Featured Posts
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Sorrow Like My Sorrow – Lamentations 1:12
Can we really understand the suffering of another person or they ours?
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What Is Biblical Literacy?
We complain about it, write about it, claim it’s important or even critical, design programs to create it, but what is it? I don’t mean that none of us know what we mean when we say “biblically literate” or “biblically illiterate,” but do we all mean the same thing? I don’t think we do, and…
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Fences: Mending or Rending
The following is a sermon I presented at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Pensacola on September 11,2005 and originally posted here on September 13, 2005. I’m reposting it because when I went to look for it, I found that the original post had somehow been truncated, and also because there is a one word at a…
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Experiencing the (Baptism of the) Holy Spirit
This is a topic where I tend to make just about everyone uncomfortable. Long time readers may recall a previous discussion of speaking in tongues, and my own experience of it. Those who expect me to be intellectually oriented and rational are uncomfortable with mystical experiences, and many who are comfortable with the mystical experiences…
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Dr. Reich Stirs up some Hornets
I’ve been following Dr. Reich’s blog ever since I discovered it during the primary season. He was Labor Secretary during the Clinton administration, and I recall not always agreeing with him at the time, though I don’t recall the details. In any case, from the time when TARP was passed through the auto industry bailout,…
Interpreting the Bible – Mid-Course Focus
This isn’t a summary of previous posts, but rather an attempt to focus on the issue I’m trying to address with this series before I continue. The problem with a series like this is that the examples begin to take over the topic. Since I have used complementarianism and theistic evolution as examples, and brought…
A Caution to Republicans and Democrats
I’m an independent who voted Democratic this time. Now obviously I can’t speak for independents as a group. That is, after all, what independent means. One of the things I wanted was bipartisanship, and my impression is that either I don’t know what that means or most of the people in Washington DC are pretty…
Lost Generation?
This is a great video: HT: Hit the Back Button to Move Fwd.
The Press is No More Intelligent
I just watched the initial White House press briefing. I was watching on MSNBC, and immediately afterwards one of the reporters commented that the briefing was quite contentious, that the press corps was “feisty” and that this should lay to rest any idea that the press, which was pretty negative on President Bush, would fail…
And Now for a Liberal Attack on Free Speech
… in the Netherlands.
This Should Have Happened Yesterday
Senate confirms Clinton as secretary of state. Two things will keep me annoyed with Republicans–failure to stand up for principles and useless gestures for no purpose. This was the latter.
The Freedom to be Dumb
Well, actually you should have the freedom to be dumb, but not on the public school budget. For all those who wonder why I strongly oppose so-called academic freedom bills applying to the High School science curriculum, see this site. Cool, no?
Good Place to Reduce Spending
Legalize Pot (HT: Dispatches). Less law enforcement, less jail expenses, more revenue from taxing the legalized sales. Win, win, win.
Christian Carnival Fifth Anniversay Edition Posted
… at Fish and Cans. I am overwhelmed with work and didn’t get around to making a submission, but there’s bunches of good stuff. Folks who have been reading my work on inerrancy either here or at my Threads blog should see Jeremy Pierce’s contribution
Keeping Women from Ministry is a Sin
… or so said this pastor last May, thus showing that there are folks who use harsher language about this than I do.
A Few Kicks in the Rear
I think that President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech was less about soaring rhetoric and more about giving the nation a few kicks in the rear, though only in the nicest way. Yet the kicks were firm for all of that. While government has work to do, we all need to change our attitude and get…
Great Days but Bad Quarters
Rossini said of Wagner that he had great moments but bad quarter hours. I’m paraphrasing this as a short post-mortem on President George W. Bush. I think that several times during his presidency, George Bush showed the potential for greatness, but only for a moment. The way in which he has handled the transition, for…
Quote of the Day 1-20-09
From Bruce Alderman: To be honest, I think the ugliest thing about Christianity is the pervasiveness of preachers and apologists who try to scare people into the faith, and who seek to reduce their flocks’ exposure to other viewpoints. … The entire post is worth reading. There’s a great deal of good material in the…
Is Tomorrow a Down Payment on the Dream?
On Meet the Press on Sunday Tavis Smiley made a comment that stuck with me. I have to extract this from a longer statement, and you can find the whole thing here. He said: … I think, though, it’s important to state that Obama’s election is a down payment on King’s dream, it is not…
Some More Well-Considered(?) Legislation
In pursuing the laudable goal of keeping lead out of children’s it looks like congress may have been just as thoughtful as usual. More on evangelical outpost.
Mounce on What the Greek Says
Bill Mounce, author of the wonderful Basics of Biblical Greek, which I have used in teaching, has a post at Koinonia titled <em>Matthew 7:26-Is a moros a moron</em>, with the very proper answer–NO! There are two things I’d like to call attention to in this post. The first is an excellent illustration of the false…
Design Language and Evolution
Charles Jones has a post a Power of Suggestion in which he notes the following: But evolution cant allow things, because its unguided. And it cant make any mistakes, because it makes no decisions. Take note: whenever people try to explain how something happens through evolution, they always resort to the language of design. Now…
Series on Chauvinistic Passages in the Bible
Christopher Smith has written a three part series on chauvinistic passages in the Bible. The passages are: 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 1 Timothy 2:11-15 In general I agree with what he writes, though I think the balance of evidence is slightly in favor of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. I tended the other way on…
Before Going to Theology School
… or as soon afterward as practicable, read this. (HT: Pseudo-Polymath.)
Quote of the Day 1-19-09
From Only Wonder Understands: This week, in working on a sermon on transforming discipleship (drawing on some materials by Trevor Hudson) I was reminded that Jesus always values people over efficiency and effectiveness. One might also remember that what is efficient will depend on what one’s goal is. And yes, I think it’s a good…
Lecture on 1 Corinthians 6
I’m including audio of my lecture on 1 Corinthians 6 from 2003. This is more than 20 minutes of audio, so be prepared for the download times. {audio}03_1_Cor_6.mp3{/audio}
Epiphany 2B – Thoughts and Themes
The texts are 1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20), Psalm 139:1-6,13-18, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, and John 1:43-51. The common theme that stuck in my mind was on receiving God’s word. We frequently focus on how God gives his word, how reliable it is, how reliable God is, and how we must trust what God says. But how often…
And Now, Prayers from Everybody
… or almost, that is. According to this Christian Post story, quite a variety of clergy have joined in the various services that will be involved in the inauguration. So if people want to bash Rev. Rick Warren or Bishop Gene Robinson, they should at least consider the broader range of targets available. Before anyone…