Sign, sign, everywhere a sign…
In my ongoing quest to juxtapose two teachings that come from different perspectives, yet both say very important things, I offer to you a teaching by Martin Scott called “Prophet as sign” and a two-part teaching by Dave Sliker of IHOP called “Signs of the Times.”
Both speakers make excellent, if divergent points about “signs” and I believe there is value in holding these somewhat divergent perspectives in tension. It’s the “triangulation” of two valid, well-thought-out, biblically-justified, coming-from-godly-people, and yet divergent perspectives with what we feel is God’s perspective that brings “3D” depth to our otherwise “2D” theological understanding. So, while I’m not encouraging that we simply listen to something and then find someone who disagrees so that we can wallow in discord, I am saying that we can increase our depth and breadth of understanding of who God is, His heart, and His plans when we tenaciously (in prayer and meditation) hold in tension two such perspectives.
Prophet as Sign: http://3generations.eu/podcast/Prophet_as_sign.mp3 (29MB mp3) (Martin’s blog post about this teaching: http://www.3generations.eu/blog/?p=144)
Signs of the Times: Part 1 (14MB mp3), Part 2 (14MB mp3)
Technorati : Dave Sliker, IHOP, Martin Scott, end times, eschatology, prophet as sign, signs of the times Del.icio.us : Dave Sliker, IHOP, Martin Scott, end times, eschatology, prophet as sign, signs of the times
But HOW do you know?
NT Wright is one of my favorite teachers and since discovering him (thanks Martin!), I’ve gleaned so much from his insights. While he lectures frequently in the States, it’s very often in the context of very “established” denominational streams…the sort that probably would invite a renowned New Testament theologian and prolific author. Consequently, many people that I connect with in the States, mostly from “charismatic” and/or “evangelical” contexts might not have yet stumbled upon him. One of the reasons that I find him stimulating is that he manages to place his feet firmly in more than one theological camp. I love those voices that challenge my boxes well, without simply being from “another box.”
I commend to you a web site dedicated to the cataloging of his writings, messages, etc. You’ll find text but also audio and video there. http://www.ntwrightpage.com/ There is also a “log page” that details what has changed recently. http://www.ntwrightpage.com/log.htm I use the ChangeDetection.com service to stay up-to-date with his audio teachings and find that a tremendous resource.
This particular message that I recommend here is “Can a scientist believe in the Resurrection?” It was given at the The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in May 2007. What I found particularly interesting was NT Wright’s discourse on how we know something. Really worth listening and understanding!
You can find both text and video for the message at their web site: http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/CIS/Wright/index.htm
Here is the audio link (18MB – mp3): http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/resources/NTWright.mp3
Technorati : Belief, Epistomology, Faraday Institute, Knowing, NT Wright, Resurrection, Scientist Del.icio.us : Belief, Epistomology, Faraday Institute, Knowing, NT Wright, Resurrection, Scientist
Sarkozy and Cyrus
A year ago at this time, when France was between the two rounds of its most recent presidential election, Samuel Rhein said this, “Either Sarkozy or Royale needs to be a Cyrus in God’s hands at this time.” Recently, on Martin Scott’s blog, I posted a resume of the new “Mediterranean Union” proposed by Nicholas Sarkozy during his election campaign. Just now, I’m listening to a two-part teaching by Mike Bickle about “The Cyrus Anointing.”
This teaching was given in the context of IHOP’s “Joseph Company” marketplace-ministry. Mike is speaking mostly in a context of business leaders with respect to the Cyrus Anointing, though he does place it in a larger perspective as well. He probably wasn’t primarily thinking, however, about leaders of countries. Well, I was thinking about Samuel Rhein’s call to intercessors to pray for the next president to become like “Cyrus in God’s hands.” Consequently, when one sees what is proposed by the Mediterranean Union, the call for Nicholas Sarkozy to be like Cyrus and listens to this teaching, there are all sorts of interesting possibilities. Most importantly, however, I think that this is a call for intercessors to birth the purposes of God during this hour of history.
So, whether you listen to this specifically with respect to Sarkozy or just to understand the Cyrus anointing in the end times, I commend to you an excellent resource in these teachings to fuel your intercession.
The Cyrus Anointing – Part 1 (mp3 – 25MB)
The Cyrus Anointing – Part 2 (mp3 – 31MB)
Technorati : Bible, Cyrus Anointing, IHOP, Joseph Company, King Cyrus, Martin Scott, Mike Bickle, Nicholas Sarkozy, Samuel Rhein Del.icio.us : Bible, Cyrus Anointing, IHOP, Joseph Company, King Cyrus, Martin Scott, Mike Bickle, Nicholas Sarkozy, Samuel Rhein
Reliving Acts
This year I’ve been reading my Bible a bit differently. Taking a challenge I heard from a Mike Bickle teaching once, I’ve read “10 chapters a day” in the New Testament, which effectively takes you through the New Testament in 1 month. I’ve since re-divided that into “10 pages a day” because not all “10 chapters” are created equally!!!
I’m coming toward the end of this year of reading in this way and I’m anxious to try the same sort of thing on other parts of the Bible. This has been very rewarding to do this for one year. It’s brought me a lot of revelation and new perspectives on things. I recommend it.
Having said that, there are certainly parts that I come up on and am not too anxious to read again. God is faithful though and continues to speak to me even in parts that become tedious for me to read. Sometimes however, we still need a fresh perspective from somewhere else to help us get past our mental blocks in reading certain passages.
For me one of those “certain passages” was different parts of the book of Acts, and in particular from when Paul goes on trial until the end. Well, I’ve found some help in the form of a teaching from NT Wright. During a recent visit to Asbury Seminary, NT Wright gave a number of excellent messages (more posts to come!) of which one was an overview of the book of Acts.
Wright has a way of injecting life into passages with perspectives that one has not really considered and an historical context that sheds an altogether different light on things you’ve read over and over.
So, after too much ado enjoy this teaching on The Book of Acts by NT Wright (mp3 – 29MB)
Technorati : Asbury Seminary, Bible reading, Book of Acts, NT Wright Del.icio.us : Asbury Seminary, Bible reading, Book of Acts, NT Wright
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