NPR did an interesting story asking whether Jesus would be for bigger or smaller government.  Scot McKnight responded with five really important principles to remember during this conversation. What is the discussion about, really? SIDE ONE:  The government cannot fix our social problems, because that is not the government’s role. The best way to care for the poor is through churches that are involved in mission. The US government has gotten so big and bloated that the tax burden it places on... Read more

These are two great videos, I’m so glad I took the time to watch them. The middle class is shrinking while (alliteration alert), capital, cash, and control continues to concentrate in the hands of corporations which do not care about the common good. This point is made clear in these two short clips from Jon Stewart on the Daily Show – this part wasn’t on the broadcast, but is only on the internet. We cannot simply blame Democrats, or blame... Read more

See the guy in the beard in the front row? Look to the left and over his head… I look perplexed.   These are some of my notes from the third and final lecture in the Earle Lecture Series at NTS, given this year by Brent Strawn. You can follow these links for notes on Lecture 01, and Lecture 02. RECOMMENDED TREATMENT – Lecture 03 On Saving Dying Languages: Once a language dies, it never comes back. That’s the end.... Read more

LECTURE 02 – Signs of Morbidity The analogy Strawn is making is that the Old Testament is like a language, so it can be learned and spoken or forgotten and die. The way in which the OT is dying can be tracked much in the same way linguists might track the death of a once vital language. Strawn uses a couple of linguistic terms very effectively. Pidgin: When two separate language groups come together (often for commerce), they must find... Read more

Brent Strawn is giving the Earle Lectures on Biblical Literature at Nazarene Theological Seminary today. Brent has a PhD. from Princeton & teaches at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. The Earle Lectures are done in 3 parts and part three is today. Dr. Strawn’s series has been titled The Old Testament is Dying: a diagnosis and recommended Treatment. Here are some notes & quotes from the first two lectures. Strawn is making the argument that the OT is like... Read more

I confess that I have not learned yet how to keep quiet and serve others. I confess that the following confessions are all over the place. I confess that I finally did a full shut down on my computer last week for the first time in about a month. I confess that when it came back up, it did so w/an irritating change in my settings. When my web browser is up on the screen, it stays in the front... Read more

The Official Hub for all things Hogwarts is officially live and ready for your exploration. Text from the landing page of the website says: “Explore the Harry Potter stories in a while new way and discover exclusive new writing from J.K. Rowling. The first story in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is now ready for you to explore – but that’s just the beginning of the Pottermore Journey.” Here’s a quick story about the grand opening, which... Read more

I’m slogging through Hans Urs Von Balthasar’s The Glory of the Lord, Vol. I., Seeing the Form – it’s a Theological Aesthetics (not a theology of aesthetics… Von would want that to be clear – I like call him Von as if we are old friends, it helps me to not become frustrated). Let’s not kid ourselves, Von Balthasar has some serious game and reading his work is a bitch. I’m reasonably well read in theology, but I don’t have... Read more

This is a pretty amazing story. Newark Mayor Cory Booker literally ran into a burning house last night & rescued a woman who would have certainly died otherwise. He said in the midst of the feeling of being trapped by the fire, he was thinking he might be a goner. He described it as a “come to Jesus moment.” Seeing only fire in front of him and black behind him, he got “very religious.” A few quotes from his interview:... Read more

My friend Isaac Anderson has an essay in the current Image Journal. For those of you who already know Isaac & his work – you can click here and buy the current issue & have Isaac’s essay delivered to you. For those of you who don’t know Isaac – allow me to introduce you, then you can go buy the issue. Isaac is a recent graduate of Kansas State University, and more recently Ohio State University where he received an... Read more