There is, the apostle Paul tells us, …one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). His emphasis on “oneness” forms everything in these three verses: God is one, what God does is designed to form oneness. God is not divided; God is palpably one. Do you prefer... Read more
From Thom Rainer: The three most common causes of loneliness shared with me by pastors are insightful: 1. Church members do not want to get too close to a pastor. 2. The pastor is accustomed to giving instead of receiving. 3. The pastor is in a defensive mode. Three Dangers . . . Here are the three most common negative consequences of loneliness straight from the mouths of pastors: 4. Burnout. 5. Moral failure. 6. Depression. Three Solutions . .... Read more
James D.G. Dunn was my doctoral supervisor. I have visited with Jimmy most every year since the early 1980s at the annual academic conferences, and this sketch of his newest book needs to be seen in that light. In many ways, this book returns to the sort of work he was doing in the 1980s when I was his student and which established the kind of scholarship he does. Reading the book was like sitting in the seminar room in... Read more
An “ordained” minister means someone is designated by a given religious body as approved for ministry: they have been examined, discernment has occurred, and they are then consecrated to perform the duties of ministry. In some groups this means the “ordained” minister can distribute the sacraments; in some it means they can be called “pastor” or “priest”; in some groups pastors, elders and deacons are “ordained.” Do you think ordination is outdated? This means some gifts are recognized in special... Read more
Nope, not Joshua. Yes, of course, he was, but there’s another successor to Moses in dramatic ways. In the most recent fascicle of Journal for the Study of the Old Testament an article by Bruce Herzberg, at Bentley University in Waltham Mass, presents an excellent case for seeing Deborah as a successor to Moses. As he puts it, “far more similar than either traditional or modern commentators acknowledge.” [“Deborah and Moses,” JSOT 38/1 (2013): 15-33.] You can read up about... Read more
Grant me, O Lord, to trust in you with all my heart; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.† Read more
The smoke has covered Lake Tahoe. Read more
From NYMag (HT: ANM): According to several studies summarized in the WSJ, naps are best optimized when based on an understanding of our natural circadian rhythms and REM cycles. Based on that, scientists (or professional nap analysts) have discovered the best time to nap is between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. while sitting up slightly so you don’t fall into a deep sleep. The popular “I’m just gonna nap for 30 minutes” nap is actually the worst kind — it... Read more
I pray because Western interventions in Middle Eastern countries, military and otherwise, make the weak and needy of those nations, not least the already decimated native Christians, more and more susceptible to unspeakable violence. A strike against Syria’s regime is a double strike against the church. The only sensible, and usually ignored, strategy is the one that assumes violence only begets more violence. I pray for peace-filled strategies. What are your prayers today? Read more
Margaret Manning on the human propensity for legalisms: “Why is it that human beings become legalists regardless of the rules involved? The desire to have clear boundaries, and a concern for decency and order to guide communities, is both necessary and prudent. Yet somehow rules meant to offer shape for community living often grow into gods we come to worship—gods who serve as judge and jury for all who fall short of their dictates. Clear boundaries become walls of separation... Read more
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