, iPads and all things “i” are, only Jesus is compelling to you.

A sign you’re growing in grace is a commitment to pray for people you’d really rather gossip about.

A sign your’e growing in grace: If you don’t know, you don’t pretend you do.

A sign you’re growing in grace. The gospel still astonishes and humbles you. It’s not just cliche or the name of your tribe.

A sign you’re growing in grace is praying for our government rather than simply being cynical about our government.

A sign you’re growing in grace: The time span between your foolishness and your repenting has gone from days to hours.

Read more »

Diet and Exercise for the Glory of God

    I finally did something that I'd delayed doing for very a long time. I started meeting with a health coach! A healthy lifestyle has been an off and on again commitment for me. I realized that in order to succeed this time, I needed somebody to hold me accountable. He would work with me in setting attainable goals, meet with me regularly to see how I'm doing with meeting those goals, give me the tough message if I do not make the necessary effort to achieve what I committed myself to do, affirm me when I do accomplish them, and help me to raise the bar higher over time.

    So what got me to this point? Several reasons : mid-life, waistline, not liking what I saw in the mirror but ultimately, that Christ would be exalted in my body whether in life or in death (Philippians 1:20). God gave us this physical body that is useful for doing His will here on earth. So maintain it well. I also asked myself, "Would Christ be exalted in my dying if the reason for my death were heart and cardiovascular diseases that could have been prevented if I had paid attention to my health?"

    I will therefore go on a diet and exercise for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), as a means by which I will have the necessary energy and strength to obey him for His pleasure. On the other hand, health and exercise becomes unprofitable if it replaces Jesus Christ as my highest treasure and the foremost affection in my heart. According to Paul, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8)."

     My health coach became excited for me when I explained my reasons for meeting with him. "That is a very strong motivation!" he said. And I pray that he will be receptive to the gospel as a result.

    The first goal is to lose weight. For the next two weeks, I will keep a food journal, walk 15-30 minutes a day, and go to the gym once a week. So far, I've been faithful. Enjoyed walking with my son last weekend and we discovered a pond about a mile and a half away from home. Tonight, I enjoyed walking with my wife around the neighborhood and got to see impressive Christmas lights put up in some homes.

    Live for Christ!

GUESS THE CHRISTMAS CAROL - A GAME!

My son's teacher gave this as an extra credit homework a couple of weeks ago. It turned out to be (at least for me!) one of those rare fun assignments. Can you guess the Christmas carol?

1. Move hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in their belief.

2. Listen, the celestial messengers produce harmonious sounds.

3. Nocturnal time-span of unbroken quietness.

4. Emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good given to the terrestrial sphere.

5. Embellish the interior passageways.

6. Exalted heavenly beings to whom hearkened.

7. Twelve o'clock on a clement night witnessed its arrival.

8. The Christmas preceding all others.

9. Small municipality in Judea southeast of Jerusalem.

10. Diminutive masculine master of skin-covered percussionistic cylinders.

11. Omnipotent supreme being who elicits respite to ecstatic distinguished males.

12. Obese personification fabricated of compressed mounds of minute crystals.

13. Expectation of arrival to populated area by mythical masculine perennial gift-giver.

14. Natal celebration devoid of color.

15. In awe of the nocturnal time span characterized by religiosity.

16. Geographic state of fantasy during the season of mother nature's dormancy.

17. The first person nominative plural of a triumvirate of far eastern heads of state.

18. Tintinnabulation of vacillating pendulums in inverted metallic, resonant cups.

19. In a distant location the existence of an improvised unit of newborn children's slumber furniture.

20. Proceed forth declaring upon a specific geological alpine formation.

21. Jovial Yuletide desired for the second person singular or plural by us.

I'LL POST THE ANSWERS NEXT WEEK. BUT IF YOU CAN'T WAIT, CLICK HERE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!