The Official Site of Andy Boucher

The authors posed the following questions and instructions at the beginning of Part 1 to "When Helping Hurts".  I've answered the questions for myself.  If anyone else would like to join me in answering and disucssing these, I'd be honored.

Instructions:  Please write short answers (one sentence each) to the following questions:

1. Why did Jesus come to earth?
2. For what specific sins(s) was Old Testament Israel sent into captitivity? Do not just say "disobe...

A few years ago (2006-7), we were challenged to revision how to teach Bible at CSCS.  In that process, I became convinced that it was not that we need a completely new and regenerate BibleDepartment, but that we need a new and regenerate view of “why Christian education”,“why Bible” and “why we emphasize Spiritual Life” (or Student Ministries as wecall it at our school). This was written as part of that "revision".

I believe tha...

1 Strengthen me, equip me for the fight—or better,pull me out of the fight (Your will be done), O Yahweh with these ill favoredhumans of violence.

Guard me and protect me—conceal me—fromthe unjust and violent oppressors.

2 They weavetogether fabricated plots of mischief, harm, and annoyance from the centre oftheir being.

Day after day they gather to engagein war

Matthew 6

31For this reason, you certainly do not have tohave anxious thoughts about whether you will have enough food to eat, or enoughto drink or how you will be clothed.  32(In fact it is these verythings that those who do not know God intensely crave and demand and stressover).  Your Father from heaven, who isabove and beyond this world and its concerns, sees and understands that you arein need concerning all these things! 

33 In fact,if you ...

Para-lation of the verse given on the way from Miami toSantiago, DR, Isaiah 54:2-4:

2 Broaden and make wide open the space andterritory of your tent—the profile of your habitat that people can clearly seefrom a distance;

Stretch forth the boundaries ofyour shepherds hut.

Do not hold anything back,

Make the ropes you tether your tent with longer;

And seize hold of the states ofyour te...

1 I will stroll around for eternity as aminstrel singing songs about the beautiful kindness and good deeds that Yahwehdoes!

I will verbally observe andrecognize the firm security of Your fidelity to all generations.

2 I have attested to the fact that the beautyof Your kind deeds will continue to be built up forever;

You have erected and prosperouslyestablished the firmness and security of Your fidelity in the heavensthemselves.

There is a saying goingaround that proclaims “now more than ever”. I agree with that sign—especially in a new way after a recent lesson andchallenge in church. 

• Now more thanever leaders in Christian educationneed to be training their students for ministry.
• missions should bean imperative and integral part of the prerogative of Christian education, nowmore than ever.
• Now more thanever the Church needs Christianeducation to be functioning...

13 Any and all people who possibly call uponor invoke the Name of the Lord will be saved and delivered [from eternaldeath].

14 In what way willthey call upon Him if they have not put their faith [in Him]?

And how is it that they will put[or entrust] their faith in Him if they’d never heard of Him?

And how is it that they shouldhear of Him except ther...

33 Aim my life, O Yahweh, that it will flowalong the course of the customs and laws you’ve enacted,

And I will guard them, maintainthem, and protect them to the end as a great reward

34 Give me the ability to distinguish andunderstand with diligence, cunning, and eloquence and I will keep Your Law byguarding it, protecting it, and maintaining it, obeying and preserving it!

It is true! I will becircumspect, and take heed to its instr...

1 When, at the beginning of all things,Elohiym selected, cut and formed, and created the heavens above and the earthbeneath out feet. 2 the earth beneath our feet was a wasted,desolate and worthless thing, an undistinguishable vacuum.  Darkness obscured its surging mass ofwater.  When it was in this condition,the Spirit of Elohiym, the unsubantiatable breath of God brooded over thiswatery void.

3 And Elohiym declared:  Light!

And illuminatio...