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Dr TK Dunn on the Importance of the Old Testament
This is an extract from a longer interview, which I will also embed. I think Dr. Dunn has some valuable comments on the relationship of scripture and what it means for our study. And here’s the full interview from which that was extracted.
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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Of Necessity and Suffering
I’ve appreciated much of what John Piper has said about the prosperity gospel. Prosperity theology strikes me as not just false (Biblically and experientially), but particularly dangerous because it either drives one from faith and its actual benefits, or creates a very shallow Christian at best, ready to be driven away at the first difficulty….
Great ID Cartoon
It’s at Faith and Theology, with hat tip to Metacatholic. Enjoy! Also, I’ve added Metacatholic to my blogroll, and my RSS subscriptions. I’ll probably be linking there more in the weeks to come.
Defining Explicit Teaching
Wayne Leman has published the first part of his report on the survey he has been taking on Biblical teachings about headship. While this was not a scientific poll it did point to some interesting things. I’d suggest reading it with a primary focus on what people understand as an “explicit teaching” of scripture. What…
Arecibo Observatory
MSNBC reports that funding may be cut off for the Arecibo Observatory. But among astronomers, Arecibo is an icon of hard science. Its instruments have netted a decades-long string of discoveries about the structure and evolution of the universe. Its high-powered radar has mapped in exquisite detail the surfaces and interiors of neighboring planets. ….
Christian Politics
I appreciated this post from Monastic Mumblings. (HT: The Moderate Christian Blogroll [RSS]) I would like two add just a couple of notes. First, I think we begin to depend on politics when we cease to depend on the gospel. If we truly believe that Jesus can change lives, then we also must believe that…
MBWR Posted
The Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup 2007.30.128 has been posted.
Could You Take Your Pastor?
I recall an argument in my freshman year in college, in which a fellow-student who was much larger than I was decided to end the debate by saying, “I think I’ll just beat you up!” He could have too. I wouldn’t have stood a chance. So obviously he was right. Well, I’ve found a second…
GMC not Ford
When I see a headline like The Search for the Heterosexual SUV, I go to the actual source hoping against hope that it will turn out to be in the Onion. Of course, since I know that the American Family Association has called for a boycott of Ford, I know I don’t have much hope….
The FBI, Haiku, and Christine’s Garden
I like this response to a recent court decision regarding the so-called Patriot Act. Hey Christine–people who read, and even worse write Haiku are extremely dangerous. Didn’t you know that? And those peonies for your garden? Indeed there ought to be a law! 
Corrupt Politicians and Shrill Partisans
OK, I’m shocked and amazed. Well, not so much. This time it’s Democrats, as the FBI arrests officials in New Jersey. This story just reminded me that people who have power will be tempted, and some of them will turn out to be corrupt. The question is what we’ll do about it. In this case,…
As Long as They’re Not Saying Anything
. . . why should I listen? This story from MSNBC discusses how Fred Thompson upstaged the Republican debate. Since I’m an independent, these debates are generally of limited interest to me, though I do like to follow the candidates so as to have prior knowledge about the nominees. What surprised me here was that…
Christian Carnival CLXXXVIII
. . . has been posted at Bounded Irrationality.
The Week in Church History
Levellers has a number of interesting events and people. I linked simply because of two people: Thomas Coke, who was consecrated “bishop” by John Wesley, 9/2/1784, and J. R. R. Tolkien who died 9/2/1973. I’m pretty sure the two events unrelated, other than by the fact that I appreciate both men.
Practical Ideas for Teacher Training
Well, Clix went and got all practical on me after she commented on a previous post here. She expressed some discomfort with my call for teachers to be one of the highest paid professions. What about people who are just in it for the money? Her post is about practical ideas for better teacher training…
Not All Doctrines are Equal
Before I carry forward into my discussion of the nature of authentic Christianity, I want to link to a couple of posts in which I have discussed my view of what Christianity is. I wish to do this near the beginning, because I will be making a number of statements about what Christianity is not,…
Which Paradigm to Check
David Lang has written an interesting post at Better Bibles dealing with the complementarian/egalitarian debate. Readers of this blog will realize that I’m not terribly moderate on this particular issue–I’m passionately egalitarian. David does make a good point about polarizing arguments, however: . . . In the process of trying to persuade those who disagree…
Stupid Actions in Church-State Cases
Ed comments on a bizarre church-state case on which he agrees with the ADF, as do I. There are cases in which there is some significant doubt about the correct set of actions. I sympathize with school administrators who must deal with close calls. But most of these cases are very clear, and I have…
Like a Bull in a China Shop?
This one is great! HT: evangelical outpost. To those who have seen my previous Site Advisor notes, evangelical outpost is now rated green by their site.
Genesis 10: The Table of Nations
Genesis 10 is one of those chapters that Bible students often try to avoid, because it is filled with names that are difficult to pronounce, and it’s hard for our modern ears to hear it as anything other than an interruption. But to the redactor of Genesis, these genealogies were serious business. Genesis 5 provides…
Larry Craig, Family Values, and Hypocrisy
I generally try to avoid scandal stories about celebrities, though I’m much more often tempted to read, listen, and comment when they involve political figures. Listening to the arrest interview tape of Senator Larry Craig was an interesting experience. I was immediately struck by how naive I am at age 50. None of the conversation…
Complementarianism and Suppressing Women
There have been numerous really wonderful articles on women in ministry lately, and I have been so busy both with my own writing and editing, proofing, and formatting my very unsuppressed wife’s new book on grief, that I have not been able to get involved. I’m going to point to a couple of posts on…
Bible Translation and Fundamentalism from a Wesleyan Perspective
Dennis Bratcher, of the Christian Resource Institute, has an exceptionally good article on neo-fundamentalism, with a focus on the TNIV and Bible translation, looking particularly from the Wesleyan tradition. (He is Nazarene). There has been a frequent tendency amongst Wesleyans to borrow theology from the Calvinists, but not to go as far on certain points….
A Static and Authentic Christianity?
In a previous post, I promoted some comments in which Barry Jones of The Village Atheist web site questioned whether my version of Christianity was authentic. In particular, he believes that Christianity should be based on the Bible and should be singular. This post is not in direct response, but I will say a number…
Is Liberal (or Moderate) Christianity Authentic
Barry Jones of The Village Atheist has suggested a discussion with me on the issue of the whether my sort of Christianity is authentic. He doesn’t believe it is. After the exchange of a number of comments, we’re going to discuss this here on this blog. He’ll be putting his notes in the comments, but…