Featured Posts
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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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A Bad Detention Bill
I agree with Ed Brayton’s comments on the Enemy Belligerent, Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010.
NLT for Academic Study
Chris Heard asked via Twitter whether the NLT was suitable for academic study. T. C. Robinson has given an answer: Concluding thoughts: The NLT, New Living Translation, is simply too loose to be considered a serious academic Bible. While I have some sympathy with this point, I have to ask just what the definition of “serious” and “academic”…
Book: In the Stormy Red Sky
David Drake has, as expected, written another enjoyable far future action story with lots of military detail featuring Lt. Daniel Leary and Officer Adele Mundy along with a cast of varying characters. As this book begins, Daniel is promoted to Captain and sent on what should be a fairly simple mission as a sort of…
Congratulations to Dispatches from the Culture Wars
My friend Ed Brayton of Dispatches from the Culture Wars, who encouraged me to get into blogging, has just attained a great new record–over 1,000,000 page views for the month of March. Congratulations!
Beyond Complementarian
I found this story appalling. In making decisions about a Christian school and whether the principal should be fired, women were not even allowed to speak. While I do believe that a denomination or local church should have the right to do what it believes is right with a school it finances, including expecting the…
The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Site
(Edited July 10, 2018 to update link.) I discovered this site some time ago and have used the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon site it as a reference before, but P. J. Williams on Evangelical Textual Criticism reminded me today that it’s nice to link to and recommend resources such as this. You have to be ready…
Flowers from My Dog Walking
I don’t usually post pictures because I’m not a very visual person and I’m definitely not a photographer. But I enjoyed using my Palm Centro phone to take pictures of a few flowers I saw while walking my dog. He’s getting a bit older, so the walk is only about a third of a mile,…
Another KJV-Only Comment
Every so often a KJV-Only advocate comes by this blog to comment. They normally don’t hang around long, but I occasionally feel inclined to respond. I like to tolerate and even celebrate other points of view, but I don’t make an idol of it; it’s one value, not the value. KJV-Only is one of those…
50 Great Books Every Christian Should Read
At least so says the Online Christian Colleges blog. I received a notice of the post in e-mail. Usually that’s not a very productive way to get me to blog about something unless you’re someone I know, and more importantly, someone who knows what I like to blog about. So, folks, don’t make a habit…
Bad Day at the Office
For everyone! (HT: Bow, James Bow)
On Lying Literalists
I liked this quote: Bible believers do not believe in the Bible. They accept the message they wish to hear, that God loves those who are rewarded with wealth, but the message of Amos they have little time for. … Be careful before becoming a Bible believer – it is not always a comfortable place…
A Christian Case for Limited Government?
Allan R. Bevere is making a Christian case for limited government. Scot McKnight has linked to it. Some of the discussion is heated. Fun!
On Faith Preceding Works
Some time ago I wrote an essay titled A Fruitful Faith, in which I maintained that there is a pattern of grace before law that is consistent throughout scripture, both Old Testament and New. One can also express this idea as call before response, or, as I’ve been thinking today especially, faith before works. Frequently faith…
Contest via my Company – Energion Publications
This is a sort of commercial message, except I’m trying to give some money away. My company, Energion Publications, is sponsoring a contest, and entries are very slow. There are two $50 B&N gift cards on the line, one for the best affirmative and one for the best negative entry in answer to the question:…
And on the Other Side: Merit Pay for Teachers
I marked this story a couple of days ago. In my view, merit pay is such an obvious idea, not to mention merit hiring, merit promotion, and lack-of-merit firing, that I don’t see why it would be controversial, except, of course, amongst those who lack merit. But there is one valid area of controversy–measuring merit….
Not a Republican
When I get annoyed at the Democrats, which I do frequently, I’m often directed by smiling friends to the Republican party. Obviously you’ve seen the light. We’re the party of freedom. In case you’re wondering why I don’t buy it, consider the working of the Texas Board of Education. (This is only one small point…
WorldNetDaily and the New Mexico Ten Commandments
Complete with silly headline and flanked by an ad for a tee shirt that reads “Waterboarding Instructor” (obviously on an attractive female model), the supposedly Christian WorldNetDaily reports a hike to an inscription on rock as important news. There are so many things wrong with this reporting that it’s hard to know where to start,…
Christian Carnival CCCXX Posted
… at And She Went Out …
Tyndale House NLT Contest
The following is a contest announcement from Tyndale House. There are some great prizes here and it’s not too hard to enter. The New Living Translation Break Through to Clarity Bible Contest and Giveaway Visit www.facebook.com/NewLivingTranslation and click on the tab that says “Sweepstakes” Fill out a simple form, take a quick Bible clarity survey,…
Florida Inspirational Message Bill Cleared by One Committee
The Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee, who ought to know better, has cleared CS/HB 31 with only three negative votes. I’m guessing someone is thinking, “What harm can it do?” I’d suggest a vote against wasting time.
Christian Carnival CCCXIX Posted
… at Thinking Christian.
Think Lightly of Wealth and Honor
From St. John Chrysostom, On the Epistle to the Hebrews 20.5, from Hebrews: Ancient Christian commentary on Scripture, New Testament X p. 167 Knowing then these things, let us be patient when we suffer evil and forthright in offering kindness. This is all the stronger if we think lightly of wealth and honor. He that…
An Inconvenient Truth on Israel and Palestine?
Brian McLaren links to this article at the Huffington Post. It may be inconvenient, but is it truth? (I guess I need to tell my readers that I often like what Brian McLaren has to say, but then there are these moments.) I’m also opposed to those who think Israel is always right. But there…
A Bill to Make Legislators Look Good
It’s Florida HB 31 (full text – original – committee substitute), and either version of it accomplishes pretty much nothing, thought the original version might have led some school boards to get into legal trouble, something many of them are quite adept at without help. I am opposed to officially sponsored religious events, but am…