This afternoon I had lunch with Amos N. Guiora, professor of Law at J.S. Quinney Law School, University of Utah, and fellow Ann Arbor, Michigan native. We discussed his new book Freedom From Religion: Rights and National security. I must say Guiora speaks with a candidness that is both provocative and disturbing. In his book he addressed the issue of Religious Extremism. In his view extremism emerges when a “doctrine of certitude” is disseminated throughout a religious body by religious... Read more
John 3:3-8 (English Standard Version)3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That... Read more
As long time readers know John 1:1-18 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible; it also one of the hardest passages in the Bible for scholars to figure out. John in General is very difficult to figure out (much of the scholarship for the last few centuries has been turned on it head for one reason or another)… This passage is often called the “prologue of John.” Some scholars once theorized that this section was a Hymn inserted... Read more
I finally got around to listening to the first “Outlaw Preacher” podcast today. It came out late last month. Who are the “Outlaw Preachers?” I’m not sure if you’ve run into them at all, but they are a new band of pastors and other Christians who have been stirring up some dust in the more wild regions of the internet. This band of “law breakers” has been causing trouble and plans on causing more. This is a group of folks... Read more
Worship doesn’t always go as planed Just ask the folks in the temple the day Jesus decided to show up with a whip… (John 2:13-16) Hiccups in worship are my favorite part of a Church Service. I think it’s amazing when things go completely NOT according to plan, but wind up being perfect because of it… I have caused quite a few hiccups. I have fallen off stages on more then one occasion. One day I forgot to bring the... Read more
I have often wondered what Marshall McLuhan has to say to theologians, and Christians. One man who has been asking these questions for a few years now is Shane Hipps. He is one of the few voices out there actually dealing with the theology of media. Shane argues that Incarnation is the Medium by which God works in Christianity. Flesh and blood is a form of media by which the Divine chooses to work… This is very much in line... Read more
I know many of you worship in a more liturgical setting, but I grew up in a setting where this video would have been a great help: Read more
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