Bodwin

The most exciting days in the next couple of weeks for me look like this: Tues. 5/2: Bruce Arena announces the USA Men's Soccer Team Final Roster for the World Cup coming in June Wed. 5/3: My last Final Exam (the 3rd of that particular day....uggggh) Sat. 5/6: I travel home for the summer. Thurs. 5/10: Hopefully, I will be in Cary, NC watching (physically) the US MNT train in preparation for the World Cup. This would be the team which was mentioned as being selected above. Ok, sorry, I'm sure you're not interested in what I'm doing. You'll get over it!

Having grown up in a Fundamentalist (not fightin' fundy), Baptist (not big "B) church for most of my life, I have always believed that mega churches use unscriptural methods in order to grow. I have heard all the arguments used, normally consisting of casual dress (normally meaning women wear pants and the men don't wear ties...) and "contemporary" music. While broadbrushing the category is unwise, I would have to say that many complaints against the methodology of most mega churches is legit. What troubles me, however, is not the big churches. What troubles me is that the "good" churches (generally smaller by comparison) condemn the mega church, but yet they buy into the same pragmatic thinking used by the liberals. I think it boils down to the simple truth that people, in general, are concerned and impressed by numbers. Society persuades us to believe that "small" is inferior to "BIG." Being small, by comparison, means that you are...

This phenomena goes almost unnoticed by most Americans and Europeans. But it didn't get passed me. You see, I'm an oddity when it comes to sports. Every Saturday morning, I check EPL (English Premier League) scores before checking the Friday Night NBA scores (if I check them at all). The UEFA Champions League holds more for me than Major League Baseball ever could. Most Americans and Eurpeans are perfectly content to watch and track the sports occuring in their own country. Before soccer, this would have described me. However, when soccer entered my life, a drastic change occured. I began to grow discontent with the dearth of soccer (International soccer at that) that was being shown on the average cable channels in the US. On Easter Sunday, Malcolm Glazer had a stroke. The headlines read as the following: (ESPN) Bucs owner Glazer suffers stroke, in hospital. (Soccernet) Man(chester) Utd. owner Glazer has stroke on Sunday. You see, Malcolm Glazer, owner of the Tampa Bay...

As an American white male (not being racist, just being real), I want things; I want them now; I want them a certain way...MY WAY!!! Most times, however, God does not see fit to operate according to MY WAY. In fact, He hates when I live MY WAY. It is impossible, that we would by default, approach all situations with no expectations and/or demands. I don't believe that is inherently wrong. From all I understand, it becomes wrong at the point when our demands become the more important that God and others. Many characters in the Bible either had to wait, or perhaps even, were ultimately denied in their requests to the Father. The ones who come to mind first are: Job: He knew God was sovereign. But he probably never understood why God did what He did. Honestly, God was not obligated to tell him. David: He desired the temple, but God would not allow him to. (I think this would have been hard for me to cope with.) Paul: The "thorn in the flesh" was never removed, whate...

I am currently in my 2nd semester of NT Greek. We have just passed the midpoint in 1 John. Translation from actual Biblical text has been a refresher. My teacher, whom I have appreciated greatly, offered 2 exegetical axioms to us today. Here they are: (1) If the author had no other choice (of a word/phrase) to use, it [his choice] is probably not significant. The point being made is, alot of times huge emphasis is made on the word choice of a Biblical author. It behoves us to ask the question, "Is this really significant?" or "Would the original writer/readers have seen it as important as we are making it?" Sometimes a writer, such as John, will use a different verb tense or a different way of addressing his readers. Sure, the words have meaning, but maybe not all the implicit significance that may be imagined. (2) Rely on your mother tongue when answering exegetical questions. This axiom is not as hard and fast as the first, but it must be a general prin...

I first came across these lyrics when I listened to a cd a friend let me borrow. The music was a rewrite of a song published in 1740, the words having been written by Charles Wesley. Many times I've played this on my guitar and simply marvelled in amazement at God's amazing mercy. Meditate on these stanzas (all 13 of them): Depth of mercy! Can there be Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God His wrath forbear, Me, the chief of sinners, spare? I have long withstood His grace, Long provoked Him to His face, Would not hearken to His calls, Grieved Him by a thousand falls. I have spilt His precious blood, Trampled on the Son of God, Filled with pangs unspeakable, I, who yet am not in hell! I my Master have denied, I afresh have crucified, And profaned His hallowed Name, Put Him to an open shame. Whence to me this waste of love? Ask my Advocate above! See the cause in Jesus’ face, Now before the throne of grace. Jesus, answer from above, Is not all Thy natur...