Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Goosebumps, anyone?

Have you ever thought about what gives you goosebumps?

I was listening to Carson this morning and I had them. It made me think because it was something seemingly small and yet big in deeper thought of it.

If you have listened to Carson enough, you would have realised that he always begin his Scripture reading with, “This is what Scripture says”. I really like that. And after he completes the reading, “This is the Word of the Lord”.

I have only been in this new neighbourhood church for a little more than a year, but this habit had caught on: our Scripture readers, will always end the readings with, “This is the Word of the Lord”, by which the congregation would respond, “Thanks be to God”.

Carson in this particular session commented that he did hear some soft murmur after his reading. He proceeded to explain what it was and requested the congregation to do it together. Believe or not, I had goosebumps with that. Something trivial I thought to cause goosebumps but if you think about it, it is a big thing – a corporate body of the Christ, hears the Word of the Lord, and give thanks together in one voice.

Imagine hearing God speaking in person to us all, the body of Christ, in the new heaven and new earth.

Goosebumps, anyone?

pearlie

7 comments:

  1. I reviewed Carson for my MPhil work (Wales) on the problem of evil. For my PhD (Wales) I was told that Carson, Stott, Fee, and Barclay were not academic enough for me to cite.;)

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  2. Interesting ... I am thinking Carson and Fee should be ok. Who were they expecting?

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  3. I disagree with the views of my department on this issue, but I must go along with it. Carson's work on theodicy is not meant to be overly academic, but it is still useful. Fee is definitely useful as a Greek scholar. I find Barclay's work useful at times. I could have quoted Stott at points as well.

    There was one source I was encouraged to use of a liberal nature, which I do not think is a very good scholar, but I must play along.

    My PhD is now under review.

    Russ:)

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  4. Carson does make use of some space to put whatever that is possible into more practical terms, maybe that is why.

    Which Barclay were you refering to? The one I have come across is William Barclay.

    Playing along will be one hard act for me to follow :)

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  5. Yes, William. I am a major non-conformist, but passing would be impossible if I did the thesis my way.:)

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  6. Yes, I am with you :) in spirit only though - I am far, so far, from doing my doctorate. But I hope to get there though some day -- heard or read Morna Hooker? She is an inspiration for me.

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  7. No, I have not heard of her, but there is always more to learn.

    Russ:)

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