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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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Book Review: Genesis Unbound
Sailhamer, John H. Genesis Unbound: A Provocative New Look at the Creation Account. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Books, 1996. Note (January 11, 2017): I just discovered while writing about Dr. John Sailhamer’s death, that there was a new edition of this book published in 2011, shortly after I wrote this review. My interest in this book…
Hallelujah Chorus – Quinhagak, Alaska
Some friends of ours sent a link to this video. They have worked in the area and know many of the places. Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska
Review of James in the Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament Series
I’ve published my review of the excellent volume on James in the Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series on my Participatory Bible Study Blog.
Another Ham in the Family
No, not that kind of ham, a ham radio operator. Congratulations to my nephew Jason who went straight to Amateur Extra class, and is now AE7JH. That makes a total of five Amateur Extra class operators in my immediate family, Mom (Myrtle, WB7OIU, who wanted to keep her old call when she made Amateur Extra),…
Merry Christmas!
I’m not going to write a Christmas post here, but I wrote three of them on my Jevlir blog, where I write a bit of fiction. They are: About Those Small Town Values The God-Talk Club and Merry Christmas You Will Have a Son Enjoy!
Linking the Birth of Our Nation with the Birth of Our Savior
Chuck Baldwin maintains that the birth of our Savior and the birth of our nation are closely linked. I’m afraid I don’t get it, even allowing all his facts, some of which I would dispute. I just don’t see the parallel between the guns of the revolution and the Babe of Bethlehem emptying himself of…
On Reading the Old Testament
A note from The Reluctant Evangelist.
List of Recent and Forthcoming Commentaries
… at Parableman. Looks comprehensive and useful.
Greetings from the Religious Arm of Socialism
In a blog post My Dream: No More Methodist Church, Judson Phillips of Tea Party Nation fame says that his dream is that there be no more Methodist church. What set him off was a church sign (on a Methodist church, of course) urging passage of the DREAM act. He says that the church is…
Tyndale NLT Contest
I received the following e-mail from Adam Sabados of Tyndale: Dear Bloggers, I wanted to fill you in on an exciting contest that is currently being run and sponsored by the New Living Translation. We’re highlighting three ministries, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Oasis International, and The Dream Center, (click on the link to learn more details…
A Christian Officer and DADT
Lt. Col. Stacy L Maxey has written a letter to Stars and Stripes indicating that he has plans to violate military regulations following the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Or something like that. Actually it’s hard to tell precisely what he plans to do. One paragraph of the letter reads: Here’s the truth: I…
Book Review: Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament – James
Blomberg, Craig L. and Miriam J. Kamell. James. Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament 16. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.* The Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series is aimed at pastors and teachers who are looking for a commentary based on the Greek text. In addition, it aims to provide “expert guidance from solid…
Linguistics and Exegesis – a Link
A Living Sacrifice provides a link to some material on linguistics and exegesis, particularly word studies. The articles are by Benjamin Baxter and are in the McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry. One is The Meaning of Biblical Words, and the other is Hebrew and Greek Word-Study Fallacies. I highly commend both. The key element…
Brueggeman on Justice
Short, but well stated. (HT: Through a Glass Darkly) An Invitation to Justice from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.
Am I Too Picky?
This Jimmy Dean commercial gets on my nerves. I know it’s supposed to be humorous, but but the whole idea of the sun commenting that it’s 10 am just goes beyond my ability to suspend disbelief and laugh! It’s 10 am in reference to what? Where?
Nobody Recognizes Fake Doctor
… and he was teaching continuing education. Doesn’t it point to a problem if a roomful of doctors can’t tell that the person teaching them never completed medical school?
I got goosebumps
… during the closing song at church today, Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee. Perhaps this explains it! Or perhaps not.
Biblical Studies Carnival and Biblioblogs Top 50
The Biblical Studies Carnival has been posted at Bulletin for the Study of Religion, and the Biblioblogs Top 50 is out. I’ve moved up in the world to #35, probably as the result of actually blogging (what a concept!).
Creationism vs Anti-evolutionism
Image via Wikipedia According to Todd Wood there’s a real difference, and I agree, although I think real creationists are a bit thin on the ground. He writes about this on the Center for Faith and Science International web site. One of the requirements, in my view, is the admission that the foundation of young…
Wesleyan-Arminian vs Calvinist Self-Identification
I found this interesting article at Baptist Press via the Methoblog’s Twitter feed. The article discusses an apparent divide between the Southern Baptist Convention and other denominations on how many pastors, particularly young pastors, are identifying themselves as Calvinists. One interesting note is that while identification as Calvinist outside the SBC is not increasing, identification…
Gordon Fee and Pentecostal Scholarship
Charisma magazine has a great article on Gordon Fee (HT: sunestauromai). I particularly was struck by these two paragraphs: For the most part, though, Pentecostals remain resistant to—or indifferent toward—theology and scholarship. After all, modern Pentecostalism was birthed in spiritual experience, not intellectualism. As the movement spread, Pentecostals simply didn’t see a need for theological…
Better Bibles: Which Translation to Choose?
Iver Larsen has a good post on choosing a Bible translation over at Better Bibles blog. The discussion is also excellent. Go join the fray! You might also check out my site, Bible Translation Selection Tool.
Dave Black: Ten Best Books for Studying New Testament Greek
David Alan Black has posted a new essay, Ten Best Books for Studying New Testament Greek. The majority are books I have read and/or are on my shelves, but there are a couple that are just on my “need to read this list” and a couple more I’m going to add. I note that when…
2 Corinthians and Leadership
Brian Fulthorp has written a few notes on 2 Corinthians, a book that has been growing on me over the last few years. I think it’s unfortunately neglected in Christian preaching. Except for a few proof texts we rarely hear much of the message of this book. This comment from Brian might indicate why the…