Thursday, February 25, 2010

So why are you doing this?

I was sitting here reading another book about re-translating the bible again and then the thought occurred to me: why am I doing this?  Do we REALLY need yet another bible translation or interpretation?  Immediately I heard like the sound coming from a walkie talkie, my inside voice saying that the bible is not relevant and not practical,\- that it is an old book.  However, I know from personal experience that the bible text is very much alive and practical in our every day lives, but it only becomes that way when we chew on it with our own teeth and not chew vicariously through some theologian or pastor somewhere.  Now, don't think I'm saying that we don't need pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.  because we need those gifts to actually come to a place where we can take the God's word and get it to make sense in our own minds.  It's like we need God to reveal himself to us through his Word, but many translations don't allow for that.

So the short answer, is that I believe that God told me to, and I know and see that it is waaayyyyy to big for me to do alone, but I'm going to do and go as far as I can while God provides the rest as a result of my obedience.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

A Hip Hop Prayer

Psalm 23:1-6
Psalm 23 as adapted by Ryan Kearse

The Lord is all that, I need for nothing.
He allows me to chill.
He keeps me from being heated
and allows me to breathe easy.
He guides my life so that
I can represent and give
shouts out in his Name.
And even though I walk through
the Hood of death,
I don't back down
for you have my back.
The fact that you have me covered
allows me to chill.
He provides me with back-up
in front of my player-haters
and I know that I am a baller
and life will be phat.
I fall back in the Lord's crib
for the rest of my life.

Just a little sumthin while we're waiting...

Saturday, February 20, 2010

The beginning of another blog

So of course, this is like my 5th blog that I've created for yet another purpose.  Urban Bible Project started out of a simple question:


Why won't somebody do an urban bible? My favorite translation right now is the NET bible simply because of it's transparency and translators notes. I've learned sooo much just by reading the translators notes, but I often find myself meditating on scripture using the NET and the Amplified bible, and putting an urban spin on it for my son and daughter so that it can be relevant and understandable without losing the original meaning and context.

For instance, 1 Corinthians 10:13

The stupid stuff that you're going through right now that are tempting you are nothing new. But you must know that God will always give you an way out so that you don't have to fall for the temptation. Look for the way out.

So, who wants to help?