Category Archives: Discipleship

Books Read in 2012: No. 4 – Not a Fan

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | January 21, 2012

Title: Not a Fan
Author: Kyle Idleman
Competed on January 15, 2012

I was fortunate to read Idleman’s book immediately after Tozer’s The Pursuit of God. I say this because “Not a Fan” is the perfect counterpart to Tozer. Idleman challenges the reader to identify themselves as a follower of Christ or a mere fan and presents the argument that many who identify themselves as the former are actually the latter.

Idleman presents a wonderful argument against the “cheap” Christianity that runs rampant in the Church and encourages his readers to “get to a place where following Jesus is so important to them, that if they lost everything it would still be worth it” (p. 66).

This book causes the reader to reflect upon his own faith. In my case, I was convicted in several areas of my life. I was able to recognize those parts of my life that I simply wasn’t prepared to surrender to Christ. It’s a simple concept really. When Christ asks us to give up everything to follow Him, what is the one thing you would refuse to let go of? This may be a simple concept but is difficult in practice. If Christ isn’t want we hold most dear, we are a fan – not a follower.

While Tozer’s book placed in me the desire to pursue Christ daily, Idleman’s gave me a practical vision of what such a pursuit entails.

This book will certainly be added to my list of recommended reading.

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What is the Proper Bible Translation for Study Purposes?

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Clark Goble| 2 Comments
By Clark Goble | January 18, 2012

If you are beginning a Bible study you may be wondering what translation you should use. If you ask your Christian friends you will probably get a wide range of responses. Most Christians place a high value on the Bible and are incredible loyal to their preferred translation. In truth, you should probably aim to find a reliable translation that will inspire you to read it more often; however, if your goal is to select the translation(s) that will best help you in your studies, I offer the following advice:

When choosing a translation it helps to be familiar with the methods translators use; basically, there are two methods – formal equivalence (word for word) and functional equivalence (thought for thought). Formal translations are accurate in that they translate word for word from the original, but they are difficult to read because they follow the sentence structure of the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Functional translations increase reader comprehension because they translate the thoughts of the original text into a form that can be easily read.

Here is a list prominent (and reliable) translations:

Formal Translations: King James, New American Standard, English Standard.

Functional Translations: The Message, Contemporary English Version, New International Version and the New Living Translation.

The best advice I can offer is to have several translations at hand. For my studies I like to have one of each type. I prefer using the New American Standard along with the New International. While I listed the NIV as a functional translation, its editors made an attempt to strike a balance between formal and functional. Having access to both types will help with your comprehension. I frequently consult various translations and you may find that you prefer to read from different translations than your friends – that’s okay. The important thing is that you are reading the Bible.

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From Darkness Into Light

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | December 13, 2011

My new article published at Provoketive Magazine explores how God led me out of shame into Grace and darkness into light.

It has been said that divorce is like a death in the family. I would submit that this is not a fair comparison. When a member of your family passes away, loved ones flock to the funeral. Your friends stand by you at the cemetery and watch as the deceased is lowered into the ground. Friends and family descend upon your house with gifts of food and companionship. I can remember when my mother passed away. My closest friends in the world traveled great distances just to sit with me. We stayed up late that night telling stories about my mother.

During my divorce, however, I was alone.

To read the rest of the article please visit Provoketive Magazine.

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Creation as a Performance

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | November 1, 2011

3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. – John 1:3 (HCSB)

How did the world we live in come to be? We live in a world where many suggest it was merely a cosmic accident. The right chemicals mingled at the right time and the end result was the planet earth with its myriad of life. On the other hand, the Book of John clearly articulates that all things were created through Jesus Christ. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of creation? The word the HCSB translates as “create” is the Greek “ginomai” (ghin’-om-ahee). Strong’s Greek Dictionary defines ginomai as “to cause to be.” Thayer’s Dictionary adds that it is akin to a man who “come(s) upon the stage” and appears in public with the intention of performing. Unlike an actor, however, Thayer’s continues on to say that there is an element of “ginomai” that is miraculous.

When John writes that all things were created through Him (Christ), he is asserting that there was a point in time when God appeared on the stage of history and miraculously caused everything, as we know it, to come into existence. When we consider the word “ginomai” on this level, we begin to understand how Christ fit into Creation. Colossians 1:15 teaches that Christ is the image of the invisible God. In the context of our study it becomes evident that it was Christ, the image of the invisible God, who appeared on the stage of creation. God the Father was the director and Christ Himself was the actor providing His personal touches to the performance. And what a performance it was! Paul writes in the first chapter of Romans, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made …” (Romans 1:20 NASB). Christ’s performance was one that has provided witness to God’s existence since the beginning of time.

There is an artistry and beauty in creation. So much so that every time we act, write, or perform we are merely imitating that First Great Performance!

We may quibble over the means of Creation, but there should be no debate over the identity of that First Great Performer. Looking at the word “ginomai” at greater depth helps to clarify this important Biblical assertion.

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An Open Letter to God

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | October 7, 2011

Hello God … it’s me, Clark.

I’ve screwed up again. I know You’ve got to be tired of hearing this crap over and over again, but I can never seem to get it right. Every time I take two steps closer to Your embrace I stumble and fall away. I’m afraid though that this time is different. I didn’t just get my usual scraped up knees and bloody nose. I have serious internal injuries. The brunt of the damage seems to have been taken by my heart. My passion, drive, and even faith have all suffered. I’ve had one of those earth-shattering moments. You know the kind. I feel like I may never be myself again.

Maybe that’s a good thing. I’ve never really been too fond of myself. I’ve always liked it better when I managed to resemble Your Son just a little bit. More of Him and less of me, I suppose.

I guess what I’m really writing to tell You is that I’m weary. I’m tired of making stupid decisions and then blaming You for the lackluster results. I no longer have earthly desires. They’re too fleeting; too easy to lose. I just want you. It’s weird. I’m a grown man and all I want is for my Father to lift me up into His arms and hold me. I want You to tell me it’s all going to be okay; that You’re going to protect me from myself from this moment on.

I want an army of angels.

I want to understand Your Word with the clarity that has too often evaded me.

I want the Holy Spirit to zap me like lightning.

I want Your Son in His glorified flesh to sweep down from the Heavens and establish His Kingdom.

I’m sorry God, but I want it now. I know things work in Your time and according to Your will, but I’m afraid that if You don’t move soon I may destroy things down here beyond repair.

Please Lord consider my request.

Thanks,
Clark

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