Wednesday Devotional: ‘One Hope’

Johnson's Dictionary (1828 Edition, Google Books)

“Hope” is such a positive, uplifting sort of word, and its linguistic roots and ties suggest that it was invented that way. It’s regularly understood as having a positive spiritual meaning, so much so that it’s sometimes difficult to detach it from its spiritual usage in everyday conversation. Christian can share a common hope for a better future, for salvation, for the destruction of earthly enemies, for the return of Christ, for whatever. What I wasn’t aware of was that the Greek word often translated as “hope” (ἐλπίς) also has a possible negative definition that doesn’t match our choice of English word. According to Thayer and Smith’s “The New Testament Greek Lexicon,” ἐλπίς can convey not only an anticipation or expectation of something desired and pleasurable (the usual interpretation), but also of something evil or fearful.

Although I trust that Bible translators have taken great pains to use our “hope” when the text strongly suggests something positive, I do wonder how an underlying negative sense might alter our understanding of a particular text. For example, in Ephesians 4:1-6 the Apostle Paul stresses the unity of believers who share a common “body,” “Spirit,” and “hope” (ἐλπίδι in 4:4). Although this typically might be interpreted as the first century Church expecting Christ’s return and the resurrection of the dead, maybe it also could be the expectation of God’s fierce judgment and the eternal punishment for sin if we don’t comply with His demands. In other words, we’re not just united by our “hopes,” but also by our fears. Rather odd to think about.

This post’s topic is based on the Wednesday Devotional Theme covered tonight at Alhambra Church of Christ.

We’re Engaged!

Our Family BBQ Engagement Photo

Actually, I’ve been engaged to marry Gabriel “Cowboy” Estrada, preacher with the Alhambra Church of Christ, for awhile now. We bought the ring on Tuesday, April 17, but we waited until our Saturday, May 5 family BBQ to make a formal announcement. Now I’m in the process of planning an October wedding and redecorating my fiancé’s house, and the semester still isn’t over!

1907 Howard Cabinet Grand

My first action as a newly engaged woman was to purchase a piano, since it’ll be a bit of a drive to my parents’ house. My brother-in-law, Rebecca’s husband, helped me find a 1907 Howard Cabinet Grand in fantastic condition. He’s already set to work repairing and retuning it.

Wedding Present No. 1

Of course, a number of family and friends heard about our engagement beforehand. After Gabriel and I participated in Newland Street Church of Christ’s annual “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” on April 21, our “crafty” hostess started working on my first bridal present: a “bow holder” shaped like a doll that’s to be used as a rehearsal bouquet.

Wedding Present No. 2

And last Friday, my mom (Karen) surprised me with a second present – measuring cups and spoons – after hearing me recount my near cooking disaster trying to follow Whole Food’s Peruvian-Style Roasted Chicken with Sweet Onions recipe. I’m usually not a cautious person in the kitchen, which is why I didn’t notice months ago that Gabriel didn’t own a set. However, that day, I didn’t feel like experimenting with cumin and paprika. Luckily for both of us, the chicken turned out great.

Second Monday Random Stuff II

AHAlife: Temperature Controlled Baby Blanket - 37° has found another use for the stuff NASA spacesuits are made of.

Zooniverse: Moonzoo - Explore the Surface of the Moon - Whether eerie or beautiful, the man on the moon needs to have every blemished recorded for posterity, and you can help out.

A Dictionary of the English Language: A Digital Edition of the 1755 Classic by Samuel Jonson - For those of us who can't stand homeschoolers who quote from Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary.

Slavery Footprint: How Many Slaves Are Working for You? - This is a lot more disturbing that calculating a “carbon footprint.” Too bad they chickened out on the sex trafficking issue by not including the pay-for-sex question in the final score.

Zooniverse: Ancient Lives - Study the Lives of Ancient Greeks - Think transcription is easy? Help scholars work on the Oxyrhynchus collection.