4. Faith, Hope and Hilarity

Faith, Hope and Hilarity: The Child's Eye View of Religion. Dick Van Dyke. Edited by Ray Parker. Illustrated by Phil Interlandi. 1970. 153 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars] [humor]

First sentence: I've always thought that kid humor is the funniest kind there is, because it's so honestly spontaneous and truly human.

Did you know Dick Van Dyke is a former Sunday School teacher? I didn't either. This book is a collection of kid stories that relate in one way or another--one degree or another--to religion and faith. Don't expect anything resembling theology or doctrine. These are just funny stories gathered together. 

It has the vibes of a faith-themed America's Funniest Home Videos. Don't expect anything super amazing or life changing. A few stories did make me laugh out loud. (One a little girl was confused when her mom wanted her grandma to live to be very very very old when the little girl thought she should just ask Jesus to make Grandma younger and younger.) A few of these are misheard lyrics of hymns and Christmas carols. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Review: The New English Bible

The New English Bible. Oxford University Press. 1970. 1502 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning of creation, when God made heaven and earth, the ear was without form and void, with darkness over the face of the abyss, and a mighty wind that swept over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)

This was my second time to read through the whole Bible in the New English Bible translation. I first read and reviewed it in January 2017.

At first my plan was to divide up my reading over five weeks or so.

Week one: Matthew, Genesis, Psalm Book I: 1-41, Proverbs, James, Galatians, Romans, Ephesians, Joshua, Hosea, Joel
Week two: Mark, Exodus, Psalm Book II: 42-72, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Judges, Ruth, Jeremiah, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah,
Week three: Luke, Leviticus, Psalm Book III: 73-89, Hebrews, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy,  Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Week four: Acts, Numbers, Psalm Book IV: 90-106, Ecclesiastes, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Titus, Philemon, Jude,
Week five: John, Deuteronomy, Psalm Book V: 107-150, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, Job, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Revelation

But. I ended up reading it in about fifteen days. I blame the reader format. Chapters and verses are not at all emphasized. It's in a single column format. But I don't blame only the reader format. The Word of God is just TASTY. I'm a glutton for the Word of God. I devour and savor it. Sometimes I devour more than savor. This was one of those times. Sometimes I savor more than devour. But as I said I almost couldn't help myself.

I don't love, love, love the New English Bible. I really enjoy the Old Testament--especially the book of Psalms. (Though still the KJV is my favorite and best). I do enjoy the gospels--for the most part. But when it comes to the epistles--the letters--especially the letters of Paul--I do not enjoy the NEB translation. I find that any book that centers around doctrine--theological ideas--is lacking. The word choices of the NEB just lack the solid-ness of other translations.

Quotes:

