February 2012
15 posts
Every scripture? #CEBtour
Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good. -2 Tim. 3:16-17, CEB This passage is so often used to “prove” the inspiration (as well as the inerrancy) of the Bible. As such, it actually fails miserably, as far as I...
Love your enemies #CEBtour
“You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.” -Matt. 5:43-45, CEB I guess I don’t really...
Lifestyles of the rich and famous #CEBtour
Looking around, Jesus said to his disciples, “It will be very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom!” His words startled the disciples, so Jesus told them again, “Children, it’s difficult to enter God’s kingdom! It’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.” They were...
John Deacon is NOT a recluse
Some of my regular readers (I think there are some of you out there) may not have any idea who John Deacon is. He was the bass player for legendary rock band Queen. Shortly after lead singer Freddie Mercury died in 1991, Deacon retired from rock music, and has not been involved in any of the numerous projects carried on by guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. (Just so you know, Queen...
To a Cloud
“Where goeth thou, fair maid?” quoth he, “Cloud, in your white drapery; Why do you drift across the sky And hide your face from human eye? I lie here on the soft green grass, With half-closed eyes, and watch you pass; But when I doze beneath the sky, I wake to find you’ve drifted by. I tramp the hillsides everywhere In weary search, but you’re not there. “Where...
Jesus Hugs the Little Children #CEBtour
People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would bless them. But the disciples scolded them. When Jesus saw this, he grew angry and said to them, “Allow the children to come to me. Don’t forbid them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children. I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it.” Then...
Jonah and the Missing Sackcloth #CEBtour
“And the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on mourning clothes, from the greatest of them to the least significant.”-Jonah 3:5, CEB During Lent, a time of penitence, I am always reminded about the story of Jonah, and his preaching to the people of Nineveh. Some who are very familiar with the story as it appears in many translations, may notice the...
Jesus' pastoral prayer
9 “I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. 11 I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are...
A clean heart
Create a clean heart for me, God; put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me! (Psalm 51:10, CEB) We read this psalm last night at our Ash Wednesday service, as most churches do. It’s always been one of my favorites. I know the 23rd Psalm always tops the list of most people’s faves, but I’ve always preferred number 51. I think there are several reasons. First, when I was...
CEB Lenten Blog Tour
Once again, Ash Wednesday is here, and the folks at the Common English Bible (CEB) are hosting a Lenten Blog Tour, entitled “Change Your Heart and Life.” You can read details about the tour here. The title of the tour brings up an interesting facet of the CEB as a translation. We all hear the word “repentance” quite often during the season of Lent. As far as I know, you...
Book Review: Then Sings My Soul, Book 3
Several years ago, when I took my current position as Director of Music at a small Methodist church in West Nashville, my Sunday School class at my previous church gave me a beautiful gift: the binder edition of the combined Books 1 and 2 of Then Sings My Soul by Robert Morgan. I have often used the book as a resource in my ministry of church music. So of course, when I saw Book 3 of Then Sings...
My updated Bible list
The following PDF is a list of all the Bibles in my collection. There’s a very good possibility I may have skipped a few, as I haven’t been all that meticulous at adding new Bibles to the list lately. But it should be a pretty close representation of all the Bibles I have, in their various formats. Now I’ve just got to figure out where to put them all… ...
Lenten slide show
If you’re interested, the slide show below is available for free download at the Common English Bible website. <div style=”width:425px” id=”__ss_11469041”> <strong style=”display:block;margin:12px 0 4px”>The Common English Bible - Easter Sunday</strong> <div style=”padding:5px 0 12px”> View more PowerPoint...
CEB Lenten Reading slideshow
CEB_Lenten_Readings_Complete.pdf Download this file Available for free download at the CEB website. Posted via email from CORYBANTER II: babble and banter, bypassing banality | Comment »
Anti-intellectualism in the church
Jesus said to him, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Mat. 22:37, NET) It has been a neverending source of dismay to me over the past several years, as I have discussions with other Christians, how opposed some believers are towards any sort of intellectual inquiry in matters of faith. There seems to be a widespread...
January 2012
4 posts
My review of the updated Voice New Testament
See my review of The Voice New Testament (2011) here. [Originally posted on my Bible Bookshelf blog.] Posted via email from CORYBANTER II: babble and banter, bypassing banality | Comment »
Yet another new English translation?
In case anyone’s interested, there is yet another new English translation that has shown up on the already crowded Bible scene. It’s called the International English Bible, and as far as I can tell, it is the work of one man. I believe his name is Andrew Jackson (at least, that’s how he’s credited on the Kindle Version of the IEB’s New Testament), and the website...
CBA Besteselling Bibles List- January 2012
Bible_Translations.pdf Download this file I really thought, by this time, that the CEB would be making a little better showing. Of course, the stores represented by the CBA presumably tend to have a pretty conservative clientele. So it’s possible that this list doesn’t really reflect the actual performance of the CEB. The NIV is certainly holding its position at the stores...
