I just spent a bundle of time with John H. Walton, who is the General Editor of a brand new series on the Old Testament, and it is a series we desperately need. This new series is a commentary unlike any commentary series ever because, instead of just being a commentary, it is a commentary only and specially-focused on historical background. John Walton, editor: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Set: Old Testament . The only way I can put it... Read more
Mosaics are folks who cobble things together from a variety of traditions and who have little desire to trust only one tradition or commit themselves to only one point-of-view. But, when all put together, a coherence emerges. Mosaic, in other words, is a good word to describe the Church’s unity for many of us. Instead of opting for a more visible or institutional unity, many of us believe the diversity is swallowed into the larger unity of what God is... Read more
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Read more
We’ve had grey, rainy weather, so I thought that maybe some sunflowers would greet us this morning for a little lift. Like Lake Wobegon, it’s been a busy but good week in cyberspace… Colson’s piece on atheists who become believers: any comments? TSK’s piece on all things emerging throughout the world: any comments? Molly Aley’s piece on landing in an oil slide: any comments? David Opderbeck’s post on science and faith … at BNet … MUST read. 20 somethings helping... Read more
I don’t know U2, and evidently this puts me totally out of sync with the rest of the world. So, I need an introduction to U2 and their music. What’s the best? But … I do know this one: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. Read more
Love itself can become a counterfeit god. In fact, it can become “apocalyptic romance” — that is, love can be used to attempt to gain transcendence, meaning, and ultimate joy. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC, in Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters treats love as one of our counterfeit gods. And Keller’s touches on the hook-up where the claim is that sex can be divorced from love. “Don’t... Read more
Anyone, and I mean anyone, who can help us think about how the gospel and the church and life itself is being reshaped (or influenced or revolutionized) by social media like Facebook is worth listening to. Jesse Rice’s new book, The Church of Facebook: How the Hyperconnected Are Redefining Community , is not only worth listening to but it’s worth church staffs reading together to discuss. The Church of Facebook does not approach the subject with a holier-than-thou critical attitude,... Read more
I had a great time at Ashland Theological Seminary giving four lectures on the topic “The Battle for the Gospel.” Just a brief note on the various lectures: first, an introduction to the gospel in current evangelical conversation, the gospel of the kingdom, the gospeling sermons of Peter and Paul in Acts, and how the conversion statements of Paul reveal his understanding of the gospel. Ashland, one of the cities in the heart of Ohio — home of such notables... Read more
The listeners — both Jews and god-fearing Gentiles — wanted more out of Paul after his initial gospeling in Pisidian Antioch. 13:42 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people were urging them to speak about these things on the next Sabbath. 13:43 When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God. 13:44 On the next... Read more
We began a discussion Tuesday on the real and perceived barriers to the acceptance of an evolutionary mechanism of creation amongst evangelical theologians. The basis for our discussion is a recent survey by Bruce Waltke (or here), an Old Testament scholar, author of a Genesis commentary and other books. The results of his survey are available here: Waltke Scholarly Essay. Waltke has a few conclusions and a few suggestions. These are well worth considering in some depth. The presentation that... Read more
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