Biblical Christianity from Peter DeHaan

Do You Bless God?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 17, 2008

Discover How to Praise God

I often say the word “bless.” In prayer, I frequently ask for God’s blessing on myself and others. In essence I am asking for God’s divine favor or grace to be imparted.

Other times I have seen one person bless another by “conveying well-being or prosperity” to them. Sometimes this is done in the context of a prayer, a commissioning ceremony, or a benediction.

Both of these examples make sense to me and are readily understandable—because in both instances a “person” of authority or power is blessing someone of lessor standing (Hebrews 7:7).

However, I recently heard someone “bless” God. Initially I assumed that he misspoke. When he said it again, I thought he had it backwards.

After all, it seems a bit arrogant to bless God in the same way that we ask him to bless us.

Then I began stumbling on this in the Bible. Some translations of Psalms 26:12 and 34:1, for example, talk about blessing God. Other versions instead use the words “praise” or “extol.”

Fortunately, the dictionary provides some help in understanding this seeming dichotomy. One of the definitions of “bless” is to “To honor as holy; glorify: Bless the Lord.”

So in expanding my understanding of “bless” to include honor and glorify, then, yes, I bless God! Do you?

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

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Tags blessing

Personal Posts

Flipping Houses on TV and in Real Life

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 14, 2008

Last week’s entry about the TV shows I watch reminds me of a trio of shows I watched in the past—all covering the same theme: “flipping” houses.

House flipping—which has no connection to cow tipping—is the art of buying distressed real estate, making quick improvements, and (hopefully) selling it for a profit.

The three shows are Flip This House on A&E, Flip That House on TLC, and Flipping Out on Bravo. To varying degrees, all fit the genre of reality TV.

“Flip This House,” an hour-long show, features businesses that specialize in house flipping and provides the most amount of practical information.

“Flip That House” is a half hour show, which restricts the amount of information that can be conveyed.

It generally features less experienced “flippers,” who are more prone to make errors and less likely to make a profit. Both shows have a degree to personal drama and conflict factored into each episode.

“Flipping Out” focuses on dysfunctional relationships of an obsessive-compulsive boss and his employees (who are sometimes treated like family and other times as pawns). The theme of flipping houses is secondary.

Watch it to be amused, but don’t expect to learn too much—at least about flipping houses.

The reasons these shows caught my attention was that I once flipped a house—some 20 plus years ago. Back then it was called “house recycling.”

Then the economies were different, the margins smaller, and you had to do the work yourself. I did make a small profit on my flip—if you don’t count my labor. It was a good experience, but once was enough.

My bride would ask why I watch those shows if wasn’t going to put it into practice. I would respond with “why do you watch hockey if aren’t going to play?”

Besides, with the kitchen area receiving prime attention in the flips, I think she was getting kitchen envy.

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags Sacred-Secular Divide, television

Bible Insights

A Question With Life and Death Ramifications

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 10, 2008

Peter cried when he realized he had denied even knowing Jesus. [Mark 14:72]

What makes this even more ironic is that earlier that same day he pledged his support to Jesus, claiming to be willing to die with him. [Mark 14:31]

For most people, admitting that we “know” Jesus is a relatively easy thing to do.

Yet Peter was confronted with a seemingly life and death situation: say “yes” and he too could be crucified with Jesus; say “no” and he could avoid further scrutiny, thereby saving his skin.

In the life-in-the-balance pressure of the moment, Peter caved in and said “no.”

In some parts of the world, admitting that you followed Jesus could easily result in death or at least suffering. How well would we fare in such a test?

Would we cave in or be bold regardless of the consequences?

However, beyond the literal, natural meaning of this story there is a more profound supernatural perspective. In the spiritual sense, we can say “yes” we know Jesus and live—forever; saying “no” is what leads to death.

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Tags Jesus, Peter, supernatural

Peter DeHaan News

The Sky is Falling

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 30, 2008

First it was falling leaves from my Maple trees and then falling stems. Now it’s falling branches.

Fortunately, the dropped branches are few in number and small in diameter. In examining the breaks, they are suspicious looking.

Certainly, there was a weakness at the point of separation that caused them to break.

Each fallen branch has a small cavity in the center and seemingly an exit hole on the side, as one might expect if an insect egg had been laid inside and hatched.

