So, it shall begin.
After about five years of joking around, finally, I shall begin publishing the book (blog) that sarcastic friends have requested. To ease into the idea of a regularly-updated blog, I will begin by publishing topical rants that cover my notes for the study of the book of Revelation (aka "The Revelation of John"). The joke of my Jamaalian persona began when I facilitated this study the first time, so it's relevant that the "Book" begin its text here. Nobody wants to hear, “…and so in the third grade….”
Yes, yes, I know, I know. I typically see blogs as the rantings of people who, in the worldly sense, don't matter to the grand plans of important people and entities; and further, why should I care about their misinformed opinions? And yet, here I am. Oblivious and sarcastic as ever.
How did ‘Jamaal’ start? My best friend, now an award-winning reporter for a major affiliate in Nebraska, and I facilitated a Bible study at the world-famous University Lutheran Chapel at the grand ol' U. I have somewhat of a goofy intellectual view of things, that self-admittedly may be spuriously inaccurate; which, of course, never slows me down. So, a joking "prophetic" (tongue-in-cheek) name was given to me and my ramblings and Jamaalism was born.
The "Book" (BoJ) was a good example of an oft-used joke that became somewhat useful in the various discussions during the Revelation study. College can be an unnerving, intellectually-growing kairos for young adults, as students are forced to reconcile in their minds extremely opposing viewpoints pertaining to dogma, doctrine, and theology in the various flavors of the Christian faith. I was hoping to use the book of Revelation as a lens to show how, although as important they may seem, many of these are 'yes', 'yes' issues that merely depend upon which side of the lens you are viewing from. I used the idea of 'The Book of Life' discussed in Revelation, combined with parallels to the text of the Bible, to turn the BoJ into a positive concept. While not trying to be blasphemous, the comparison shows that many of the stories of the Bible are stories where God took very imperfect people and used them for His glorious purposes, even if they were warnings of 'what not to do.' Ahem. Sometimes I think we glorify some of these people, David is a good example, when really that's not the point at all. This blog is not for Jamaalian glory, although it may seem so when ‘it’ starts to pile up deep.
And so, we will move next to the introduction of Revelation, with sprinkled wild, off-tangent spicing. The literature review, which I used to help discussion along, contained large helpings of William Barclay's and Louis Brighton's commentaries that help us get some context and ideas to begin. The slant imposes a largely historical view, and a shockingly simple conclusion. But, as a lens, we went over hill and dale and back, covering topical theology and current events.
As a teaser, the Rev. Mark Heilman sent me a summary of 'Revelation' that's quite errr... um... relevant for today's world and understanding:
Yes, yes, I know, I know. I typically see blogs as the rantings of people who, in the worldly sense, don't matter to the grand plans of important people and entities; and further, why should I care about their misinformed opinions? And yet, here I am. Oblivious and sarcastic as ever.
How did ‘Jamaal’ start? My best friend, now an award-winning reporter for a major affiliate in Nebraska, and I facilitated a Bible study at the world-famous University Lutheran Chapel at the grand ol' U. I have somewhat of a goofy intellectual view of things, that self-admittedly may be spuriously inaccurate; which, of course, never slows me down. So, a joking "prophetic" (tongue-in-cheek) name was given to me and my ramblings and Jamaalism was born.
The "Book" (BoJ) was a good example of an oft-used joke that became somewhat useful in the various discussions during the Revelation study. College can be an unnerving, intellectually-growing kairos for young adults, as students are forced to reconcile in their minds extremely opposing viewpoints pertaining to dogma, doctrine, and theology in the various flavors of the Christian faith. I was hoping to use the book of Revelation as a lens to show how, although as important they may seem, many of these are 'yes', 'yes' issues that merely depend upon which side of the lens you are viewing from. I used the idea of 'The Book of Life' discussed in Revelation, combined with parallels to the text of the Bible, to turn the BoJ into a positive concept. While not trying to be blasphemous, the comparison shows that many of the stories of the Bible are stories where God took very imperfect people and used them for His glorious purposes, even if they were warnings of 'what not to do.' Ahem. Sometimes I think we glorify some of these people, David is a good example, when really that's not the point at all. This blog is not for Jamaalian glory, although it may seem so when ‘it’ starts to pile up deep.
And so, we will move next to the introduction of Revelation, with sprinkled wild, off-tangent spicing. The literature review, which I used to help discussion along, contained large helpings of William Barclay's and Louis Brighton's commentaries that help us get some context and ideas to begin. The slant imposes a largely historical view, and a shockingly simple conclusion. But, as a lens, we went over hill and dale and back, covering topical theology and current events.
As a teaser, the Rev. Mark Heilman sent me a summary of 'Revelation' that's quite errr... um... relevant for today's world and understanding:
- There will be conflict until the end of time,
- However, God is in control and will bring it to an end in the final judgment,
- Until that time the Church is in mission, confident that God is in control.
Lastly, let me pre-empt the criticism of the idea of using Revelation as a 'lens' to view Faith, and the above summary that seems painfully simple. Remember we’re talking about Eternity. God views everything through the lens of Eternity.
God Speed and Stock to your Pantry.
-J
God Speed and Stock to your Pantry.
-J
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