The Gospel According to Yeeks

"In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant" ( J er 50:20)

Note: My church small group studies are going to be studying the Book of Nehemiah together for the first half of the year. I am writing these series of posts to collect important bits of information that will hopefully help us illumine the text. The text in Nehemiah Chapter 5:14-19 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration [ b ] forty shekels [ c ] of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us ...

Speak O Lord.

The benefit of staying with three housemates, who happen to be Catholic, means once in a while I get an insight into what they hold on to and what they believe. For example, this leaflet was on the coffee table in my living room. Check this one out. There are certainly a few things that we won't disagree with.

A book I ordered from Amazon before I went back home for Chinese New Year arrived today. Hoping it will humble and shape me. Lord willing.

This documentary on Nero doesn't capture everything of course. The persecution of Christians for example does not get a mention in this documentary. Nevertheless it is a very graphic portrayal of one of history's most famous tyrants. Not for the faint-hearted.

I first found out about this band because of their rendition of "Be Thou My Vision". They wrote an extra refrain to that timeless hymn which is really sweet. This rendition of another hymn "Rock of Ages" is also pretty good. The tempo is so much slower but I think they've done well.

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. " (Colossians 4:6) I've always taken the verse in Colossians 4:6 to be a simple use of the expression "seasoning" and nothing more. As a way of understanding speech, it is not too difficult to understand that Paul wants our speech to be gracious. But I think Paul may be on to something more than just that. It is very possible that he could be making an OT reference to the act of offering. Specifically he may thinking of Leviticus 2:13 when he was writing this. It reads for us: "You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt." (Leviticus 2:13) Knowing the apostle Paul's familiarity with the Old Testament, it is quite possible that this is what was going on in his mind instead of using...

Graeme Goldswworthy's book also provides this very helpful framework to help us breakdown New Testament passages to help us dissect past, present, and future grace.

Graeme Goldsworthy's very helpfull book entitled 'According to Plan' also picks up on the theme of the Second Exodus in Ezra-Nehemiah.

I came home for this trip not just for Chinese New Year but for one of my very good friend's wedding. I was very happy for him. Weddings are also always a reminder of the Greater Wedding of Christ and His Church. John puts it best in John 3:29 "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete."

I have been flooded with a lot of work recently. It does seem to be that way for a while. For people wondering what I have been busy with here it is: SRC to spend $638 million to upgrade refinery JGC awarded EPC contract for refinery upgrade in Singapore

Note: My church small group studies are going to be studying the Book of Nehemiah together for the first half of the year. I am writing these series of posts to collect important bits of information that will hopefully help us illumine the text. The parallels of not leaving the empty in Exodus and Nehemiah, with some variations, are captured in these two verses. Exodus 12:35-36 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. Nehemiah 2:7-8 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the ...

Saw this documentary off Justin Taylor's blog at TGC.

Quoted from Deep Exegesis by Peter Leithart