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Sorrow Like My Sorrow – Lamentations 1:12
Can we really understand the suffering of another person or they ours?
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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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On UM Insight
I want to thank UM Insight for publishing a post from this blog, Defensive Christianity. It’s encouraging to have a post recognized and republished, and I appreciate what they do for the United Methodist Church.
Moving on to Ephesians
In The Way Sunday School class at First UMC Pensacola we just completed The Journey to the Undiscovered Country by William Powell Tuck. We used that book as an interlude between Philippians and the Ephesians study to follow. The entire class really appreciated the book and the discussions that resulted. Unlike some books you may…
Florida is Behind on Science Education
Brandon Haught, board member of Florida Citizens for Science has an opinion piece at the Orlando Sentinel on Florida’s science education. With the great need for people qualified in various fields of science, it’s distressing to know how poorly we’re doing as a state. Perhaps some of these measurement tools we’re using aren’t doing what…
Thinking about 9-11
I appreciated the contribution of Bob Cornwall, who calls on us to make this a time of building bridges. One of the most disastrous wounds that result from this event is the combination of our fear, anger, hatred, and desire for revenge. I don’t mean to diminish the impact of the evil act of hatred…
Weekly Communion
I’m delighted that my church, First United Methodist Church of Pensacola has started offering Holy Communion at all services. For several years this has been offered at the ICON service and at the 9:30 service, but was only offered monthly at the others. Now this will be consistent, and I think closer to the way…
Kitten vs Doberman
Enjoy!
Defensive Christianity
I’ve seen a great number of words from Christians here in America recently, some of them coming from Facebook or Twitter, some in blog posts, some in words spoken directly to me, or on Television or the Radio. I’m not going to cite specific sources, because I’m not writing about what some particular person said….
September 9 Christian Carnival is Coming
… to one of my other blogs, The Jevlir Caravansary, where I indulge in fiction and a bit of poetry. On September 9, however, I will indulge in links to Christian content around the blogosphere from the beginning of August to September 9. If you’d like your post included, or if you would like to…
Holding the Church Hostage
My quote of the day is from Ministry Matters: Peace and progress are incompatible. Author Dyton L. Owen also tells us when to let a church member go. Read the article!
Reading the Bible Chronologically
A number of bloggers have responded to Marcus Borg’s article at the Huffington Post on reading the New Testament chronologically. Responses include Gaudete Theology, Bill Heroman, and Philip J. Long. I’d suggest reading those responses before reading my few comments. Here are some points that struck me: Borg contends that there is a trajectory of…
On Christian Fiction and Covenant
In the early days of my company, Energion Publications, I tried to post some reflections immediately after each new book release. Things have gotten much busier, and I’m behind, but I still hope to publish reflections. Perhaps if I’m diligent, I can catch up! I want to make clear that this isn’t a review, nor…
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…