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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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Broad Category Feeds
For those who may be interested only in part of the subject matter of this blog, I have created three broad category feeds: Politics Religion Science I will include posts that cross the boundaries of two of these in both of the tags so you’ll get them if you subscribe to that feed.
Moving to Feedburner
. . . or I might say feedproxy from Google. Many of you may not be aware, but I do make part of my income from writing, and I wanted to have the opportunity to show just a small ad with my posts. I earlier had a post in which I asked whether people preferred…
First UMC ICON Service
A few days ago I posted a video about the new service being offered at my home church, First United Methodist Church of Pensacola. Yesterday I attended the first service. We ran out of standing room and about 80 people had to be sent to the other service. I am very interested in the concept…
Baptism and the Water Metaphor
Baptism of our Lord, Cycle B When we hear the word “water” in our modern world we generally think of nice things–a thirst-quenching drink, a nice shower or bath, fun in a swimming pool, or perhaps a fine ocean cruse. Thus when we think about baptism we tend to think mostly about cleansing or even…
Why I Like the Gospel of Mark
For many Christians, especially those who love theology, the Gospel of John is a favorite. There’s a good reason why it is used in the lectionary on high holy days–it reflects on the meaning of the events in the life of Jesus. For me, however, the gospel of Mark has always had a special place. …
Gospel of John: Baptism to Ministry
This is the relevant presentation from my audio series on the gospel of John for Epiphany 1B. Though the scripture reading ends at verse 41, the presentation covers the transition from the baptism to the wedding feast at Cana. {audio}2-1-baptism_to_ministry.mp3{/audio}
Seat Roland Burris
Why would I suggest this? Is it because I don’t think Governor Blagojevich is not corrupt? Do I think he’s “worthy”? Is it because I think Roland Burris is particularly well-suited to the job and somehow has a “right” to be in the Senate? In fact, I have a very low regard for Governor Blagojevich,…
And Yet Again, Rick Warren
If it isn’t one thing, it’s another. Now he says that physical abuse is not a sufficient reason for divorce, according to this Christian Post story. I feel his pain, in a sense, as he says that he wishes the Bible included such a reason for divorce, but that in fact, it does not. He…
Back in Action – 2009
Well, I fell behind during the Christmas break and didn’t keep up with posting. I did keep up with reading, and I may even post some of my thoughts on the older passages as I have time. I hope you won’t mind finding those in the feed. Today I will post some overviews of the…
Experimenting Methodists
OK, as this is an experiment, and it involves the United Methodist Church and Wesleyan theology, I’m going to play along. I have serious doubts about the validity of the results. The question is this: If some agency of the UM church put out a video and it wasn’t an experiment, would I be on…
The Great Akkadian Final Exam
While I was writing about my mother reading Hebrew yesterday, I recalled another person who was substantially involved in my Biblical Languages training, Dr. Leona Glidden Running. She was a Biblical Languages professor at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary when I took my MA from the Andrews University graduate school and was my academic advisor….
My Movie Rating
. . . and it is to laugh Created by OnePlusYou – Free Dating Site What’s to laugh about? It says this rating is based on the presence of the words “dead” (2x) and “torture” (1x). Hat Tip: C.Orthodoxy and a crowd of others.
Review of A Reader’s Greek New Testament
GoingtoSeminary.com has a good review of A Reader’s Greek New Testament. I find the concept interesting for new Greek students or those wishing to improve their skills through quantity reading. It’s often hard for new students to move from the word-by-word mode to actually reading Greek, and this is the sort of tool that can…
My Mother Reads Hebrew
One of my disappointments as an undergraduate student was being told by my teacher, and Old Testament studies professor, that most people had learned and forgotten Hebrew many times. It’s not my intent to criticize him–he’s one of my favorite people, and an outstanding scholar and teacher–but I was disappointed with the low expectations. The…
Christian Carnival CCLVIII Posted
. . . at Fathom Deep. I forgot to submit anything, but as usual there’s lots of good stuff.
BBC Radio Program on Evolution and Faith
This excellent little program includes Alister McGrath, Alexandra Wright, and Dr. Usama Hassan, along with an interview with fellow blogger Mike Beidler. It’s well worth checking out.
Evangelism from an Atheist Perspective
I tend to talk a great deal about how we should approach those of other faiths. It’s something that interests me a great deal. Going way back to the early days of this blog, I find the post Witnessing without being a Pest. Let me note here, however, that I’m not calling on any of…
The 2009 John Webb Winter Golf Tournament
My stepson John Webb sponsors an annual golf tournament that raises money for the child life program of Sacred Heart Hospital here in Pensacola. The first tournament was held in January of 2003, and the next one will be held January 31, 2009. This year, the tournament comes under the sponsorship of John’s new foundation,…
What Can We Christians be Thinking?
There were two posts that really drew my attention while running through my Google Reader account over the last couple of days. The first was from Hannity and Colmes, with hat tip to Dispatches from the Culture Wars, via WorldNetDaily. I went and found the actual transcript: COLMES: What about what does it say…
First UMC to Launch New Worship Service
There’s a new thing coming at an old church–a worship service featuring contemporary music, embracing the arts, while also celebrating traditions of worship. It’s called ICON. Here’s the 30 second television ad: HT: First UMC.
On Being a Liberal Charismatic Believer
I found a new blog (for me) this week via John Meunier—To Him Which is Yes. I was particularly attracted by the post John linked to, Bringing back belief. Jack Burden, the blogger, tells the story of how he silenced a committee meeting, doubtless an extremely useful skill under any circumstances, but the point is…
Ken Miller v. Casey Luskin
If it were a court case, Luskin would be getting the book thrown at him when penalty time came. If any readers of this blog don’t also read The Loom, you should. But in case some of you don’t, make sure not to miss this three part series by Dr. Ken Miller, (part 2, part…
Willful, Crusading Ignorance
I took the title of this post from one of the speakers in the video embedded below. I’ve followed this IUPUI case for some time, mostly via Dispatches from the Culture Wars, but also through the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). This case is particularly egregious, but political correctness, or the idea that…
Christian Carnival #257 Posted
. . . at Ancient Hebrew Poetry. It’s short–I wonder if there’s some sort of holiday around this time of year!–but still has some interesting posts. Hopefully more people will submit their best work for the next one. It’s painless, and it gets you links!