The Voice New Testament (2011 edition)
[I received a free ebook of The Voice for my Kindle through Thomas Nelson’s blogger program at booksneeze.com.] I have blogged about the original edition of The Voice a few times on my main blog at caspianrex.posterous.com. So I was naturally curious to see what changes have been made in this new 2011 edition. Before I give some of my thoughts, I would like to point out that one point...
December 2011
4 posts
Shepherds, angels, and other odd creatures
Announcement to shepherds 8Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. 9The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people.11Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ...
Happy news
Some readers of my blog may remember the battle I had with the Metro Codes Department a little while back, over the nasty duplex down the street from us. (I appeared on the news and everything…) Well, we received the wonderful Christmas gift this year of having the thing torn down. Here’s what it looked like a few days ago… And here’s what it looks like NOW… ...
The King is troubled
Matthew 2:1-3 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. Common English Bible...
The Day of the Lord
Amos 5:18-27 A statement of divine disgust Doom to those who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or sought refuge in a house, rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Isn’t the day of the LORD darkness, not light; all dark with no brightness in it? I hate,...
November 2011
7 posts
Handel's Messiah and the Bible: Part II
I won’t be writing my thoughts on every single chorus of Handel’s Messiah, but I would like to cover a few of the other really good ones in this post. Why don’t I begin with the ever popular “Hallelujah Chorus”? Technically, this one belongs to the Easter portion of the Messiah. In fact, when I performed the Messiah at a church I used to sing at, the director...
Handel's Messiah and the Bible
As a member of the Nashville Symphony Chorus, Advent season is always the time of year in which we prepare for our annual performance of George Frederic Handel’s famous piece, Messiah. If you’ve never heard at least the “Christmas portions” of Messiah, do yourself a favor and attend a performance (or a sing-along) this season. It’s an amazing way to experience the...
1st Sunday in Advent: Come, Lord Jesus
64:1If only you would tear open the heavens and come down! Mountains would quake before you 2like fire igniting brushwood or making water boil. If you would make your name known to your enemies, the nations would tremble in your presence. 3When you accomplished wonders beyond all our expectations; when you came down, mountains quaked before you. 4From ancient times, no one has heard, no ear...
Advent vs. Christmas: some thoughts
Before I begin blogging in earnest for the CEB blog tour (see my last post), I wanted to share a few thoughts about Advent and Christmas, and how they are interpreted in our modern consumer-driven culture. A few things you should know, though: First, I have worked in retail for the past twenty years, and currently work part-time at a large department store in Nashville. (Those who know me...
CEB Blog Tour 2011
Once again, I am participating in an Advent blog tour hosted by the good folks who brought us the Common English Bible (CEB). I have discussed the CEB several times on this blog, and continue to interact with this new translation. The “Thank You – Come Again – I Promise” blog tour is a chance to explore a host of bloggers who have been invited to meditate on the Advent season, using the CEB as...
Adapting to being a father to TWO girls
If anyone is still reading this blog, I would like to report that, even though it took a little longer with Lucy than with Su, I am completely in love with my second daughter, too. She’s a great little addition to our family. I’m still not used to talking about my “children” (plural). I don’t think taking care of two girls is proving to be any more or less...
It's Daddy's Little GIRLS now!
Well, it happened…and it happened early! This afternoon, right around the time I was looking at some pictures of my first daughter’s birth, my wife calls me: “Honey, I’m having contractions!” WHAT?!? The C-section wasn’t planned until the 14th of November! Are the contractions regular? ”Yes, they’re about 4 minutes apart.” Okay, this...
October 2011
2 posts
Book Review: J.R.R. Tolkien (biography by Mark...
[I received a free electronic copy of this book from the blogger program at booksneeze.com.] I was interested in reading this biography of Tolkien for a few reasons, chief among them being that I have already read and reviewed a couple other bios from Thomas Nelson’s “Christian Encounters” series, and have found them to be worthwhile, and that I used to be quite a big Tolkien...
Back after a hiatus
It’s been quite some time since I last posted on this blog. I’m not absolutely sure anyone’s reading any more, but if you are, I thank you! I can’t give much reason for my hiatus, except that things have been quite busy, what with preparing for the birth of our second child (which happens in just over one month) and the chores of daily life. It turns out, being a...
August 2011
3 posts
Book Review: Don't Check Your Brains at the Door...
[I received a free Kindle version of Josh McDowell’s Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door from Thomas Nelson’s blogger program at booksneeze.com.]I’ve read parts of some of Josh McDowell’s other apologetic works at different times, and although he’s no C.S. Lewis, he certainly carries on in Lewis’s tradition. He presents the essentials of the Christian...
Book Review: Me, Myself, & Bob by Phil Vischer
I have to admit, when Big Idea went bankrupt in 2003, I thought, “Those guys must have gotten too greedy. VeggieTales was a good idea, but the money must have gone to their heads.” Fast forward to just a couple years ago: I heard Phil Vischer had started a new company called Jellyfish Labs. This time I thought, “Oh no! Didn’t he learn anything from the Big Idea...
Getting closer to Baby #2
As of today, we have about three-and-a-half months until the arrival of our new baby. People keep asking me, are you excited? Try as I might, I cannot honestly say that I am “excited” at this point. My feelings are difficult to describe: I’m nervous, I’m a bit scared, I’m feeling doubt in my own abilities to be a parent to two children. I mean, I know people have...
