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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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On the Future of Information Technology
I’ve posted some thoughts as it relates to my company, on the company blog.
In Which I am Included . . .
The “which” is a list of bibliobloggers compiled by John Hobbins. Through it I discover that I am on the extended (not the top 50) list at Biblioblogs Top 50. Thanks to all of the above, and to Biblioblogs.com which provides a valuable service to the Bibliblogosphere.
Scot McKnight on Kenton Sparks
He’s working through Sparks’ book God’s Word in Human Words, and doing a great job. Good stuff, and it relates to my recent topic of interpretation. (Link is to the third part, beginning here.)
Interpreting the Bible VIII: Biblical Literalism, Attitude, and Avoidance
This is a continuation of my series on interpreting the Bible. The first post in the series is Interpreting the Bible I: Obvious Exegesis, while the most recent one was Interpreting the Bible VII: Christians Contribute to Confusion. As a reminder, my starting point was a number of comments that suggested that those who take…
Ten Questions I Always Ask Myself When Studying the Bible
No, not me! Lisa Robinson at Parchment and Pen. But I should, and so should you.
Leviticus Study
I’ve been following through the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary in my study of Leviticus for the last few weeks. Unfortunately, the way I like to study these passages involves reading the text in Hebrew, reading and annotating the commentary, reading the text in the LXX, hunting down materials in other commentaries and translations, and so forth. …
Christian Carnival #CCLXXVI Is Coming
Find the details here.
Hard to Lead? (Easter 6B, Acts 10:44-48)
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48 OK, for those who might be unacquainted with the lectionary, let me note that the Acts passage takes the place of the standard Old Testament reading this week. To keep things together, I therefore categorize it as Old Testament. Acts is in the New Testament, obviously! How hard is it to lead…
Book: Collapse of Distinction
I review Scott McKain’s The Collapse of Distinction on my computer services blog.
Leviticus 9:1-24: Eternity in Liturgy
I have had very little time to post on Leviticus over the last few weeks because of my business, in which I’ve been working on three books simultaneously. But Leviticus has not been very far from my mind. The more I read Leviticus, the more I like it. I’ve read through it with a variety…
Borrowing and Inspiration
I want to discuss inspiration just a bit, partly because it is relevant to my next post on Biblical interpretation (I hope to post it later today), and partly because there is someone on Twitter who is spouting a great deal of nonsense with regard to parallels and borrowing. (For those interested, he is @BibleAlsoSays,…
Tips for Studying the New Testament
Chris Tilling gives three. I’m linking because of #2–read the New Testament, which could be said for Bible study in general–read the Bible. Odd how many miss that!
Boldness to be Fools
Sometimes even when I’m way to busy to be blogging, at least on my personal blog, I just see so many things that point the same direction that I just have to write. This post didn’t start with this quote, but it says something I like to read: If our denomination has lost the boldness…
Another Reason to Hate Study Bibles
Thomas Nelson has release The American Patriot’s Bible: The Word of God and the Shaping of America*, which is a Bible so lousy in concept that one can dislike it without even bothering to read it. (HT: Christ my righteousness.) You’ve probably heard the cliche, “It’s a really bad book, that’s why I never read…
Because Government Money Means More Freedom
Why do these folks want the government to pay for their convictions?
All You Need is Love
Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21 While I confess to be a love teacher, I am often puzzled by the way Christians speak about love as though it is the easier way. It is as though they might try following some rules, but that would be too hard, so they’ll try love instead. But a love that…
Pete Enns Reviews Inerrant Wisdom
This is a very worthwhile review to read. I haven’t yet read the book, but the key points noted are interesting in themselves.
Are Sermons a Waste?
It’s a day for questions! Ben Myers has a guest post by Aaron Ghiloni titled On sermons: a rant. Basically, he doesn’t like sermons. Really doesn’t like them. So as I sometimes do I brought this up with my wife as I was driving her to work. (Since I work at home we live with…
When is the Gospel the Answer?
I had this question called to my mind a couple of times this week, and I want to pose it to you. Before I do that, however, let me tell you how it was called to my mind. The first item was a comment on my post on civil liberties. Dave Black comment on that…
Biblical Studies Carnival #41 Posted
… at Exploring our Matrix, and an exceptional carnival it is, even by the rather high standards of the Biblical Studies Carnival. For those who may not follow it, the Biblical Studies Carnival is posted monthly, and its hosts have tended to make it very creative, rather than just listing the posts. Thus it requires…
Ordination Humor
Ten reason why men shouldn’t be ordained … from a Salvation Army cadet.
Chuck Baldwin on Assaults on Personal Liberties
I frequently disagree with Chuck Baldwin, and am disturbed when I see the forest of American flags that appear frequently around his church. I live near enough that I drive by that church frequently. But in this article he is absolutely on target. One of my great hopes for the Obama administration was an improvement…
A Calvinist Complementarian defines Arminian and Egalitarian
… and does so very well. Not surprisingly (to me, at least), this is from C. Michael Patton on Parchment and Pen. To quote his definitions of “complementarian” and “egalitarian”: Complementarianism: Belief in essential equality, but functional hierarchy in the sexes. This hierarchy is by Gods design and is not due to the fall. Man…
Best Sermon on the Bible
… that I’ve heard, at least, and in my opinion! It’s by Dr. Wesley Wachob. Let me give you the link first: The Strange New World within the Bible. Those of you who are acquainted with Karl Barth will recognize the title. (You can subscribe to the First UMC Pensacola podcast here, or via iTunes.)…