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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Book: Bobby Flay’s Grill It!
There isn’t a better grillmaster than Bobby Flay. If you like to grill or you would like some tips to better grilling, this is the book! The book begins by discussing grills and tools and condiments. I like Bobby’s simple and realistic recommendations. Then each chapter discusses each item that can be grilled (asparagus, beef,…
Book: Cast of Characters
Cast of Characters is another great book by Max Lucado! This could parallel the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews except that this author did not leave out the little detail that the characters are less than perfect! Rev. Lucado calls Paul, Job, Lazarus, and the Samaritan woman “common people in the hands of…
Book: Salvation in Death
Once again, Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, has hit a homerun with me in this newest installment of the In Death series. I have read the more than 30 previous Eve Dallas stories and I feel that I know the characters of Eve, Roarke, Peabody, Feeney, McNabb, and Somerset and yet Ms. Roberts continues…
Before Complaining about Corporate Taxes
. . . consider this note. Many of these corporations don’t actually pay the rate specified, for the very good reason that there are many special loopholes. This is redistribution, but in which direction and for what purpose? Yet we’re “redistributing” even more via bail-out money. And to those Republicans who will blame this on…
Teaching Evolution in Florida
Brandon Haught of Florida Citizens for Science has started a series of posts on the history of the creation-evolution controversy here in Florida. In the new year I intend to spend a bit more time on Florida issues and even on county issues (Escambia County in northwest Florida), so you can watch for (and possibly…
Dialogue with Those Who Agree
Two blogs I read regularly provided contrasting responses to Barack Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. First, Michael L. Westmoreland-White, who speaks from the left, expresses some anger because he sees Warren as someone whose views are opposed to those of many who made Barack Obama’s candidacy possible. As…
Inane Comments in the Orthodox Study Bible
I’ve complained previously about the translation used in the Orthodox Study Bible, but I reserved discussion of the notes for later. Before I complain, however, I want to note that I have found quite a number of comments that I regard as helpful. My study has been enriched by using this Bible. At the same…
Christian Carnival CCLV Posted
. . . at Parableman.
Book Notes: Theology of the Old Testament (Brueggemann)
Brueggemann, Walter. Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997. ISBN: 0-8006-3087-4. As is usual, note that I’m calling this book notes, and to some extent a response, rather than a review. That is more necessary in this case than most because the book is not aimed at a popular audience,…
Two Steps Back, and Proof Texts Too
Via Aristotle’s Feminist Subject, I found the story of the “True Woman” movement. See their manifesto as well. Earlier today, John Hobbins was calling for “respectful dialogue” as the “need of the hour.” I like John Hobbins, and he displays great wisdom. Respectful dialogue is both needed and rarely to be had. Unfortunately, with respect…
Christian Carnival #CCLIV Posted
. . . at Chasing the Wind. Enjoy!
Evidently the Jesus Seminar is too Religious
The Christian Post reports on a new effort to study the historical Jesus, known as the Jesus Project. Since I don’t always trust the objectivity of the Christian Post (or anyone else including myself, for that matter), I looked for additional information. According to both that source (and others): . . . Dr. R. Joseph…
Cars for the Public Interest
Ignoring the day’s flavor of scandal, I want to comment on something I heard yesterday about the auto industry bail-out. Of course, just in case you were thinking the government would be free of corruption, you’ve just had a reminder. Chris Matthews last night commented that we needed to get the auto industry to “produce…
Mark – The Mission of John the Baptist
The following audio comes from a radio program I recorded in 2003. The scripture is Mark 1:1-8, especially Mark 1:4. {audio}mark_1.mp3{/audio}
Mark Introduction
The attached audio is from an introduction to Mark I presented for a radio program in 2003. {audio}mark_intro.mp3{/audio}
The Worst Argument for Bailing Out the Auto Industry
I was thinking of this as I watched a few interviews today. I’m still less than at full speed after being sick in bed early in the week, and I’m spending more time on the couch working on my laptop and less at the desk in my office. My first inclination was to cite the…
Stories in a Chronological Context
Several things over the last couple of weeks have called my attention to time. My pastor preached about it last week, speaking of times of God’s extended silence. I lost some of it while being sick this week which always makes me a bit tense. Then I received a copy of 24/7: A One Year…
Book: By Schism Rent Asunder
This is the second book in this series by David Weber. I reviewed the previous volume, Off Armageddon Reef, here. Weber continues the series with more excellent writing. I think there is nobody in science fiction who can combine exciting characters, excellent military writing, interesting politics, and a plot that keeps you reading like David…
Wondering About Executive Pay
I’ve been fighting a nasty cold this week, and thus blogging and reading less on the internet and watching much more TV than usual. The experience has reinforced my low opinion of the value of television news as information. But this really, truly is going to be a short post. I mean it. There are…
The Jonah Problem Redux
Bruce Alderman wrote an interesting post today on what has to be somewhere close to my favorite book of the Bible–Jonah. He referenced an earlier post of mine from my Threads blog, but I’m not really commenting on that part. I should also note that while I call Jonah somewhere close to my favorite book,…
On Bundling Tourist Attractions
The Christian Post reports that the Cincinnati Zoo was forced to quit bundling its tickets with those to the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY. This has been blogged to death all around the internet, and I’m going to join in ganging up on the story. According to the Creation Museums founder, Ken Ham, however, the…
Christian Carnival CCLIII Has Been Posted
. . . at parables of a prodigal world. Go and enjoy!
Signs and Wondering
Over the last few weeks I have heard many stories of people who see certain events in their lives as signs of one thing or another. In fact, I could probably say the same thing about just about any period of time during my life. People are constantly seeing signs. Of course there is always…
This is Disgusting
Here’s another incident of mandatory religion in the Air Force (HT: Metacatholic). Besides the fact that it is quite improper for the Air Force to provide mandatory religious indoctrination, this program clearly denigrates the faith of many who would disagree with a number of elements of the presentation.