July 2011
2 posts
BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in...
Help and Contact FAQs/Tutorials Contact us/Feedback Why We Advertise Use Bible Gateway On Your Site Advertise with Us Go to top of page Links Mobile Bible Gateway Gospel.com Reverend Fun Zondervan.com About and Legal Statement of Faith About Bible Gateway Site map Privacy policy Site: Terms of use Widget: Terms of use Sponsors Christian Persecution Church Fundraising Book...
Book Review- Joyful Noise: The New Testament
This review is NOT one that I am doing for Booksneeze.com. On the contrary, I doubt Thomas Nelson ever publishes a collection of essays as liberal as Joyful Noise. But it was refreshing, considering the overwhelming number of Christian books from a conservative viewpoint, to read a collection of essays about the New Testament that were generally from a more liberal point of view. I had gotten...
June 2011
4 posts
Why does everything have to be so DRAMATIC?
Over on Facebook, I participate in a group that I created several years ago, called Bible Versions Debate and Discussion. I stopped being an Admin of the group, because I hated trying to moderate discussions about the Bible. It seems to me that is virtually impossible for some people to disagree with a Bible translation without resorting to overly dramatic or inflammatory language. Case in...
My Bible collection continues to GROW
Bible_Bookshelf.pdf Download this file I’m pretty sure this is all of ‘em…all 204 of ‘em. A pretty diverse collection, really. Posted via email from Bible Bookshelf | Comment »
Common English Bible (CEB) is finished.
I’m a little late writing about this, as the completed CEB became available over a week ago. Right now, only the electronic version is available, which I think may become the normal way of releasing Bible versions in the future. The 2011 NIV became available months before its release (it was actually available in late 2010, despite its 2011 copyright date). I will attempt to do a more...
Bible Review: iShine Bible (Tyndale House...
[I received copies of the iShine Bible in both the girls’ and the boys’ editions, as part of Tyndale’s Blog Network program. For more information on the program, go to the Tyndale Media Center website.] One of the latest additions to the already overcrowded “niche Bible” market is the iShine Bible from Tyndale House Publishers. These Bibles are marketed...
May 2011
7 posts
The Approaching Storm
via s3.amazonaws.com I just had to re-post this, because it’s such an awesome pic. Posted via email from CORYBANTER II: babble and banter, bypassing banality | Comment »
Condemning Millennialism as False Doctrine: The...
via cyberbrethren.com Spot on analysis of the false prophet Harold Camping and his ilk, from Paul McCain’s blog Cyberbrethren. Pastor McCain is an editor at Concordia Publishing House. This essay is well done. Posted via email from CORYBANTER II: babble and banter, bypassing banality | Comment »
Cyanide & Happiness #2136
via explosm.net Sorry, it made me chuckle… -Cory Posted via email from CORYBANTER II: babble and banter, bypassing banality | Comment »
Some of my favorite Jewish centered Bibles
I sometimes feel that our culturally Christian Western viewpoint makes many translations of the Bible lose sight of the Hebrew roots of scripture. Oh sure, some modern “mainstream” translations have tried to correct that ethnocentrism to a certain extent, but a few less popular translations have gone a little further. There are also some specifically Jewish translations of the...
Why Jews Reject Jesus
Dear user, A user, Cory Howell would like to share this article / content with you. To visit this article / content, simply click on the following URL / URI: Site: http://www.moshiach.com/faq/jesus-as-the-messiah.html P/S: This may be a restricted content which requires you to be registered on the site. Posted via email from CORYBANTER II: babble and banter, bypassing...
Chuck Sackett | Madison Park Christian Church,...
Nearly 10 years after what we’ve come to cryptically call “9-11″ we have “success”; Osama Bin Laden’s been killed. I wonder if my prayer has been answered. The first Sunday after 9-11 I made the comment, “I hope we (Christians) find him before the military does, otherwise, we will ‘blow him to hell’ (a comment made by a news reporter).” I’ve prayed (not as diligently as I should have)...
American or Christian? | Dancing on Saturday
American or Christian? May 1, 2011 by Chad I was sitting in my cramped living room in Pewaukee, WI when the Twin Towers fell. I remember it like it was yesterday. The emotions were raw and visceral. Five months before 9/11 I was honorably discharged from the Navy after 8 years of service, four of them being in the Middle East. My first...
April 2011
10 posts
Book Review: The Take Action Bible
[I received a free copy of this book from Booksneeze.com, in exchange for writing a review on my blog and a commercial site. Check ‘em out! If you like getting free books, this is an easy way to do it.]The Take Action Bible (NKJV) is another addition to the increasingly crowded market of what I would call “theme Bibles.” It’s not really comprehensive enough to be...
Changing Family Dynamic
Sometimes it seems just yesterday that Su was born. We had no idea what we were doing. When the nurses checked us out of the hospital, and we ended up at home with our newborn, we said to each other, “Okay, NOW what?” Here we are, over four years later, and she can do so much by herself. And now, to complicate things a bit, we’ve recently found out that we’re having...