• But thou, LORD, art a shield to cover me: thou art my glory and thou dost raise my head high. I cry aloud to the LORD and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep, and I wake again, for the LORD upholds me. Psalm 3:3-5
• Thine is the victory, O LORD, and may thy blessing rest upon thy people. Psalm 3:8
• Know that the LORD has shown me his marvellous love; the LORD hears when I call to him. Psalm 4:3
• Now I will lie down in peace, and sleep; for thou alone, O LORD, makes me live unafraid. Ps. 4:8
• For thou, O LORD, wilt bless the righteous; thou wilt hedge him round with favour as with a shield. Psalm 5:12
• Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am weak; heal me, my very bones are shaken. Psalm 6:2
• God, the High God, is my shield who saves men of honest heart. Psalm 7:10
• O LORD our sovereign, how glorious is thy name in all the earth! Thy majesty is praised high as the heavens. Psalm 8:1
• I will praise thee, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell the story of they marvellous acts. I will rejoice and exult in thee. Psalm 9:1-2a
• The words of the LORD are pure words: silver refined in a crucible, gold seven times purified. Psalm 12:6
• But for my part I trust in thy true love. My heart shall rejoice, for thou hast set me free. Psalm 13:5
• Thou, LORD, my allotted portion, thou my cup, thou dost enlarge my boundaries: the lines fall for me in pleasant places, indeed I am well content with my inheritance. I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel: in the night-time wisdom comes to me in my inward parts. I have set the LORD continually before me: with him at my right hand I cannot be shaken. Psalm 16:5-8
• Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is the fullness of joy, in thy right hand pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11
• I love thee, O LORD my strength. The LORD is my stronghold, my fortress and my champion, my God, my rock where I find safety; my shield, my mountain refuge, my strong tower. Psalm 18:1-2
• The way of God is perfect, the LORD's word has stood the test; he is the shield of all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30
• Thou hast given me the shield of they salvation, thy hand sustains me, thy providence makes me great. Psalm 18:35
• The LORD lives, blessed is my rock, high above all is God who saves me. Psalm 18:46
• The heavens tell out the glory of God, the vault of heaven reveals his handiwork. Psalm 19:1
• The LORD is my shepherd; I shall want nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, and leads me besides the waters of peace; he renews life within me, and for his name's sake guides me in the right path. Even though I walk through a valley dark as death I fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy staff and thy crook are my comfort. Thou spreads a table for me in the sight of my enemies; thou hast richly bathed my head with oil, and my cup runs over. Goodness and love unfailing, these will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long. Psalm 23:1-6
• Make thy paths known to me, O LORD; teach me thy ways. Lead me in thy truth and teach me; thou art God my Saviour. For thee I have waited all the day long, for the coming of thy goodness, LORD. Remember, LORD, thy tender care and thy love unfailing, shown from ages past. Do not remember the sins and offences of my youth, but remember me in thy unfailing love. Psalm 25:4-7
• The LORD confides his purposes to those who fear him, and his covenant is theirs to know. Psalm 25:14
• The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the refuge of my life; of whom then should I go in dread? Psalm 27:1
• One thing I ask of the LORD, one thing I seek: that I may be constant in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
• 'Come,' my heart has said, 'seek his face.' I will seek thy face, O LORD; do not hide it from me, nor in thy anger turn away thy servant, whose help thou hast been; do not cast me off or forsake me, O God my saviour. Psalm 27:8-9
• Wait for the LORD; be strong, take courage, and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14
• O LORD my God, I cried to thee and thou didst heal me. Psalm 30:1
• 'Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; LORD, be my helper.' Thou hast turned my laments into dancing; thou hast stripped off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my spirit may sing psalms to thee and never cease. I will confess thee for ever, O LORD my God. Psalm 30:10-12
• Blessed be the LORD, who worked a miracle of unfailing love for me when I was in sore straits. Psalm 31:21
• Happy the man whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put away! Happy is a man when the LORD lays no guilt to his account, and in his spirit there is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2
• I will teach you, and guide you in the way you should go. I will keep you under my eye. Psalm 32:8
• The word of the LORD holds true, and all his works endures. Psalm 33:4
• I will bless the LORD continually; his praise shall be always on my lips. In the LORD I will glory; the humble shall hear and be glad. O glorify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD's help and he answered me; he set me free from all my terrors. Psalm 34:1-4
• Taste, then, and see that the LORD is good. Happy the man who finds refuge in him. Psalm 34:8
• How blest are those who know their need of God; the kingdom of heaven is theirs. How blest are the sorrowful; they shall find consolation. How blest are those of a gentle spirit; they shall have the earth for their possession. How blest are those who hunger and thirst to see right prevail; they shall be satisfied. How blest are those who show mercy; mercy shall be shown to them. How blest are those whose hearts are pure; they shall see God. How blest are the peacemakers; God shall call them his sons. How blest are those who have suffered persecution for the cause of right; the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3-10
• There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no bounds. Matthew 5:48
• Set your mind on God's kingdom and his justice before everything else, and all the rest will come to you as well. So do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. Each day has troubles enough of its own. Matthew 6:33-34
• Always treat others as you would like them to treat you: that is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12
• Put all your trust in the LORD and do not rely on your own understanding. Think of him in all your ways, and he will smooth your path. Do not think how wise you are, but fear the LORD and turn from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7
• God's every promise has stood the test: he is a shield to all who seek refuge with him. Add nothing to his words, or he will expose. you for a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Three Treatises

Three Treatises. Martin Luther. 1970. Fortress Press. 316 pages. [Source: Gift]

Martin Luther wrote Three Treatises in 1520. The Three Treatises are: To The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and The Freedom of A Christian. While I suppose you could read them individually, I think they are best read together sequentially. But. After saying that, if you read only one book in your entire life by Martin Luther, make it The Freedom of a Christian.

