Santiago, a Christ Figure? (by John Frye)

Last updated on: July 8, 2015 at 2:27 pm By Scot McKnight

From a website titled “Spark Notes” about Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, I learned the following: “In order to suggest the profundity of the old man’s sacrifice and the glory that derives from it, Hemingway purposefully likens Santiago to Christ, who, according to Christian theology, gave his life for the greater glory of humankind. Crucifixion imagery is the most noticeable way in which Hemingway creates the symbolic parallel between Santiago and Christ. When Santiago’s palms are first... Read more

Marriage before the Fall (Tim and Anne Evans, from Arise

Last updated on: July 9, 2015 at 7:17 am By Scot McKnight

From Arise Tim + Anne Evans are co-authors of Together: Reclaiming Co-Leadership in Marriage. They have been married thirty-nine years and continue to passionately explore God’s marriage mystery of two becoming one. They are both ordained ministers and each have master and doctor of practical ministries diplomas from Wagner Leadership Institute. They are parents, grandparents, and spiritual parents. Tim is a retired fire chief; Anne is a licensed nurse and certified life purpose coach. They live in Colorado and co-lead... Read more

Eight Elements of Creative People

Last updated on: July 6, 2015 at 7:07 pm By Scot McKnight

Brigid Schulte: And we do know from scientific study that altering aspects of your environment can help you. 1. Positive mood: There is a lot of research going back 20, 30 years showing that being in a positive mood improves creativity. A good mood literally expands the scope of your thought. 2. Large spaces: 3. Avoid sharp objects: 4. The colors of nature: 5. Take a break: 6. Sleep: 7. Do nothing Doing nothing is creative work. 8. Take a shower. Read more

In the Image of God (RJS)

Last updated on: June 28, 2015 at 10:05 pm By RJS

The final chapter of John Walton’s new book The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate looks at the ways in which humans are distinct creatures and a special creation of God. In discussing human origins, Walton draws a distinction between evolution in the sense material continuity and gradual change with time and the mechanisms that drove this process of evolution. I made the same distinction in my recent post “How to Talk About... Read more

Saving Salvation from Bad Ideas

Last updated on: July 8, 2015 at 10:58 am By Scot McKnight

Some are allergic to the term “salvation” because of how they were treated by it in their churches while others glory in the term because how they were treated by it in their churches. But here is one (almost) indisputable claim about salvation: most operate on one side of the term. That is, the spectrum runs from the spiritual notion of salvation (forgiveness, relation with God, eternal life with God) to the social notion of salvation (justice, healing, systemic evil... Read more

America’s Tiny House Movement

Last updated on: July 5, 2015 at 4:43 pm By Scot McKnight

Nina Patel: America is having a big love affair with tiny houses. There are television shows: “Tiny House Nation” and “Tiny House Hunters.” There are movies: “Tiny: A Story About Living Small” and “Small Is Beautiful: A Tiny House Documentary.” Pinterest has more than 900 boards devoted to tiny houses, and design Web site Houzz showcases thousands of tiny- house photos. “Many Houzz readers have been fascinated by the idea of a portable home they can pay off quickly and personalize down... Read more

A New Metric (by Jonathan Storment)

Last updated on: July 8, 2015 at 10:52 am By Scot McKnight

A New Metric, by Jonathan Storment For the past 12 years, I have worked only at large churches. This is neither a bragging statement nor a dismissive one. Frankly, they are the only churches that would hire me. And they are great churches. They care about the right things, and they want to serve God and make the world a better place. For the longest time, I have heard that we must stop measuring the ABC’s of church (Attendance, Buildings,... Read more

They Dared to Forgive (Donald Nwankwo)

Last updated on: July 7, 2015 at 1:54 pm By Scot McKnight

From Donald Nwankwo (Anglican Deacon) News about the response of relatives of some of the slain members of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. was so strong it stood on its own legs as a news item, side by side the massacre at a weekday prayer meeting. At the bond hearing, some of the victims’ family members pronounced their offer of forgiveness to the alleged killer, Dylann Roof. Reactions to this pronouncement have been mixed – welcomed by some, unwelcome... Read more

“Put aside a culture war that…”

Last updated on: July 5, 2015 at 6:30 am By Scot McKnight

David Brooks: Put aside a culture war that has alienated large parts of three generations from any consideration of religion or belief. Put aside an effort that has been a communications disaster, reducing a rich, complex and beautiful faith into a public obsession with sex. Put aside a culture war that, at least over the near term, you are destined to lose. Consider a different culture war, one just as central to your faith and far more powerful in its... Read more

Laying Down Arms (RJS)

Last updated on: July 7, 2015 at 6:52 am By RJS

I had the privilege last week of attending the first public conference held by BioLogos. This was in Grand Rapids and featured a number of fascinating speakers – Scot McKnight, John Walton, Ard Louis, Ted Davis, Len Vander Zee … a New Testament scholar, an Old Testament scholar, a scientist, a historian of science, and a pastor … and there were more perspectives as well. Many of the plenary lectures (audio and video) and contributed talks (audio only) will be... Read more