Author: Ron Baker

I ran across Tim Keller today!

OK, so actually I hit a blog site of a friend of a friend of a friend.  One of the links took me to a session he gave at The Gathering in 2005.  Not often will I listen to an hour long session “on tape” (or is that MP3 or podcast??).  This one captured me.

So I found a site that carries an “online bibliography” (actually a bunch of links) to a number of Tim Keller’s articles, sermons, etc.  I wandered around a bit on the web and was impressed by his approach to the gospel.

Keller speaks of irreligious people (including secular and postmodern), of religious people (who sit beside me at church), and of those who have truly caught the gospel (they actually believe that we are saved by grace through Jesus Christ).  Religious people obey God’s law to be accepted — Gospel people are accepted by God through Jesus and thus obey.  Religious people obey so they will not be rejected by God, Gospel people obey because they would not want to bring harm to the one they love.

The thoughts go on and on.  The more I read, the more I see that he is touching on our world — the context in which I live. 

When I read the beatitudes, I wonder if Jesus didn’t have a good idea.  Start off the sermon on the mount by telling people they are accepted!  The poor in spirit, the mourners, the ones who are hard on themselves and others, the ones who are perfectionists.  Let them all know they are accepted and blessed by God.  Then let them know what it means to be true followers as they seek to obey what God would want them to do (the “law”). 

Accepted first, then obey because!

I remember years ago reading that the Department of Agriculture began the income tax system back during the First World War.  I’ve tucked that in the back of my mind and some day I’ll even check up to see if its true.

But for the moment it makes a great story.  I had to phone the CRA today (Canada Revenue Agency for those not acquainted with the Canadian approach).  A previous employer had to amend my T4 (OK, that’s the form that tells what I earned and got deducted).  I was told to phone and confirm this so that a reassessment could be done.

Carol answered and guided me quite graciously through the system.  I only had to wait about 4 minutes to get off the automated system.  She said I could fill out at T1 (reassessment request).  But first I would have to have the amended T4 to send in with the T1.  I could do this on the website but would need my 9 digit SIN (Social Insurance Number).  Then, there is an 8 week wait period.

Or I can phone back in a few weeks once the proper documents have arrived in their office. 

Guess what I’m going to do?  Phone the Department of Agriculture next time I need to get my income tax straigthened out!!

The Book Standard booklist for 2005 has some interesting books in their top twenty books.

Two books by Dan Brown – the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons.  A million little pieces — originally considered to be non-fiction but shown to contain a lot of fiction – a personal biography embellished by James Frey who seems to rival Dan Brown’s own approach to fact and fiction.

You’ll also find Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life and Joel Osteen’s Your Best Life Now – both Christian approaches to life.

And just for the healthy types – You:  The Owner’s Manual by Mehmet Oz, and French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Builiano.

History also seems to get a nod with 1776 by David McCullough and The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman.

Do you see a pattern here??

I’m working on a sermon for this Sunday.  Jumping into the Sermon on the Mount. 

So, I’m rereading Dallas Willard’s “Divine Conspiracy”, a great book on the whole sermon.  Here is his approach to the beatitudes:

The Beatitudes simply cannot be “good news” if they are understood as a set of “how-tos” for achieving blessedness.  They would then amount to a new legalism.  They would not serve to throw open the kingdom — anything but.  They would impose a new brand of Phariseeism, a new way of closing the door.  (p. 106).