In To The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Luther breaks down the "three walls" protecting the Roman Catholic church from criticism, actual dialogue, and reform. The temporal (national, secular) powers have no jurisdiction over the church in any way. The church is the only judge of the church. The only person who can interpret Scripture is the pope, so it doesn't matter how many people--priests, or whomever--use Scripture to argue for reform--the pope is the only one allowed to be right. No one is allowed to call council meetings except the pope, and the pope, of course, would control what was talked about. So people were locked out--blocked out--from discussion or dialogue. There would be no 'reasoning together' or healthy dialogue. So Luther's reckoning that the church was corrupting Scripture had no official outlet. Luther sets out to break down the walls. The church--the pope--are not infallible. And reform is sometimes essential to staying healthy and pure. One by one, Luther starts knocking down the walls.

When the pope acts contrary to the Scriptures, it is our duty to stand by the Scriptures, to reprove him and to constrain him, according to the word of Christ. (Matthew 18:15-17) (22)

It doesn't take Luther long to knock down the walls. He then spends the rest of the treatise sharing with readers what he would discuss freely and openly in a council meeting if he were allowed to call for one. These are his discussion points. There are many, many, many things he would call to the Pope's attention, the church's attention. These are the issues that demand REFORM.

These sections might prove a tiny bit tedious for the casual reader. But the context they give readers shouldn't be underestimated. If one is to appreciate the Reformation, one must know a great deal about why the reformation was necessary, and why reform was worth fighting for and dying for. It is essential that readers--that believers--know why Luther was protesting so courageously, so loudly, so boldly. These weren't "little" "insignificant" matters.

Favorite quotes from this first treatise:

• Nobody wants to walk in the straight path of God's commandments common to all of us. Everybody invents new ways and vows for himself as if he had already fulfilled all of God's commandments. (60)
• O dear Christians, God does not care for much praying, but for true praying. (71)
• How can we prosper when we behave so wrongly and give the Bible, the holy word of God, a back seat? (97)
• The number of books on theology must be reduced and only the best ones published. It is not many books that make men learned, nor even reading. But it is a good book frequently read, no matter how small it is, that makes a man learned in the Scriptures and godly. Indeed, the writings of all the holy fathers should be read only for a time so that through them we may be led into the Scriptures. As it is, however, we only read them these days to avoid going any further and going into the Bible. We are like men who read the sign posts and never travel the road they indicate. Our dear fathers wanted to lead us to Scriptures by their writings, but we use their works to get away from Scriptures. Nevertheless, the Scripture alone is our vineyard in which we must all labor and toil. (98)
• I would advise no one to send his child where the Holy Scriptures are not supreme. Every institution that does not unceasingly pursue the study of God's word becomes corrupt. (100)
• I greatly fear that the universities unless they teach the Holy Scriptures diligently and impress them on the young students, are wide gates to hell. (100)

The second treatise is about church sacraments. Luther discusses the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic church. Noting the ways they need reform. Or in some cases noting that they need to be abolished completely. Luther argues that the church needs but two--possibly three--sacraments: communion (The Lord's Supper) and baptism. (The third possible being confession.) He goes through the sacraments one by one, and this book is surprisingly easy to follow.

