Another busy week, but this one — somebody’s gotta do it — in Malibu at Pepperdine University for their well-attended Bible lectures. Now called Harbor. I call it Malibu. I’m so grateful for Mike Cope’s leadership and for all the friends I’ve made in the Churches of Christ including especially Randy and Lorree Johns. Libertyville’s Finest, Dale Eggert: Dale Eggert (Libertyville High School, ’74) is a lifelong Libertyville resident known not only for his outstanding wrestling achievements while at Libertyville... Read more

Historians of American culture know that the “role” of women so important to complementarianism is as much a product of post World War 2 American cultural mores as of the Bible and of the history of women in society and church since the 1st Century. In fact, Lassie is one of your best examples. In a recent article we are confronted with the claims that this understanding of male-female relations (anyone read Proverbs 31, anyone know about the American frontier, about... Read more

The Spiral of Forgiveness Most of us believe forgiving someone is an easy thing. Forgiveness usually goes something like this: someone does something wrong and they feel bad. The offending party then goes to the person they offended and apologizes. The person who was wounded is supposed say, “That’s OK. I forgive you.” There you have it. Everything is forgiven. Now, things are supposed to go back to the way they were. Both the offended and the offender are supposed... Read more

I’m trying to write a post each week from the patristics, today’s about 1 Clement 36-39. Our series uses for its text Michael Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers. 1 Clement is from Rome and shows leadership from Rome. It is written to the Christians in Corinth and shows the problems of the 1st Century during Paul’s days continued. Chp 36 opens with a powerful statement of christology, and I have reformatted Mike Holmes’ translation to facilitate ease in outlining the christology.... Read more

https://soundcloud.com/user-212639123/paul-goes-to-hollywood-conversation-with-director-andrew-hyatt-kr-91 Sign up to Join Scot’s lecture on being Open to the Holy Spirit in person or online – http://goo.gl/GbJyud PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST is a movie that captures the ending days of Paul’s life and ministry. Luke, as a friend and physician, risks his life when he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul, who is held captive in Nero’s darkest, bleakest prison cell. But Nero is determined to rid Rome of Christians, and does not flinch from... Read more

Western culture is, in many respects, a culture focused on the written word. Documents transmit cultural history, traditions and laws. The sagas of Harry Potter and Frodo were written before they were performed. Some of us still bristle at the ways in which the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy took liberties  with Tolkien’s written word. The character of Tolkein’s Faramir in The Two Towers when he first encountered Frodo is important to the story. He stands firm... Read more

The rule has been no celibacy, no priestly ordination. Apart from the historic exceptions — e.g., to name but one, Anglican married priest who converts to Catholicism can become a married Catholic priest — there are no exceptions. We are back to David Steinmetz, Taking the Long View, and he opens his response to the celibacy of priests by reminding his readers of the ways of Rome, and it’s important to grasp this to see what happens with Christianity’s understanding of... Read more

Lisle, IL — April 25, 2018 — Two innovative theological educators are the newest deans of Northern Seminary. Ingrid Faro, Ph.D., who most recently directed the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) Masters Programs, has been appointed Northern’s Dean of Academic Affairs. At the same time, Jason Gile, Ph.D., who was Northern’s Interim Dean of Academic Affairs since 2017, has taken on a new role as Dean of Program Development and Innovation. Ingrid Faro As Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor... Read more

I’ve lived through a few quasi-movements when it comes to Christians and the economy, though I don’t believe at any time there was theoretically sound ideas about the economy. It was instinct and quasi-theological and quasi-biblical reactions. The Bible was called in to aid in a theory. First, I grew up in the 50s and 60s when the economy was a burgeoning capitalism and consumerism following WW2. Second, I came of age in the 60s and 70s when the Jesus... Read more

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