I’ve been working through James again, a very timely discourse in this election season, and came across this comment on James 3.12ff. from the great Alfred Plummer, another commentator in the long line of great Durham exegetes. He says this in his James commentary….. “To develop a [person’s] intellectual powers is not always the best way to make him ‘humble himself as a little child’….First purify the heart and regenerate the will, and then the recovery of the intellect will... Read more
I shouldn’t have to say this to reasonably intelligent Americans, but we should all be wearing masks when we go out in public, whether we like it or not, since much of the spread of the virus is caused by asymptomatic persons who have the virus failing to wear a mask or socially distance themselves from others. So, everyone should be tested whether they think they are sick or not, and everyone should be socially distancing and wearing masks to... Read more
Tim Hawkins is a seriously hilarious Christian comedian. Check this out! Read more
The following is a poignant prayer offered at convocation at Asbury Seminary on Sept. 8 2020: Psalm 8 [ESV + NRSV] O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, and mortals that you... Read more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbogEr2mBTA Remember the story of Sisyphus and his rock pushed up the hill? Ash plumes rise In electrified skies Incandescent light Oh, with flash bolt eyes And no one knows why I’ve been drawn to this lie I’m down when they’re high On a survival line In my resolve, I move the rock Maybe fall down trying My ineptitude stares me down In this space, I cower I try to stand above the frame Stand apart, not by it And... Read more
SEPIA The sepia tones of autumn Crept into my mind Of things decaying, dying Of summer left behind. They say that autumn’s beautiful With red and yellow leaves But then the colors fade to brown They fall from grace, their trees. Are we more like the trees that stand Or like the leaves that fall? For trees will long outlast my years But Leaves will whisper— ‘that’s all!’ I think I know why autumn brown Is not my favorite hue... Read more
Here is a fascinating report about a discovery at Hadrian’s Wall from perhaps the 4th-5th century. The Christian symbolism on the cup is fascinating, and equally fascinating is a Christian presence at Vindalanda, an original Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall. Thanks to my colleague Philip Jenkins for the heads up…. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/29/hadrians-wall-dig-reveals-oldest-christian-graffiti-on-chalice Read more
Many of you will know Chadwick Boseman from his playing the Black Panther, or James Brown, or Jackie Robinson. He left us far too soon, at age 43 due to colon cancer. But what you may not have known is that he was a Christian. Listen now to his inspiring graduation speech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymQKBTtLOSs Read more
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