Pastor Mike Smith's Blog

Bible Translations

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:09:00 GMT

September 2, 2009 the front page lead article in the Tennessean Newspaper was titled, “Popular NIV Bible to undergo update; since first English translation, revisions haven’t gone over well.” I find it interesting that this news merited front page headlines. They go on to mention the struggles to translate the Bible into English as well as the difficulties over revisions to English The NIV has taken over as the most popular English translation from the King James Version. The NIV was first published in 1978 and has sold over 300 million copies worldwide. The NIV is working to revise translation to keep the language up to date. They attempted a revision calling it “Today’s New International Version” (TNIV) which has not sold well in the States. They attempted to revise the language inclusive of gender language. They changed Genesis 1:27 from “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (NIV) to “So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (TNIV). The American market did not rush to the TNIV and stayed with the NIV or other English translations that have been published. There is a whole science to Bible translation. I commend to you a book by two professors I had at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in my education: How to Read the Bible for All its Worth, by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. In their second chapter, entitled “The Basic Tool: A Good Translation,” they discuss this science. I find this stuff fascinating. The desire is to be true to the original and understandable in the language you are translating into. This is more of a challenge than most think. I personally like the NIV and have for several years. I have and continue to read various translations in my study of the Scriptures. Each English translation has merit. The key is to read and study the Scriptures!

Allen (Knuck) Still

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:27:00 GMT

Allen (Knuck) Still
This past week a good friend of many within Franklin as well as Christ Community Church, Allen Still, died in an accident. Allen leaves a wife, Karri, and two boys, Alex and Sam. Allen’s Grandmother is the one that started the nickname “Knuck” short for Knucklehead. Allen was her 10th grandchild. When she saw him she said, “Well, there is another knucklehead.” That stuck with the family and Allen was stuck with it for the rest of his life. People fell into two groups for Allen: Those people he already met and those he had yet to meet. He loved people (particularly his family and friends), he loved the outdoors, he loved a story, and he loved to laugh.
At his funeral this past Saturday I read a passage of Scripture that reminded me of Allen: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). His daily life did win the respect of outsiders.
There are many stories about Allen that were told this past weekend. I hope many more will be told for years to come. When his older son, Alex was younger Allen let him accompany him when he shot an animal that was injured beyond repair. Alex asked why he was shooting the animal. Allen explained that the animal was suffering and would not recover from the injuries. I can hear Allen’s voice say, “It just ain’t right to let someone suffer, son!” A few Sundays later young Alex was in Sunday School and the teacher was talking about Jesus suffering on the cross for our sins. She kept emphasizing Jesus suffering so Alex raised his hand and said, “My Daddy would have shot him.”
Pray for the family Allen left behind, Karri, Alex and Sam. He was an only child. His mother, Ann Still, lost her husband three years ago and now her son. Pray that God gives sustaining grace to each of them!

DVD Review: Gran Torino

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:42:00 GMT

Gran Torino is a movie where Clint Eastwood is the director and main actor. Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski is an iron-willed veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. The movie exposes Kowalski is’ prejudices and stereotypes quite well. I found the movie entertaining, moving and redemptive. Eastwood’s character has a poor relationship with his children. After his wife dies he is left alone in his house. The teenager next door attempts to steal his Gran Torino as initiation into a gang. The teenager’s parents force him to apologize to Eastwood and offer to work for him around his house as restitution. With time Eastwood begins to understand the teenage boy’s world. The relationship that develops is interesting. I am glad to commend this movie to you. The movie is rated R for violence, language and adult themes.

Habitat for Humanity

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:18:00 GMT

Last week I went to Georgia with Mike Card to accompany him to a staff retreat for Habitat for Humanity. We went to the home office in Americus, GA and then to Atlanta, GA for a second day. I first became aware of Habitat for Humanity when former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn became involved with the ministry. That was in 1984. The ministry began in 1976. It was enjoyable learning about the history of the ministry, their spiritual roots from the translator of the Cotton Patch New Testament, Clarence Jordan, and the history of their organization.
Mike and I spent time with the Chaplin of the organization, Rendall Day. He showed us around the Americus facilities, introduced us to the various staff, and took good care of us. It was interesting learning about Habitat from the home office perspective. My involvement has been with the building of homes rather than the organization. It is an international movement now. They have gotten involved in disaster relief along with renovation. I told Rendall that one of my objections to Habitat homes is that they look like a Habitat home. I am not a fan of vinyl siding. It can look cheap. It is not maintenance free. It takes upkeep. I prefer some other type of siding that can be painted and is low maintenance. He told me that this is more of a local Habitat decision rather than something coming from the home office. I like the strategy that we are taking here in Franklin for low income housing with Hard Bargain Mt. Hope redevelopment. It would be great to see Habitat for Humanity go in this direction. You can check out both ministries at the following websites: https://www.habitat.org/ and http://hardbargain.org/ Habitat’s new logo with three people in a house is intended to reflect the trinity and the focus on affordable housing.
The idea of workplace housing and affordable housing is something important to me. I want to stay involved in helping people renovate and maintain their homes. I am particularly interested in helping single moms in this area. God has given me a heart for those in need along with gifts to aid those in home building, renovating, maintaining and upkeep of homes.

