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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Voter Ignorance and the Budget
Some comments from Dispatches.
No, Burning Books Is NOT Worthy of Respect
The Fifth Column has a post titled On Burning Books (HT: Divine Ripples), referring specifically to the recent burning of a Qur’an. He concludes that: It may not be prudent, it may not be useful, but it is a stand worthy of respect. I disagree. Book burning is either the petulant reaction of fearful people…
No Preaching and Leave Your Bible at Home?
Via Dispatches I found this story about a lawsuit against the Grossmont Union High School District. The suit alleges that the school forbade the student to bring his Bible to school or to preach. The district tells a different story, claiming the student was very disruptive. I mention this story for a couple of reasons….
N. T. Wright on Hell and Universalism
(HT: Through a Glass Darkly)
If THIS is the Purpose of Your Church then It IS Obsolete
John Meunier cites comments by Mark Cuban, owner or the Mavericks, who says he doesn’t need the new media because he can reach their readers just as well himself. I would note in passing, though it’s not the topic of this blog, that I think Cuban is optimistic about his ability to reach people directly….
Amongst the Biblioblogs
… I’ve attained #19 on the top 50 list, and do not appear in the Biblical Studies carnival (there’s good reason for this), which is extremely well done and links to some excellent posts.
Christian Carnival (March 30) Posted
… at keyboard theologians.
Keep Prayer and Advocacy Separate
I was deeply troubled a few years back when attending a meeting of Christians called to pray for our city (Pensacola, FL). One pastor who was asked to pray for our political leaders offered a prayer that was more of a Republican agenda of things he hoped God would accomplish through our government. I was…
Smart on Crime Agenda
This looks very promising. I hope it gets more attention. (HT: Dispatches.)
USA Fish?
You will never see one of these on my car.
Vegetarians and Nazis
Ed Brayton has a post up regarding a WND column by Ellis Washington which is off-the-map weird. In it, Washington links vegetarianism and fascism because, well, Hitler was a vegetarian. I’m a vegetarian, so I guess by those standards … In any case, this reminded me of another column back in 2006 which claimed that…
On Publishing a Calvinist Book
Well, not exactly a Calvinist book, but a book about a Calvinist, in this case John Piper. This is another of my posts giving my thoughts on publishing a new title. It’s a couple of months late, but I think it’s still quite relevant. Be aware, of course, that I may be advocating buying this…
Every Christian a Theologian – an Equivocation
I am not a theologian. On the occasions when I say this I have an important reason for saying so. Not infrequently, I thus make myself the target of a quote from Karl Barth: Therefore, every Christian as such is also called to be a theologian. It is interesting that nobody has ever quoted the…
Book Note: Citadel
I’ve enjoyed previous books by John Ringo, especially the Prince Roger series, so when I saw this book at my local public library I grabbed it and read. Of course, I was jumping into the middle of a series, which is generally a bad idea, but that happens to me quite often. The book starts…
Christianity and Insanity
A couple of days ago downtown I passed a church sign, and in the changeable portion of the sign it read: Revival! | Thursday Night | 7 pm. Now that’s a common enough sign on churches these days. Many churches have a tradition of an annual revival. At the same time each year an outside…
Someone Else Thinks Seminaries are in Trouble
… but his solution is very different from mine. I think the idea that the current concept of a university will survive is a pipe dream. The cost is going to force education to change. Face to face education will be needed, but the form is going to change. (HT: John Meunier.)
The Art of Not Waging War
As we become involved in the conflict in Lybia, I’ve been reflecting on the American strategy–or lack thereof–in foreign policy. To the extent that we have such a strategy it appears to be big on expenses on low on good results. I’m not a pacifist, and I certainly won’t object to seeing Gaddafi out of…
Chosen?
I like this take on the word chosen.
Clayboy on Bell and Hell
He makes some random observations.
Herold Weiss on Genesis 2:4b – 4:26
Herold Weiss is continuing his series on the doctrine of creation in the Bible with a discussion of sources and how this passage might enlighten our understanding. The entire series has been extremely interesting and has generated some serious (and some not so serious) discussion. (Note: I am publisher of Herold Weiss’s new book Finding…
On Risk – Quote of the Day
From Allan Bevere: … no human being is entitled to a risk free existence. The entire article is worth a read.
Evolution and Continuous Upward Progress
Peter Kirk has written a post titled The Gospel is not incompatible with theistic evolution, in which he responds to an article by Dr. David Shackelford. Peter’s response covers most of the ground. I wanted to add something here, however, regarding “continuous upward progress,” which Dr. Shackelford, as quoted by Peter, says is “demanded” by…
Quote of the Day
From Brian McLaren: “We are suffering the consequences of our idolatry. Our motto ‘In God We Trust’ is printed right on the front of the God in which we trust.”
Observing Lent
Despite this, I’m observing Lent.