Denny Burk, a blogger and NT scholar, got Criswell Theological Review to send me some files of the Spring edition of the journal. It is devoted to the emergent movement, and they sent me the editor’s introduction, an interview with Brian McLaren, a piece by Mark Driscoll, and then a study of truth in the emerging movement by David Mills at Cedarville. I’ll look today at the interview with McLaren. |inline Read more
Some overdo Jesus’ being our example and end up converting all kinds of passages in the NT as examples — like going into a mountain anticipating a transfiguration, and others underdo it — like missing all sorts of opportunities to see the life of Jesus as one big recapitulation of human life. Peter strikes a balance, and in 4:1-6 presses home once again that Jesus is our example and more. |inline Read more
I came of age as a basketball player in the Johnny Wooden era. All those banners with a peerless moral leader of the old school like Johnny Wooden simply put UCLA on another level for me. And they’ve been there most of these years. So, I’m cheering for the Bruins tomorrow night. Johnny Wooden created a standard that will perhaps never again be reached by any NCAA basketball team. The present team is one of the best defensive teams I’ve... Read more
Most I talk with think Barry Bonds ingested steroids in one way or another. I want to suggest another issue that may have had more impact on his inflated home run numbers than the alleged steroid abuse: Barry Bonds is armed. Just look at the pictures of Bonds when at bat, and you’ll observe a noticeable set of pads and gear around his right elbow, forearm and tricep. That’s the basis for his inflated numbers right there. |inline Read more
Blog of the week: Hamo’s got a great one on a problem with youth ministry — front doors are busy but so also are the back doors! I don’t know the stats, but I’d like to hear from those who do. Greg Mutch, at Too Mutch, has a vulnerable post about learning about the faces of forgiveness. |inline Read more
I reported yesterday that I got my first cell phone last Friday. I’ve learned a few things, not the least of which is how to take pictures. So, I took a picture of Brad Nassif, and then some of my students. I talk about my students to Kris often enough that putting a face to the names might help. When I first tried to take a picture I created a short movie of my feet and the floor, but I... Read more
Yesterday’s post emphasized intersubjectivity as central to forgiveness. Today we want to look at Sandage and Shults’ The Faces of Forgiveness and the issues of “saving face”, what the faces in a “face to face” look like, at “systemic estrangement,” relational hermeneutics, and a model of the forgiveness process. What’s on your face when you are estranged? How do you treat the other when you don’t want forgiveness? |inline Read more
In 1 Peter 3:18-22 we come across one of the most disputed passages in the entire New Testament. It starts off just fine — it looks just like chapter two’s connection of the suffering of household slaves with the suffering of Jesus. And here too: as you are suffering, so also Jesus. And then the similarities shift. Overall, though, the big idea is this: we are to be emboldened because Jesus has gone before us. |inline Read more
Cell phone? I do, as it was purchased last Friday. Yes, that’s right. A hold out is what I had going on. But after a few mess-ups, one at an airport, Kris and I realized it would best if we both had a cell phone. Kris has had one for years, and we originally jumped on the cellphonebandwagon when Kris began to commute. But I was a hold out. Why? |inline Read more
Steven Sandage and LeRon Shults, in The Faces of Forgiveness, propose a new and fresh approach to how the Bible speaks about forgiveness and how forgiveness works in real practice today. The question I will ask today is this one: In your experience in working with forgiveness issues, how tied is the ability to forgive to personal characteristics? Or, what do you find to be the big obstacles to the capacity to forgive? |inline Read more
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