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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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And Now About Church Success
It’s interesting that just after reading an article that suggests we’re misreading school success I find one that questions our measure of church success. I find all of the points in Five American Myths of Successful Churches and Ministries (CharismaNews) by Joseph Mattera. In my reading of the Word of God over the past 34…
Mother Jones on Failing Schools
I have the same sort of ambivalence on evaluating school performance as I do regarding church performance. A “by the numbers” approach keeps people from (successfully) making excuses, but it may not measure what you actually want to measure. In the case of schools, as I see it, the problem is that education is not…
Neil Armstrong Dies at 82
The first man to set foot on the moon has died at the age of 82 (source). At the time of that first mission to the moon we didn’t have television, and we went to a friend’s place to watch the pictures. I was already a supporter of the space program (and back then very…
Ken Schenck Reviews Wayne Grudem
I’ve been following Ken Schenck’s review of Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, and starting with the second post (Word of God), he is discussing material that I find fascinating. I am not trained as a theologian. Despite having an MA in Religion, I must note that my concentration was Biblical and Cognate Languages, and practically all…
Yet Again The Voice and Italics
I know I’m beating this topic to death, but I can’t help it. Really I can’t. Or at least I won’t. I was reading Hebrews today, and I ran into some interesting examples, both of positive and (in my opinion) negative uses of italics. Before I look at a couple of cases, however, I do…
For Gospel Preachers
Scot McKnight has some excellent advice.
Trouble at My Alma Mater – Walla Walla University
Over the last few weeks I’ve been following events at my undergraduate alma mater, Walla Walla University, largely via the Spectrum Magazine blog, starting with the news that Pastor Alex Bryan of the Walla Walla University Church had been recommended as president by a search committee. Now it has been a number of years since…
Finding the Sound of the Bloody Cross Gospel
Russell Moore looks at some comments by Pat Robertson. There’s everything here including a response to the prosperity gospel. Make sure to read right to the end. (HT: Unsettled Christianity.)
Permalink Problems
Over the last 24 hours there was a problem with permalinks on this site, as in they didn’t work. I’ve fixed it now, so all individual posts are accessible. I apologize for any problems readers may have had.
Primary and Local Voting (Ramblings)
I headed out to the polls today to vote in the primary. Since I’m registered independent, it was a short ballot, but nonetheless an important one. One of the things that bothers me in the discussion of politics is the extremely limited discussion of local campaigns and issues. The information available is always limited, and…
A Monopoly on Healing?
I’m enjoying editing Bruce Epperly‘s new book, to be released this fall, Healing Marks. Here’s an excerpt: A Monopoly on Healing? Quite satisfied with their orthodoxy and ability to maintain the purity of Jesus’ healing ministry, the disciples come to Jesus with what they assume is good news: “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons…
Update on The Way Sunday School Class
We’ve completed our study of Philippians using Bruce Epperly’s study guide (Philippians: A Participatory Study Guide). This is the second time I’ve taught Philippians using that guide, and I’d like to compare the two experiences. This will tell you something of the nature of the guide. The first time I used this, it was in…
Church Sign Theology – Sorta Saved?
OK, I said the last church sign was theologically incorrect, and I stick with that, because the sign seems to be providing a definition of faith. As a definition, it’s incorrect. Faith may help you not to panic, but it is not the same as not panicking. What’s got me on this is looking for…
Demonstrating Statistical Deception
Wesley Elsberry nails it in this post. He also mentions the great book How to Lie with Statistics, which everyone should read.
On Moderating a Political Discussion
One of the great joys of being a publisher is that I’m able to meet and work with some very intelligent and interesting people. As the election comes up, I find that my company, Energion Publications, has two authors who have written books for our new politics category, one a progressive and one a conservative….
Theologically Incorrect Church Sign
I took this picture because I wanted it for the Megabelt book site. In the book Megabelt (a cross between Megachurch and Bible Belt) the lead character Gil has a real thing about trite church signs, which covers most of them. In looking for church signs to post on the book site, I’ve found any…
Bible Reading
Nell Sunukjian from The Good Book Blog has a post on reading the Bible. He’s particularly emphasizing the one year bible plan. I’d call attention to my own recent post Reading the Bible Frequently and Thoroughly.
Confronting Critical Issues in Church
I’m using “critical” here in two senses: 1) critical study of the Bible, as in using the methodologies of the historical-critical method and 2) critical in the sense of “of key importance. I believe that issues such as the inspiration of scripture, the nature of scripture, historicity (or not) of various passages, and creation and…
Jazz and Absorbing the Bible
Kent Eilers posts at Theology Forum on biblical interpretation and jazz. A critical sentence: “A key element is respect for the tradition, learning from it without merely repeating it.” I used a different title because I’m thinking about a particular element–the familiarity with the tradition. Jazz must become part of the musicians fundamental being. I…
Curiosity on Mars
… and on earth too! 🙂 You can see some images on the NASA project site. I stayed up last night until I knew it landed. Those who know me will realize how rare this is. I didn’t feel inclined to blog about it in the middle of the night, but I’ll be looking regularly…
Kitten and Doberman – Cute!
Enjoy! (HT: Why Evolution is True)
Quote of the Day – Chicken Sandwiches or Daily Bread
From Allan R. Bevere (author of The Politics of Witness): [W]e Christians in America need to ponder the reality that while we were arguing over eating chicken sandwiches this past week, that there were people in many parts of the world who were, at the very same time, hoping only for a morsel of daily bread.
Interactive Covenants and Prophecies or God Has a Plan B
It’s interesting to me how we (and I definitely include myself) often read scripture. One concept can easily override another. For example, I recall a conversation in which someone was claiming that no human being was ever righteous. I brought up Job, who is described as righteous in Job 1. “Oh, but that is only…
July Biblical Studies Carnival Posted
… at Reading Acts. This is one of those rare occasions when there is a link back to this very blog!