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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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TNIV and REB
I was interested in this post on This Lamp because of the reference in the last paragraph: As an aside… Last Christmas, I went back to my home church for a worship service. I came across the same individual mentioned above who had been one of my mentors in college. He had just come from…
John Wesley Quote
I was looking for something else, but I can’t resist posting this quote: I advise you never to use the words wisdom, reason, or knowledge, by way of reproach. On the contrary, pray that you yourself may abound in them more and more. If you mean worldly wisdom, useless knowledge, false reasoning, say so; and…
More on Junia the Apostle
Suzanne McCarthy has now responded to the latest objections to her work on Junia (Romans 16:7), a distinguished apostle and a woman. He whole series has been excellent, and I recommend it highly. You can go there for links to the various stages of this debate, including postings by her various critics. The more I…
Hebrews: Going On Toward Perfection
The first time I taught a class on Hebrews following publication of my study guide, we were studying lesson #7, Falling Away. The primary reading for the lesson is Hebrews 5:11-6:12, and thus includes the passage, “going on toward perfection” which is very famous in Methodist and Wesleyan circles. In discussing the passage we noted…
Rejecting a Creationist Museum Challenge
In A Tale of Two Museums the Evangelical Ecologist gives the following challenge to those of us who are Christians and accept the theory of evolution. (Yeah, that’s why we use “theistic evolutionist”–it takes less time to type!): But clearly its not a scientific method thats being debated here, though I suppose thats part of…
Honoring the Troops
Ten years in the U.S. Air Force have made me look differently at the news and feel differently on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day, of course, is to remember those who have fallen, but rarely do I attend a Memorial Day service any more at which there is not something done to honor…
Cubs as the Suffering Servant?
OK, as the parent of a Chicago Cubs player (John Webb, currently with the AAA Iowa Cubs), I have to link to this great post about baseball, God’s game. (HT to Moderate Christian Blogroll member Come to the waters.) Of course, pay particular attention to this: 8. It has its Suffering Servant, viz. the Chicago…
Distortion Not Good for Faith
I blogged previously about the Answers in Genesis creation museum that’s going up in Kentucky in How to Waste $25 Million. Now the museum is about to be opened, and they held special events for the true believers yesterday. This museum is a monument to the desire to avoid scientific evidence and to present an…
CIA Prewar Assessments and Fallout
I found the following article interesting but in no way surprising: Months before the invasion of Iraq, U.S. intelligence agencies predicted that it would be likely to spark violent sectarian divides and provide al-Qaeda with new opportunities in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a report released Friday by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Analysts…
Update on the Kentucky Gubernatorial Primary
Well, Fletcher did it. With 50% of the vote to his main opponent’s 37% (Source: CQPolitics.com) he became the Republican nominee. I find it interesting that Bush’s approval rating is lower than Fletcher’s (38%), and Fletcher was indicted while in office. Yes, I know there’s the unpopular war in Iraq, but then one also has…
The Josh Hancock Family and Grief
Note: My wife Jody doesn’t post here often. This is from her. Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery’s shadow or reflection: the fact that you don’t merely suffer but have to keep on thinking about the fact that you suffer. I not only live each endless day in grief, but live…
Devotionals from 1 Corinthians 13
I’m writing a series of devotionals from 1 Corinthians 13 for my wife’s devotional list. The first three entries have been posted. Entries on the devotional list are posted each weekday morning. Understanding Love The Priority of Love Characteristics of Love I Characteristics of Love II Love is Eternal (Update) Love is Boring (Update) Love…
Affirming Feminine Spirituality
My Christianity Today Connection news e-mail connected me to an article in Today’s Christian Woman titled The Goddess Unmasked. It’s a Christian response to Wicca, looking at reasons why women who have grown up Christian become Wiccans, and discusses ministry to them. It’s not my intention to discuss the issue of responses to various religions…
ID and Probability
It seems that the probability arguments related to creationism don’t change much at the core, they just get more complex and verbose. The old “747 from a hurricane in a junk yard” argument just gets reformatted and reused about different things. Ed Brayton has a response to DaveScot that is so good I need to…
Christian Carnival CLXXIII Posted
. . . at Pseudo-Polymath. Go look at it for the fine pictures used to separate the sections. Oh–read the articles too!
Bible Software for Linux
Since I am playing with a new box I built with Ubuntu installed, I have written a short note on Bible software for Linux on my Computer Services company blog. I’m looking at a Java based application which is also available for Windows, so those looking for free Bible software should check it out.
How Politicians Survive Scandal
Does this strike anyone else as odd? Fletcher’s political recovery has been little short of remarkable. A year ago, he was under indictment on three misdemeanor charges of rigging state hiring to favor loyalists. He declined to speak to a grand jury, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, and issued a blanket pardon that…
More on UC Admission Policies and Creationism
I got my ears pinned back (very politely) in a comment by Mary on my previous post on this topic, and the commenter made such good points I think it is appropriate to promote her comment there to a post so more people will see it. Youve asked some interesting questions about UCs admissions policies….
Bible Prayer Index
I have added my Bible prayer index to the right sidebar. This index has been in existence for some time. It is not exhaustive. For example, I did not include all prayers I found in the Psalms. The way I produced it was to read the Bible through and mark each prayer that particularly struck…
The Dream Factor on Money
Pastor Tom Sims has a good short note on Christians and money, titles Spelling M-O-N-E-Y Biblically. Money is a tough topic for Christians. We tend either to go overboard on prosperity theology or be afraid of prosperity lest it destroy us spiritually. Tom’s thoughts may provide some guidance.
Homeschool Textbooks and University Admission
It’s been a few days since this was front and center, triggered by the presentation of an expert report by Dr. Michael Behe, but I wanted to write a few notes about the issue of admissions at UC and homeschooling. There’s an article ACSI v. Stearns, aka Wendell Bird vs. UC on Panda’s Thumb article…
Academic Freedom and ID
Intelligent Design advocates are trying to make us believe that their struggle is primarily about academic freedom, about allowing a new idea to get the examination it deserves, and about ensuring that people are not persecuted for their beliefs. Similar arguments are used from the high school level on up, with the phrase “teach the…
On Churches, Drinking, and Weaker Brethren
Joe Carter has an excellent post looking at the Christian standards on drinking. What does one do with the behavior of Jesus, who did drink? Would Jesus be acceptable as a pastor or elder in our churches or as a faculty member in our seminaries? I am a member of a United Methodist congregation, and…
Book: The Voice of Jesus in the Social Rhetoric of James
This should not be read as a review, but rather as a response and a few notes for potential readers. Dr. Wesley Wachob became pastor of First United Methodist Church of Pensacola last June. His associate minister, Rev. Geoffrey Lentz is a good friend, and I have been hearing many good things about that church…