We have spent several posts looking at Gen 1-3 and at Paul’s understanding of Genesis and its role in his atonement theology in Romans 5. In the course of this discussion several different people have brought up Romans 8, especially verses 19-22 as another important passage to inform our thinking. Certainly Romans 8 provides another reflection on Gen 3 and the consequence of the Fall. In Gen 3 we read: Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to... Read more
The news media are all reporting a significant shift from Bush to Obama on stem cell research. How do you think about this issue? What studies do you consider important on this one? Do you think there is too much of a “slippery slope” here or do you think there is too much of a slippery slope apologetic against what Obama proposes? Read more
What about women? Do the iGens show higher levels of equality and integration? Jean Twenge studies this in her 7th chp (Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled–and More Miserable Than Ever Before). What are the biggest differences today for women that were not available, say, 20 years ago or more? What is the biggest challenge facing women in the equality challenge? Who wants to speak to the contradictory existence that I mention at the bottom... Read more
One of the things that my international coworkers insist on is a signature in any of their correspondence. They are from all over the world: England, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, and Germany. We Americans have lost the civil art or the social pleasantries of salutations and signatures. I wonder how important people feel this is in the electronic emailing world, etc. Do people have their own signature line that defines them? (e.g. Cheers! Regards, etc.) Do they just rush out... Read more
This is a 5-part series we will post this entire week at about this time. It will unpack a “partial preterist” view of Jesus’ eschatology. Oddly enough, I was interviewed last week by CBS TV in Chicago about 2012. Evidently, some folks are getting riled up about the imminent return of Christ. (I think the interview will be at 10am Wed or Thurs.) Here goes … Because my life’s story finds itself wrapped around the various poles of Christian thinking... Read more
Once again James gets a look-alike award for what he has to say in James 1:12. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Jesus was big on trials and often exhorted his disciples to run the gauntlet but that at the end of the gauntlet was a reward from God. Jesus talks about reward often. Furthermore,... Read more
What are the causes of our economic crisis? Deregulation of financial institutions? Subprime mortgages? Housing bubble? Fraud? Adam Hamilton, in his little wise book called Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity , gets this right. And it takes a pastor-theologian to get to the bottom of the problem. Five words: gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, and pride. Those are words we are not hearing often enough. And the word “enough” is both a warning to halt and an estimate of... Read more
What about equality? Do the iGens show higher levels of equality and integration? Jean Twenge studies this in her 7th chp (Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled–and More Miserable Than Ever Before). Her studies involved minorities, women, and gays and lesbians. Have both attitudes and actions shifted? Yes. In four generations there has been a transformation. And this is the biggest social change that has occurred in culture. Who wants to speak about the shifts... Read more
If you’ve got a Bible close at hand, open it up to Romans 16:7. Herein lies a tale I want to tell you. And I begin by quoting the NIV, then the NASB and then the NLT: Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles,... Read more
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Read more
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