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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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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…
On Saul and David – for World Prayr Blog
I wrote a post on Saul and David for the World Prayr devotional blog. It ties into my series in some ways.
Christ the King Sunday
I sometimes complain about the way lectionary passages are cut off before difficult passages, so I thought it might be nice to mention the truly wonderful selection of the gospel for Christ the King Sunday today. The gospel passage is Luke 23:33-43. At our “Lectionary at Lunch” gathering, led by Geoffrey Lentz, a number of…
Raising the Retirement Age
I received an e-mail a couple of days ago from the Daily Kos urging me to sign a petition pledging that I will never support raising the retirement age or privatizing social security. I’m afraid that this is one petition I will pass up. Since I’m in my mid-50s, I’m not that excited about seeing…
1 Chronicles 14:1-16:3 (The Ark Again)
I’m continuing my notes on 1 Chronicles, working from the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary volume on 1 & 2 Chronicles by Mark J. Boda. One of the strengths of this particular commentary is making the themes of the book and the connections between the various passages very clear. The chronicler presents his theology in the form…
Received: James, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
I registered in time for the blog tour for the Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, and I received my copy of the commentary on James by Craig Blomberg and Miriam J. Kamell today. I’ll be reading it through and posting my comments here during the week of the blog tour, Dec. 15-22. I am…
On the Myth of Adolescence
When I first looked over the list of David Alan Black’s books I kind of skimmed past The Myth of Adolescence. I have no adolescent children and didn’t really care to read about the matter one way or another. Over time I took a further look at his article, Want to Reform Your Youth Ministry?…
Ignorant of Church Domes
I think the combination of ignorance and bigotry expressed by opponents of this church is both said and somewhat frightening. (HT: Dispatches)
Quote of the Day on The Agitator
I think it’s a good one. I part ways with many liberal and moderate friends over Citizens United. I simply cannot see that having the government regulate the political speech of any citizen or group of citizens will have a positive effect. Learn to live with freedom of speech. It may be messy, but it’s…
Of Olbermann, Fox, and Commentators
I’ve been rather interested in the reaction to Keith Olbermann’s couple of day vacation. There was quite an outcry when Fox’s parent corporation donated money to the Republicans and at the time I wondered just who imagined that such a corporation would actually be neutral on such issues. Where they give their money is a…
Responding to the New Atheism
Laura at Pursuing Holiness has a good post on a Christian response to the New Atheism. I agree largely with Laura, though I would comment on a couple of details. First, a common objection I hear to the new atheists is that they are too vocal and forceful. I think this criticism is not well…
Uzzah and the Ark – 1 Chronicles 13
I’m continuing with brief notes on the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary volume on 1 & 2 Chronicles by Mark J. Boda. I previously provided an overview and some notes on the coverage of 1 Chornicles 1-9, and 1 Chronicles 10-12. As I mentioned in my previous post I wanted to make some specific comments on 1…
Recognizing the Importance of Interpretation
Though I disagree with the term “inerrant,” in all other ways I think Keith Matthison is right on target. I would add that you can be just as firm regarding the basis for your interpretation and why you believe it is right and other interpretations are wrong, without saying that your opponent simply doesn’t believe…