Featured Posts
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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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Daniel Wallace on Manuscripts of Q
There’s a great moment in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (the book, not sure about the movie) when the truly incredible synthesizer on the ship is trying to produce tea. The results? Something almost, but not quite totally unlike tea. Daniel Wallace asks whether manuscripts of Q still exist, and prefaces his answer with:…
February 2013 Biblical Studies Carnival Posted
… at Delving into the Scriptures.
Two Things that Lead Toward Christian Unity
There are two things I’ve noticed in my own life and in the lives of people I know that tend to lead toward less divisiveness and greater Christian unity. These are: 1) A focus on doing mission 2) A focus on the study of scripture What’s interesting is that people can differ on how to…
The Premier 2013 Biblical Studies Carnival Posted
… at Zwinglius Redivivus, complete with lofty claims. Go forth and check those claims thoroughly!
Too Sensitive?
Probably.
Greg Boyd and Spiritual Warfare
Scot McKnight has a post titled Greg Boyd and Hostile Forces, referencing Boyd’s contribution to the book Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views. This is a book I’m adding to my reading list. The thing that interests me most about this is the idea that scripture doesn’t (broadly) support the idea that everything that happens is…
Quote of the Day
From David Alan Black: … hermeneutics is simply the prelude to obedience. It should cause one to think.
In Memoriam: John William McKenzie Brady
In Memoriam: John William McKenzie Brady
The UMC and Innovation
Or you might say, denominations (or even just “organizations”) and innovation. We don’t have to work within the system if we don’t want to. We can work without it. We can go outside of it. We can leave it if it continues to stifle us. I might have preferred “if God calls us to,” but…
Fiscal Cliff Deal Results in Abuse of Language
From CNN: “Two hours after their midnight deadline, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a last-minute deal Tuesday to avert the feared fiscal cliff on a 89-8 vote.” To put a charitable construction on it, they mean the deal was made at the last-minute and passed two hours after the deadline, but if you pass it after…
Is the Virgin Birth a Mistranslation?
Mark Goodacre has an excellent podcast on this question. What I’d want to get across in a brief answer to this question is: 1) Greek parthenos is not necessarily a bad translation of Hebrew almah. The semantic ranges do overlap substantially, though (as Mark points out) parthenos tends more toward “virginity.” 2) For reasons that…
Spying Churches
I’m struck by the fear with which churches greet new ideas. No, I think I should make it more direct than that. I’m struck by the fear with which churches greet ideas. Any type of ideas. The type of people who manifest this sort of fear are generally those who are either unable to support…
I Want My Canine Chauffeur
Don’t believe me? Check here for video. (HT: Dave Black Online)
I Wish This Would Work
A naive suggestion. Unfortunately, there are enough people out there willing to be manipulated to make all the lying worthwhile.
10 Stupid Things Ministers Should Never Do
J. Lee Grady steps on some toes again. In general, these apply to any leader, especially the point about accountability. A lack of accountability undermines any other efforts.
Biblical Studies Carnival Posted
… at Dust. It’s quite a carnival. I’m pretty sure I won’t manage to read even decent percentage of the posts listed and classified. Great job!
Bible Gateway Adds RSV and NRSV
Bible Gateway has added the RSV and NRSV. This will be useful for me as these are my two favorite formal equivalent translations. This addition comes by agreement with the National Council of Churches.
Just in case we thought democrats were our friends …
More legal invasions of privacy, sponsored by a democrat.
Starting with the Local Congregation – or with Me
Dave Black responded to my previous post on the United Methodist Church by referring to some thoughts he has had on his own denomination. I want to quote them here, since Dave’s blog doesn’t make linking to a particular entry possible. 7:55 AM Noted Methodist blogger Henry Neufeld ponders the question, How to cure the…
Curing the United Methodist Church
No, not that type of curing. Fixing it. Making it healthy and productive. Practically every day I find in my inbox, or on one of the various feeds I follow, an article on how to fix the dying United Methodist Church. While there are many disagreements on details, generally everyone agrees that the church is,…
Sky McCracken on Change in the UMC
A great quote: We Americans aren’t very good at absolute authority, but we presently have the opposite of it in the UMC – we have an episcopacy shackled to lead, but convenient to blame. It’s a great system to play armchair quarterback in, but it doesn’t make disciples. Go read the rest. It’s thought provoking.
AG Superintendent Responds to Election
He recorded his statement before he knew who won so he wouldn’t be biased. It’s a good statement. About a minute and a half in, there’s this: Regardless of whether our president is Barack Obama or Mitt Romney, the mission of our fellowship is the same. Just so!
Over-the-Top Election Reactions
Out of the various feeds I follow, I found these: Eric Dondero thinks you should go so far as to divorce a wife who voted for Obama. “I strongly urge all other libertarians to do the same. Are you married to someone who voted for Obama, have a girlfriend who voted ‘O’. Divorce them. Break…