From First Things: Judge Kavanaugh’s unequivocal denial presents a question of character immediately relevant to determining his fitness for the nation’s highest bench. Kavanaugh might have (if it were true), responded by saying that he regularly got drunk in high school and that he could not definitively account for all of his actions during that time; however, he had long left that reckless lifestyle behind. That would have presented the Senate with one question: Do the actions of a since-reformed 17-year-old forever... Read more

A new study by Matthew J. Thomas called Paul’s ‘Works of the Law’ in the Perspective of Second Century Reception, an expensive published PhD in the academic WUNT series, contends that analysis of the major texts of the 2d Century leads to a singular conclusion: the “new” perspective is earlier than the “old” perspective, and he calls this 2d Century view the “earlier” perspective. The book should be in every theological library. Thomas is not providing some comprehensive endorsement of the... Read more

What are your favorite resources (blogs, internet sites, magazines) for biblical and theological and church studies? OK, Go! (Tell us why if you can.) Read more

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP Read more

Here’s a collection of some blog posts and websites for your Saturday morning, most of the links being sent to me — and again a big thanks to Kris and JS. On Cathay Paciic. The photos surfaced via the Hong Kong Aviation Discussion Board Facebook group, but it’s still not clear just how such an epic mix-up could have happened — and some are a little suspicious. An engineer for Haeco, a Cathay Pacific subsidiary, told the South China Morning Post: “The... Read more

Following Jesus (Brethren in Christ Keynote Address – Part 1) KR 105 Interested in joining Scot for his class on Paul’s Pastoral Theology? Email Chaz at [email protected] Followers should look like the one they follow. Scot unpacks how Jesus’ earliest followers understood this simple but powerful reality. They understood that every call of Jesus leads to death, but also that the death they died is the life they’ve been given. Read more

By Vonda Dyer It’s “Giving Day” in north Texas, and I’m celebrating what our agency calls #minervasoul, because we have the privilege of supporting clients who want to end poverty as we know it through innovative higher education, others who want to eradicate human trafficking in our city, some who want to tangibly love people better by the way that they do business, and yet others who are lifting people out of homelessness. The one thing they all have in... Read more

I had a long dinner conversation with my friend, Mike Glenn, Wednesday evening, when I was in Nashville to speak at New Room. This post is the kind of wisdom I have come to learn from Mike every time we are together.  Most parents have experienced the humbling moment of realizing they can’t beat their children in some games unless they cheat, whether it’s Monopoly at the kitchen table or basketball in the driveway. (We won’t even talk about video... Read more

The creeds came before the canon but developed from and alongside the apostolic writings that became our New Testament. I read a thread of comments last week (not on my post) where it was claimed that there are something like 30000 Christian denominations. I don’t know if this number is correct or not. And I don’t care. The commenter was arguing against the clarity of Scripture and noted that 29,999 of these must be wrong. But the commenter was off... Read more

This is Willow Creek’s announcement, and the bold faced words are from me: The purpose of the council is stated in general terms.  The Willow Creek Community Church (WCCC) and the Willow Creek Association (WCA) joined to commission an external independent review and advisory group. The request is for this group to 1.) Consider allegations related to Bill Hybels as founder and pastor of the church and founder and spokesperson of the association; 2.) Review organizational culture of the church... Read more