First the request and then the problem and then the theology. That’s the basic structure of Psalm 12 (after the jump). Let’s look at the 2d and then the 1st and then the third. I’ve often observed, and observe here again, how much complaining about enemies goes on in the prayers of David. How much whining there is. I wonder if many pastors under the heat of opponents find the psalms of David to be comfort or at least a... Read more
There are two sides of this nomination, but one point about the probably result seems important to many: “If the Senate confirms Ms. Kagan, who is Jewish, the Supreme Court for the first time will have no Protestant members. In that case, the court would be composed of six justices who are Catholic and three who are Jewish. It also would mean that every member of the court had studied law at Harvard or Yale.” The Conservative voice, Ed Whelan at... Read more
Barna’s newest report interviews teenagers about what they think life will be like for them when they are 25 yrs old, and I’ve clipped a few paragraphs: May 10, 2010 – Spring is graduation season for millions of students. What are the aspirations of today’s teenagers as they think about their future? A new research study from the Barna Group examined a representative, nationwide sample of 602 teenagers, asking them to describe what they think their life will be like roughly 10... Read more
I am reading and blogging through Ron Highfield’s new book called Great Is the Lord: Theology for the Praise of God . This opens our series; it’s a serious volume for theologians and pastors, but it’s faith angle gives the book a doxological approach that makes the heart sing and makes theology what it should be. How’s this for an opening paragraph observation? Starting with Gregory Nazianzus, Highfield quotes him: “It is more important that we should remember God than... Read more
At WaPo, Ed Begley Jr. tells how he ripped up his yard and went native … What do you do for your yard that is “green” (ecologically sustainable and natural)? One of the first things I did when I moved into my current home in Los Angeles in 1988 was to rip out the lawn. I realize that this borders on heresy: If the American Dream were a book, it’d probably have a grassy green lawn on its cover. I have... Read more
Andy Rowell, at CT, examines the recent (and not so recent) announcements of Jim Belcher, N.T. Wright, Francis Chan, Pete Rollins and Brian McLaren … each of whom resigned from pastoring to become full-time authors, speakers, or (in the case of Wright) a professor. What’s going on? Is the local church becoming the “farm team” for full-time conference and book ministry? Normal pastoral transition, pastoral stress, the personality of church planters, and American culture all probably play a role in... Read more
Kris and I will be going to Ireland in about a month and I have already picked the book I will read on the plane: Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy . This year I began both my 4th Yr Seminar classes and the Spring Jesus classes by reading portions of Bonhoeffer’s books: Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible and Discipleship . And just this week the scholarly edition of Letters and Papers from Prison (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works,... Read more
The Eucharist, though many today have never experienced it in such a manner, was part of a meal and not an isolated sacred set of rites. The meal-shaped Eucharist begins with Jesus: his routine evening meals with his disciples gave rise to the “last” supper. And that last supper was the last one until he would eat again with his followers in the kingdom. Meals then were at the heart of the Lord’s Supper. Both Acts 2:46 and 20:11 as... Read more
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Read more
Jesus Creed
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