Not in 27 Years

Last updated on: November 18, 2012 at 3:08 pm By Scot McKnight

From Philip Bump: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration summarizes October 2012: The average temperature across land and ocean surfaces during October was 14.63°C (58.23°F). This is 0.63°C (1.13°F) above the 20th century average and ties with 2008 as the fifth warmest October on record. The record warmest October occurred in 2003 and the record coldest October occurred in 1912. This is the 332nd consecutive month with an above-average temperature. Emphasis added. If you were born in or after April 1985, if... Read more

The Key to Science (and all learning) is…?

Last updated on: November 14, 2012 at 8:02 am By Scot McKnight

… being wrong and learning from being wrong. Steven Ross Pomeroy: In 1964, the occasionally enigmatic but always energetic physicist, Dr. Richard Feynman gave a lecture at Cornell University to a packed hall of eager, young scholars. Feynman’s demeanor was crisp and purposeful that day, a style reinforced by his sharp appearance. The professor’s hair was neat and tidy, and he was keenly attired in a trim, tailored suit. His right hand grasping a piece of chalk, his left had nestled in his coat... Read more

Four Fronts in a Church’s Ministry

Last updated on: November 18, 2012 at 5:24 pm By Scot McKnight

How does your church do in ministering on all four of these fronts? In Tim Keller’s book, Center Church, four fronts of local church’s ministry are given a chapter each: 1. Connecting people to God through evangelism and worship. He speaks of a biblical theology of worship; then the historic tradition which was liturgical; eucharist. One’s culture shapes what is most appealing. And one’s temperament is involved as well. Keller thinks churches can be both evangelistic and edifying to believers; he... Read more

Distorted Church Teachings about Women

Last updated on: November 15, 2012 at 8:09 am By Scot McKnight

I saw this list by J. Lee Grady, at Charisma Mag, on ten lies the church tells women… and it’s a list worthy of a good conversation today. I give you his opening and then only his list… go to the link to see his explanations: What distortions have you heard? Have you heard these? For centuries, a patriarchal system of control has kept women in spiritual captivity through distortion of the Scriptures. It’s time to debunk the myths. We... Read more

The Good Doctor

Last updated on: November 14, 2012 at 7:59 pm By Scot McKnight

Cool: Patients line up early outside his office just off the town square, waiting quietly for the doctor to arrive, as he has done for nearly 60 years. Dr. Russell Dohner is, after all, a man of routine, a steady force to be counted on in uncertain times. Wearing the fedora that has become his trademark, he walks in just before 10 a.m., after rising early to make rounds at the local hospital. There are no appointments. He takes his... Read more

Churches as Civil Authorities

Last updated on: November 14, 2012 at 8:15 am By Scot McKnight

The issue for this post is not Yes or No on same-sex marriage; the issue is this: Should churches and pastors and ministers be official representatives of the State? What do you think? George Weigel is now contending Catholic priests need to re-think that connection and role: To address the threat of the “gay insurgency, which will press the administration to find some way to federalize the marriage issue and to compel acceptance of the chimera of ‘gay marriage,’” Weigel... Read more

Prayer for the Week

Last updated on: November 3, 2012 at 7:08 am By Scot McKnight

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Read more

A Solidarity of Silence

Last updated on: November 13, 2012 at 1:10 pm By Scot McKnight

Krish Kandiah and a silent church service: Today we had a shorter service at our local church in order to connect in with the townwide act of remembrance. We took the opportunity to do things differently and connect with the global persecuted church. The idea was to use a whole church all age event to help our church experience the essence of church and a deeper connection with the persecuted church. Church unplugged We meet in a school and so... Read more

Weekly Meanderings

Last updated on: November 16, 2012 at 10:02 am By Scot McKnight

Very good post by Roger on open theism and Arminianism. What do the Amish read? [By the way, the image to the left is not of the Amish.] “We like to read about the Amish, but what do they like to read? In fact, do they even read very much? You might assume that because formal schooling ends at eighth grade for the Amish, an education stops, too. Not so! These people read and read and read. I have never been in... Read more

Brush Fires, Begone!

Last updated on: November 16, 2012 at 7:32 am By Scot McKnight

From USAToday: SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Munch, munch. Munch, munch. It’s just past 4 p.m. on a late September day and Henry, a tan colored mixed-breed goat, along with 68 of his buddies, is chowing down on chemise, ceanothus, thistle and assorted native grasses. Or as fire officials term it, fuel. This 2-acre patch of land, bordered by a small clump of homes and a popular hiking trail in the Santa Barbara foothills, is tinder dry — a big concern... Read more