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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Is that Idiom Right?
We all use idioms, mostly unconsciously. There are a number that bother me that are in common usage, such as “I could care less” which developed from the more logical “I couldn’t care less.” But idioms often aren’t about logic. They’re about what people actually say, and what other people understand by what they say….
Reflection after the Election
This isn’t one of those “oh no the wrong guy(s) won” nor is it a “yay! the right guy(s) won” post. I wouldn’t be writing either of those if the results had been reversed. I’m interested in a few lessons about the way elections work. 1) Those who lead in the polls believe polls. Those…
Peter Enns on Inerrancy
Peter Enns (Inspiration and Incarnation) has an excellent post on inerrancy. On of my arguments in When People Speak for God is that we need to create our doctrine of inspiration primarily from observing scripture rather than by trying to extract theological statements about inspiration. The title of Dr. Enns’ post, I think someone forgot…
Voting Tomorrow
I’ve made a few snide remarks about friends who flood their Facebook timeline with political posts. I wouldn’t want anyone to think this is because I don’t care about politics. In fact, I read a great deal about politics and often research candidates’ positions in some detail if the information is available. I will be…
Military Spending and the Deficit
We should be considering these numbers when discussing the deficit. Some of these countries, at least, can afford to pay their own way.
Possibility of Addiction vs Chronic Pain
I wonder why we’re so much more concerned about the possibility of addiction to painkillers than about alleviating chronic pain.
Christian Attitude on Politics
… from my friend and Energion author Greg May. Copies of Greg’s new book, Crewed Awakening, are enroute from the printer. You can’t get “hotter off the press” than that!
Understanding Polls and Probabilities
Jonathan Last defends Nate Silver, but it’s really just explaining what “probability” means. HT: Dispatches.
The Hermeneutics of Love
Another great post on this by Rachel M. Stone. I’m glad I found her blog.
Morgan Guyton Reviews a Review
I will definitely be reading Rachel Held Evans’ new book A Year of Biblical Womanhood, but I haven’t done so yet, so I’m not commenting on that book. It’s always interesting to me, however, to see reviews of reviews before I’ve gotten my hands on a book. In this case the review getting reviewed is…
Bad Time of Year for a Black Cat
(HT: Why Evolution is True)
Hammering the Word SOON
I already mentioned that I’m in the final stages of publishing a new book Eschatology: A Participatory Study Guide by Edward W. H. Vick. One of the things that Dr. Vick emphasizes is the abuse of the word “soon” in Christian teaching and preaching. There is a problem with definitions if you repeatedly claim that…
Defining Christian
Adrian Warnock recently wrote a post on defining what is a Christian. I commented on that post, and largely had no problem with it. I’m looking forward to Adrian’s definition of an evangelical. Now Dave Warnock (no relation that I know of) has written a post critical of Adrian’s effort. Since I usually agree with…
October 22 and Eschatology
October 22 probably doesn’t mean much to most of my readers, but for someone who grew up as a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA), it has great significance. It was on October 22, 1844 that early Adventists (before they were Seventh-day Adventists) expected Jesus to return. It was actually the second time they had expected that. first…
Seismologists Guilty of Manslaughter
An Italian court has rendered what has to be on the top ten list of stupidest rulings in history in finding six scientists and government official guilty of manslaughter for being too reassuring prior to an earthquake (Source: MSNBC). Scientists around the world are condemning the verdict, as well they should. This illustrates the widespread…
In the Mail: Dreams from My Real Father
It’s a DVD of the movie. No, I didn’t buy it and I didn’t order it. I already read enough about it to know I have no interest in its paranoid ramblings. It came in my mailbox with a presort mail label, addressed to me by name, and my wife didn’t get one, so I…
What Dennis Venema Would Like to Hear a Young Earth Creationist Say
I think this post at BioLogos makes some important points. Besides, Dennis Venema does some excellent writing (not in this post, it’s about him).
Removing Mormons from the Cult List
There’s something deeply troubling about the decision by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to remove Mormons from the list of cults on their web site. My concern is not with failing to list any particular group as a cult. In fact, as commonly used in Christian apologetics, I don’t think the label or lists of…
Third Party Debate
I didn’t watch the debates with the major candidates, but I’m interested in the Third Party Debate for the same reason I’m registered independent. I don’t think the two party system is a good idea. Hopefully I’ll be able to watch this. Don’t make the assumption that I will vote third party, however. Sometimes it…
Psalm 104 in Proper 24B
Of course, I must bring forth my graduate school paper on Psalm 104 whenever it’s in the lectionary. I’ll also make my standard complaint. I’ll never be happy with parts of a Psalm. Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c? That’s tearing apart a highly structured and beautiful piece of poetry. Take the time to read the whole…
Bruce Epperly on Proper 24B
I’m currently checking over the proofs for Bruce Epperly’s new book Healing Marks before they go to the author for his approval. Bruce provides a truly challenging approach to scripture and theology. His comments on Proper 24B, especially dealing with the relationship between love and omnipotence, will enhance your understanding of these passages, I believe….
Biblical Numerology and Texts without Context Gone Berserk
… and that title may be too soft. Nonetheless those with a sense of humor should get a few good laughs from this. One keeps hoping it’s a spoof, but it doesn’t appear to be. This is so not what Revelation is about!
On Hebrews 5:1-10 and Prayer
I’m going to do something I almost never do on any of my blogs—re-post. But first a few comments. Hebrews 5:1-10 is the epistle lesson from this week’s lectionary. Hebrews has always held a special place in my heart (my study guide on it), because it is such beautiful prose bringing a very deep message….
Not Only a Father
Tim Bulkeley is trying to generate some discussion of his book Not Only a Father. I’m a little late to the game, as many other bloggers have already linked, but I’ve been busy trying to shepherd six books through the release process. But though late, here I am. There are two things that excite me…