Favorite quotes from this treatise:

• It is one thing to misapply the Scriptures and another to understand them in their proper sense. (133)
• No violence is to be done to the words of God, whether by man or angel. They are to be retained in their simplest meaning as far as possible. Unless the context manifestly compels it, they are not to be understood apart from their grammatical and proper sense, lest we give our adversaries occasion to make a mockery of all the Scriptures. (146) 
• The authority of God's word is greater than the capacity of our intellect to grasp it. (151)
• We must be careful to give more heed to the Word of God than to all the thoughts of men and of angels. (156)
• God does not deal, nor has he ever dealt, with man otherwise than through a word of promise. We in turn cannot deal with God otherwise than through faith in the Word of his promise. (160)
• Where there is a divine promise, there every one must stand on his own feet; his own personal faith is demanded, he will give an account for himself and bear his own load. (168)
• You have the utmost certainty of the gospel, and by relying on it, you may well disregard the belief and opinions of men. (175)
• What is the whole gospel but the good tidings of the forgiveness of sins? (176)
• The sinner does not so much need to be washed as he needs to die, in order to be wholly renewed and made another creature, and to be conformed to the death and resurrection of Christ, with whom he dies and rises again through baptism. (191) 
• It is far more forceful to say that baptism signifies that we die in every way and rise to eternal life, than to say that it signifies that we are washed clean of sins. (191)
• You need continually to be baptized by faith, continually to die and continually to live. (192)
• It is enough if we lament the sins which distress our conscience at the present moment, as well as those which we can readily call to mind. Whoever is in this frame of mind is without doubt ready to grieve and fear for all his sins, and will grieve and fear whenever they are brought to his knowledge in the future. (211)

The third treatise is The Freedom of a Christian. Written in 1520, this little gem of a treatise is all about the Christian life, how to walk with Christ, how to journey through our earthly pilgrimage. It is a GREAT book and should be required reading!!!

My favorite quotes:

• I have neither the power nor the will to deny the Word of God. (268)
• A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all. (277)
• One thing, and only one thing is necessary for Christian life, righteousness and freedom. (279)
• Let us then consider it certain and firmly established that the soul can do without anything except the Word of God and that where the Word of God is missing there is no help at all for the soul. If it has the Word of God it is rich and lacks nothing, since it is the Word of life, truth, light, peace, righteousness, salvation,joy, liberty, wisdom, power, grace, glory, and of every incalculable blessing. (279)
• As the soul needs only the Word of God for its life and righteousness, so it is justified by faith alone and not any works; for if it could be justified by anything else, it would not need the Word and consequently it would not need faith. (280)
• True faith in Christ is a treasure beyond comparison which brings with it complete salvation and saves man from every evil. (281)
• The promises of God give what the commandments of God demand and fulfill what the law prescribes so that all things may be God's alone, both the commandments and the fulfilling of the commandments. He alone commands, he alone fulfills. (283)
• Faith works truth and righteousness by giving God what belongs to him. (285)
• Christ is full of grace, life, and salvation. The soul is full of sins, death, and damnation. Now let faith come between them and sins, death, and damnation will be Christ's, while grace, life, and salvation will be the soul's for if Christ is the bridegroom, he must take upon himself the things which are his bride's and bestow upon her the things that are his. (286)
• Rather ought Christ to be preached to the end that faith in him may be established that he may not only be Christ, but be Christ for you and me, and that what is said of him and is denoted in his name may be effectual in us. Such faith is produced and preserved in us by preaching why Christ came, what he brought and bestowed, what benefit it is to us to accept him. This is doen when that Christian liberty which he bestows is rightly taught and we are told in what way we Christians are all kings and priests and therefore lords of all and may firmly believe that whatever we have done is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God. (292-3)
• So the Christian who is consecrated by his faith does good works, but the words do not make him holier or more Christian, for that is the work of faith alone. And if a man were not first a believer and a Christian, all his works would amount to nothing and would be truly wicked and damnable sins. (297)
• A man does not live for himself alone in this mortal body to work for it alone, but he lives also for all men on earth; rather, he lives only for others and not for himself. (301)
• From Christ the good things have flowed and are flowing into us. (309)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible