Rebecca Stark is the author of The Good Portion: God, the second title in The Good Portion series.
The Good Portion: God explores what Scripture teaches about God in hopes that readers will see his perfection, worth, magnificence, and beauty as they study his triune nature, infinite attributes, and wondrous works.
Monday, May 14, 2012 at 9:10PM 
Part III: Questions about Salvation
76. Q. What kind of death did Christ die?
A. Christ experienced the painful and shameful death of the cross.
(Click through to read scriptural proof.)
Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 9:35PM Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.I my master have denied,
I afresh have crucified,
And profaned His hallowed name,
Put Him to an open shame.I have spilt His precious blood,
Trampled on the Son of God,
Filled with pangs unspeakable,
I, who yet am not in hell!Lo! I still walk on the ground:
Lo! an advocate is found:Hasten not to cut him down,
Let this barren soul alone.Jesus speaks, and pleads His blood!
He disarms the wrath of God;
Now my Father’s mercies move,
Justice lingers into love.Kindled His relentings are,
Me He now delights to spare,
Cries,How shall I give thee up?
Lets the lifted thunder drop.Whence to me this waste of love?
Ask my advocate above!
See the cause in Jesus’ face,
Now before the throne of grace.There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps and loves me still.Jesus, answer from above,
Is not all Thy nature love?
Wilt Thou not the wrong forget,
Permit me to kiss Thy feet?If I rightly read Thy heart,
If Thou all compassion art,
Bow Thine ear, in mercy bow,
Pardon and accept me now.Pity from Thine eye let fall,
By a look my soul recall;
Now the stone to flesh convert,
Cast a look, and break my heart.Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.—Charles Wesley
Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:
Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.
Friday, May 11, 2012 at 12:02PM 
This week there were a whole lot of posts on the Bible in my clippings file, too many for one Round the Sphere post. I’ve set aside some to link from Theological Term posts and some for possible future Round the Sphere posts. These are a few links that have to do with understanding and interpreting the Bible.
An Overview
Fred Zaspel answers the question “What is the Bible all about?” (Credo Magazine).
How to Interpret It
Kim Shay posts on how to study the gospels . The summary:
I think the best approach to studying the gospels is to read, read, read, and take notes. Furthermore, we must read “horizontally,” i.e., keeping in mind that there are four gospels, and “vertically,” i.e., paying attention to the context of a given pericope. Getting into the context of the time Christ lived helps, too.
(The Upward Call)
D. A. Carson comments on this apparent contradiction between Paul and James:
“FOR WE MAINTAIN THAT A MAN is justified by faith apart from observing the law” (Rom. 3:28). So writes the apostle Paul. “You foolish man,” argues James, “do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? … You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone…. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:14-26, especially vv. 20, 24, 26).
He gives three points to help reconcile the two passages (For the Love of God).
Steve Hays helps us understand the rhetorical techniques of biblical narrative (Triablogue).
How Not to Interpret It
Don’t approach the Bible in any of these five ways (Jen Wilkin at The Gospel Coalition Blog).