Featured Posts
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
Social Notes (see all)
All Posts
Blocking a Federal Education Grant
While I know that some forms of determining merit pay for teachers can be unfair, in general I think tying pay to performance is an excellent, indeed necessary idea. Now the Florida Education Association is trying to block $700 million in grants from the federal government because it’s tied to incentive pay. Bad idea, I’d…
Patriarch Bartholomew on 60 Minutes
Watch CBS News Videos Online HT: Allan Bevere.
Reconciling the Gospel Genealogies
There are generally two reactions I hear to this in Sunday School classes and church pews–it’s either fascination, as if the genealogies make or break the Bible or complete indifference, as in “who cares?” Both reactions miss the point. Matthew and Luke are each making a point, and they are making it in a way…
New English Translations Poll
I’ve posted a poll for discussing the need, or lack thereof, for new English translations. This post exists solely for comments on that poll. Note that multiple answers are permitted in case one is not double-minded, but perhaps a bit fuzzy.
Changing Polls
No, President Obama’s approval rating; the poll that I have in the right hand sidebar. It has been there for more than 18 months, and surprisingly enough is still generating interest. The last comment is dated December 19, 2009 and there have been quite a number. You can see the results here. Who does God…
Sumerians Witness Creation
This is too funny (from The Onion). HT: Exploring Our Matrix.
Credit Card Companies Find Creative Ways to Get Your Money
If this surprises you, then you must not have been dealing with bankers and credit card companies that much. Might this also be part of the reason that regulations tend not to work all that well? You have to think of everything, but if you really plug all the loopholes, the result will be tightened…
Advent Conspiracy
Here’s a conspiracy I could get on board with!
Ed Brayton on the Hidden Tax Argument
And I think he pretty much demolishes it as an argument. It is, of course, quite valid to calculate the cost of some policy and then ask whether the result is worth the price, but the simple statement that their is a cost accomplishes nothing. One further note I would add. Just because jobs are…
Mark Olson on Pelagius and Eastern Orthodox Theology
The one devastating charge that is leveled frequently at Arminians is that we are Pelagians. Since the teaching of Pelagius was condemned well in the past, this is supposed to either shut us up or send us into a spasm of defending ourselves from the charge. As far as I’m concerned, call me pelagian or…
Jim West Justifies Biblioblogging as an SBL Affiliate Group
In this case, it’s the first thing that has really made sense to me. I largely ignored the previous discussion on this topic, falling under the “who cares?” group to which Dr. West refers. I remain less than totally enthusiastic, but I do see the value in identifying scholarly participation on the web. I normally…
Christian Carnival Call for Posts
I’ll be hosting the next Christian carnival over at my Jevlir Caravansary blog. Please check out the directions and nominate some posts. I’ll even look at the comments to this post for nominations.
Teaching about Tithing (or Stewardship)
Kris again asks an excellent question, and I’m making my answer into a new post rather than extending the previous discussion. Can I just see what your answer would be to the specific question of how should a pastor/ lead presbyter teach disciples of his to tithe? I’m assuming the question really applies to stewardship…
Christian Carnival Posted
… at The Point Blog.
Strange Search of the Day
Someone, or perhaps more than one person, found this blog through the search “libertarian women in ephesus,” resulting in four page views. I have no idea what post that search would lead to. The phrase “libertine women” leaps to mind, but I’m pretty sure I have never used that phrase on this blog. Search phrases…
Rebuking in Community
I get into more trouble with the word “rebuke” than with just about any other. Perhaps I could find a bit less loaded of an English word to translate this concept, but it’s an important one. I mentioned teaching about “the skills of rebuking and being rebuked.” This tends to disturb people. Why? I think…
Christians and Tithe
In a comment to a previous post, Kris asks whether Christians are required to tithe. That was one of two questions and I divided them into two posts to allow for separate discussions of the question. I don’t find tithing in the New Testament. Now I’m not a purely “New Testament” believer. I believe that…
Say No to Prophecy Before You Say Yes
Advent Week 3 in The Mosaic Bible includes 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, which is a wonderful passage to use with regard to to prophecy. For those who may be following my use of The Mosaic Bible with the Revised Common Lectionary let me note that two passages, Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Luke 3:7-20 either are the same…
Liberal, Charismatic, Moderate, and Passionate
My blog subtitle reads: Thoughts on Religion in the World from a passionate, moderate, liberal charismatic Christian. One common response to this line is to tell me that it’s impossible to combine those four things into one, so I’d like to provide a few notes on why I use these four labels when self-identifying. First,…
Continuing Posts on the Weasel Program
… from Dr. Stephen Matheson of Quintessence of Dust. This is a good series, and I’ve been missing the continuation. Welcome back, Dr. Matheson!
Essentials of the Faith – or Not
C. Michael Patton has written a post on doctrinal essentials which is quite interesting. James McGrath responds. I find this a very useful discussion even when I disagree on what is essential. For example, while Patton states that he is writing about doctrine, and that another post could be written on essential practice, I would…
Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament – Isaiah 7:14 and Hosea 11:1
With a recent flurry of posts regarding the way in which the Old Testament is used in the New, at least peripherally, I wanted to call attention to one written from a different perspective. The post is Isaiah 7, Nativity, and the Theotokos, written by Mark Olson, who speaks from an Orthodox perspective. He discusses…
My Desk
People who visit my office, which is in a 12×24 portable building just across the yard, are astounded at the chaos in which I work. So my readers can be astounded in turn, I thought I’d post a picture. That laptop is not my regular work computer which is on a table to the left. …
How the Lord of the Rings Should Have Ended
I like this plan! (HT: The Zeray Gazette.)