Below the Rock of Cashel, an ancient monastery Jim Martin has a very good post right here. Israel and Palestine, a Messianic Jewish perspective. Tamara on releasing the power of Jesus. Garrison Keillor: “And if you want to write, you just write and publish yourself. No need to ask permission, just open a Web site. And if you want to write a book, you just write it, send it to Lulu.com or BookSurge at Amazon or PubIt or ExLibris and... Read more
Cottage Pie, Fish and Chips, and what looks like Guinness! One week ago, at The Quay in Temple Bar in Dublin. Read more
OK folks, let’s hear from the users. Which is the better phone? iPhone or Droid? Full disclosure: we are an Apple family. We use the iPhone and now have the upgrade OS4 (but not the iPhone4). But, I’m hearing some strong voices in favor of the Droid. Now’s the time: What are the advantages? Read more
Today one of the most evocative terms to use, especially as a one-word put down, is the word “empire.” Very few define it. Most connect it with Constantine. Most are using to defend Leftist politics and use it to critique Rightist politics, and then Jesus is brought in to defend … and it’s all so suspicious. And I have to admit that I’m inclined to believe the empire criticism of today’s scholars because of my own Anabaptist beliefs. But those... Read more
I am reading Brian McLaren’s new book A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith as part of a book group in discussion with University students and scholars. One thing about this book – it makes a great conversation starter. McLaren nails it with his ten questions. These may not be the only questions confronting Christians, but they are certainly among the most significant. The second big question posed by McLaren, The Authority Question, is one... Read more
What do you think of Student Evaluations? Is customer satisfaction theory the best way to measure a teacher? From Stanley Fish… The relationship between present action and the judgment of value is different in other contexts. If a waiter asks me, “Was everything to your taste, sir?”, I am in a position to answer him authoritatively (if I choose to). When I pick up my shirt from the dry cleaner, I immediately know whether the offending spot has been removed.... Read more
If the soccer gods were in charge of the game of tennis, and of Wimbledon in particular, instead of a 70-68 marathon record-breaking 5th set, what would we have had? Yep, you guessed it. First service ace wins! Or, each person gets three serves and the most aces wins. Read more
An element of the monastics that seems passed by is the heroic efforts some of them endured or attempted. Here on the top of Skellig Michael, one hour boat ride from shore, 12 monks constructed over 600 steps from the side of the mountain to the top and at the top built bee hive looking cells. Imagine being there in the cold, the blustery winds and the hours of darkness in the winters of the Atlantic ocean! (Kris is there... Read more
The psalmist, after describing his own deliverance and victory in battle, gives praise to God for his victory. David sees this victory not only as a vindication of himself, and of God, but it reveals something about God: the one God is the God of Israel, YHWH. And David anchors this all in God’s elective promises to Israel and to the Davidic line. YHWH is alive! Compare a similar statement at Psalm 42:2 and 84:2. The point is not philosophical:... Read more
Aseem Shukla is not happy about the conversions of Bobby Jindal (from Hinduism) and Nikki Haley (from Sikhism). Shukla is a Hindu himself, and finds the public disavowal of their Dharma faiths by Jindal and Haley as well as their vocal and public profession of their Christian faith something for public concern. But, I hear in Shukla’s words a misperception of tolerance and a preference for religious people to keep their faith to themselves. When one family member so publicly... Read more
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