I have been a member of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) since 1999. Most of its nearly 10,000 members are professors who have PhDs and are specialists in biblical studies. My friend Professor Scot McKnight suggested I join due to my interest in the Bible and book publications that I have written about the Bible. Each year SBL joins together with the American Academy of Religion (AAR), which also consists of about 10,000 members, to hold an Annual Meeting. The... Read more
Christianity teaches the doctrine of the Trinity. It was gradually developed by post-apostolic church fathers over a period of about 250 years and made official at the Second Ecumenical Council, in 381. It means that God is three co-equal and co-eternal persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. In nearly the next two centuries, church fathers developed this teaching further about how Jesus could be both man and God. It is called “the hypostatic union.” It... Read more
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill which announces the U.S. support of protestors in Hong Kong who are calling for the development of more democracy. The bill passed an astounding 417 votes to only one opposed to it. The Senate quickly approved the bill as well. It is reported that President Donald Trump, despite having initiated a serious trade war with China, is expected to sign the bill soon. (Actually, two bills were involved.) The National... Read more
For decades the U.S. has been the main power broker in the so-called “Middle East Peace Process,” which really refers mostly to efforts to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But that process has been dead for years. President Donald Trump has been the main cause of it by being anti-Palestinian. He has done multiple things that have not only been contrary to the peace process but clearly pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian. One was moving the U.S. Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv,... Read more
In the last presidential election, I wanted Michael Bloomberg to enter the race. However, I even more wanted Colin Powell to do so because I would have voted for him. Michael Bloomberg was the mayor of New York City for three terms, thus for twelve years. He generally is credited with having improved the City and thereby attained a positive legacy as mayor. I believe he is a level-headed guy. He also is passionate about increased gun control and reducing... Read more
A new Pew Research Center survey affirms that Americans still generally think religion is good for America, yet they want organized religion to stay out of politics. This is an important point since the ever-growing Evangelicalism and Pentecostal/Charismatic sects generally want to make the U.S. a Christian nation, or, as they would put it, return America to being a Christian nation. And President Donald Trump’s administration has been advocating the relaxing of laws preventing religious organizations and other non-profits from... Read more
The Daily Mail has an article today entitled “Donald Trump will survive impeachment says Richard Nixon’s son-in-law.” It is largely an interview of Ed Cox. He married Tricia Nixon in 1971 in a White House Rose Garden ceremony. It was the year before President Nixon won a landslide reelection victory for president which was only a few months after the Watergate break-in that later led to the end of his presidency. I was glued to the TV during the Congressional... Read more
American ingenuity–you can’t beat it! Even if it’s by America’s immigrants. Two guys just opened a new restaurant last week that is located right in the middle of this nation’s controversy about immigration–only one block from the Capitol, in Washington, D.C. The name of this new concept for a restaurant is Immigrant Food. What a great name considering our recent politics about this subject. Immigrant Food serves various international dishes. One mixed drink is named Across the Border. The place... Read more
Everyone knows that President Donald Trump loves to play golf. In fact, he’s been a pretty decent amateur golfer. But the president doesn’t have much time to play golf now since he is under impeachment investigation in the House of Representatives that is being led by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The Republicans’ biggest defense of the president in past days has been that the open hearings the House Intelligence Committee has been conducting has had witnesses who testified... Read more
South Africa’s Gary Player is a good friend of mine. We played the PGA Tour together for many years. He is one of the all time greatest golfers ever. He won nine major championships, which is tied with Ben Hogan in fifth place. Jack Nicklaus is #1 with 18 major wins, and Tiger Woods is #2 with 15 major wins after he won this year’s Master. Gary recently gave an interview that was edited and published in The New York... Read more
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