Married over my Head

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:29:00 GMT

Rinda and I celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary this Thursday. I knew God called me to marry Rinda when he gave me a love for her and a desire to take care of her. I tell others that marriage is a calling from God. I have married over my head! I find that most men do. Those who are wise admit it. I am wise enough to admit that! Over the years I have learned that marriages work when men seek to follow the Scriptural instruction to love their wives as Jesus loved and sacrificed for the church. Marriage is not complicated, but it is difficult. It is difficult because I am a redeemed sinner who forgets the gospel too quickly and seeks to get his needs met rather than meet others needs. When you have a husband and wife seeking the Lord and receiving from him love, grace, forgiveness, acceptance, etc. and both giving those things to the other within marriage you have a hope of a healthy marriage. When I focus on what I am getting from others rather than what I have received from God problems will occur. I am thankful for the gift God has given me in Rinda Lockett Smith!

Stewards Garden

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:46:00 GMT

Yesterday, for the first time, I walked out to Garden out back of Christ Community Church. I was shocked at how developed it was. Leticia DeMoss was working her patch with her three younger Sienna, Bobby and Danny. Michael Waters came up to me several months ago to ask about the possibility of using the back property of the church for a garden. When he moved to Franklin from Nashville he lost space for a garden. We talked about the possibility of a community garden here at the church. I told him to do some research. The idea came to the Deacons and a few Deacons were excited about the whole idea. Marion Seaton, Jim Reesor and Jere Jeter were three Deacons that loved the idea and got involved. Parke Brown, Alfred Stewart and Julia Stewart got involved. Kerry Livengood and Margaret Smith joined in the adventure. Many others jumped in on this community garden idea. They named it Stewards Garden. I encourage you to go out back of the church property past the first tree line to visit Stewards Garden. Look at the different 10’ by 10’ patches and see the name plates and gardening styles of folks within our church. It is exciting. Marion Seaton would tell you to join in the fun of gardening. Plant something and water it then watch God bring the growth!

Seven Pounds and the issues of Forgiveness and Redemption

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:29:00 GMT

When I consider evaluating a movie I look at how deeply it moves me, engages me or intrigues me. It is not how often it moves me, but how deeply it moves me. I engaged with a movie that touches my heart, mind or soul. I watched a movie over the weekend that moved me. It is Seven Pounds. It is out on video now. It stars Will Smith as a mysterious character posing as an I.R.S. Agent on a mission to do good to seven people. He has done something tragic that has cost the lives of seven people. You get glimpses of this throughout the movie, but do not learn what happened until the end of the movie. Will Smith as Ben Thomas cannot forgive himself for what he has done. He seeks ways to make a difference in the lives of others to redeem his costly mistake. You can see the pain in Will Smith’s eyes throughout the movie. The pain of sin that is not forgiven weighs down on his soul deeply. Sin without the cross is overwhelming. I commend the movie to you. It is a great conversation piece over the issue of forgiveness and redemption!

Psalm 32:1-5 "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strengtyh was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' - and you forgave the guilt of my sin."

"Grandpa"

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:03:00 GMT

Rinda and I made a trip to Philly to visit Joel, Allie, Slone and Dash. Our granddaughter, Slone, turned two in January. Dash is three months old. I must admit that I enjoy children when they are more interactive and able to play. Slone is at that age now. She loves to play! Being the oldest grandchild she had the responsibility and honor of giving me a name. She could be coached, but what she finally begins calling me will likely be what other grandkids call me. Jimmy is the oldest grandchild on both sides of our family. He started calling Rinda's mother "Mookmommy" because that is how "Grandmommy" came out when he tried to say it. She was Mookmommy for quite awhile. Names are quite endearing. Slone calls me "Grandpa." What a deligth to hear her use my name. "Grandpa, want to play little people?" "Grandpa, what to go outside?" "Grandpa, what to jump on the trampoline?" "Grandpa, come in. Sit down." I must say that Slone had me at Grandpa! I trust that God has a similar reaction when we use his name and call him "Father."

Holding on to what you know in times of difficulties

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:16:00 GMT

Movie Review: Hancock

mike.smith@christcommunity.org — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:57:00 GMT

Movie Review: Hancock – This is a superhuman file rated PG-13 (for violence and language) directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize Theron. Will Smith plays the main role of Hancock who has super human strength, but no direction in his life. He suffers from amnesia along with depression. He causes a great deal of damage to property even when he is saving people. The movie has some interesting twists when Charlize Theron gets involved in the movie. It has a great deal of action and special effects that comes with this type of movie. It is an entertaining movie for those who like action movies. Personally I judge a movie by how deeply it moves me or intrigues me. I was not moved or intrigued by this movie. The special effects are entertaining. The story is moderately interesting. This movie will not have any long term impact. It will not make a list of 100 best movies of the first decade of the 21st century.