It’s just a theory and I have not researched it, but it seems like a reasonable idea.

Besides, there’s nothing I can do about—except pick up the branches.

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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Tags Sacred-Secular Divide, yard

Bible Insights

Biblezines

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 27, 2008

Bibles in Magazine Format

Biblezines^TM are the Bible in magazine format, with additional info and content packed in.

For many who wonder if the Bible is relevant to them and their lives, this modern format with compelling sidebars, makes the Bible come alive in practical and vibrant ways.

There are 11 Biblezine versions, geared towards different age groups and demographics. Biblezines are published by Thomas Nelson.

Why don’t you check them out?

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Bible Insights

A Boy (and Jesus) Feed 5,000 People

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 26, 2008

In Matthew 14:14-20 there is the dramatic account of Jesus’ s miracle to feed 5,000 people. This event is also recorded in Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-14.

The people have been with Jesus all day; they are hungry and without food. Jesus asks how much food is available; the report is merely five loaves of bread and two fishes from a boy (John 6:9).

Surely out of more than 5,000 people, other people there also have some food, but they are keeping it to themselves (which seems wise and prudent).

However, one boy is willing to share what he has. Because of that, his small gift is used to feed all those people.

We don’t have to give Jesus something huge or beyond our means, but we do need to give him what we have.

When we do, Jesus can do great things with it, like feed 5,000 people.

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Tags Jesus, miracle

Personal Posts

At Least I Don’t Have to Rake the Stems

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 25, 2008

A few weeks ago, I shared about leaves falling from my Maple trees (see Raking Leaves).

In the spring an insect lays eggs in the stems of Maple leaves. When the eggs hatch, the stems become weak at that juncture and the leaves fall off. That was June 6.

At this time, the leaves have stopped falling off (at least until fall when they’re supposed to) and now it’s the stems’ turn. Apparently, each stem that lost it’s leaf now has nothing to do.

So out of boredom or a loss of purpose, they are jettisoning themselves to the lawn below.

It’s not a big deal, but I do find this interesting. I grabbed a handful of them to show you.

Notice the long stem on the bottom.

The left end was attached to the branch and the right end was where the egg was laid in the stem. The brown is the trauma caused by the egg hatching and the stem breaking.

I realize this is likely trivial to you, but I find it fascinating! Tomorrow, I will try to find something that you will find fascinating as well!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags Sacred-Secular Divide, yard

Personal Posts

The Mighty Flooding Mississippi River

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 24, 2008

Where I live, flooding is a rare thing. When it does occur, it is generally on a small scale, doing minimal damage.

Aside from watching flooding video on TV, I have little real comprehension of the wide-scale power of a major flood and the damage a raging river can cause.

Last week, on my visit to St. Louis, I was able to get a first-hand look at the immensity and raw force of the surging waters.

These shots were taken on Thursday, June 19, about 11 hours prior to the floodwaters cresting; the site was the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park (the St. Louis Gateway Arch).

According to experts, much of the flooding and damage could have been avoided.

Each effort that is made to stop the river from overflowing its banks in one area renders it that much more likely to flood elsewhere—usually downstream.

So, if the river were allowed to naturally overflow into its flood plain without human intervention, the excess water could be removed from the river at many points along the way, minimizing downstream disaster.

As it is, attempts to stop flooding only serve to keep all the water contained, flowing towards the ocean.

Eventually, the amount of water continues to expand until it breaches levees and overflows its banks. When it does the volume of water and the force behind it do great damage.

As such, I am certainly glad that I don’t live anywhere near a flood plain.

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags nature, Sacred-Secular Divide

Bible Insights

Responding to the Work of Jesus

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 24, 2008

The people of the nearby town who are told of this miracle have two ways to respond:

First, in awe of Jesus’ power and authority, they could turn to him and follow him.

Second, out of fear of the unknown and the uncomfortable, they could reject Jesus and push him away.

They choose the later, insisting that Jesus leave them alone and not bother them any more. How sad.

I wonder, how often are we confronted with the work of God, but fearing the unknown or the uncomfortable, end up pushing him away?

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Mark 5-7 and today’s post is on Mark 5:17.]

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Tags Jesus, miracle