Monday, March 30. 2009
Latest Essays
- The Book of Revelation: How History Plays Out (This is an extensive study)
- Eschatology: the End Times
- The Risen Lord and History
IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS READING MY WEBSITE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, e.g.- Is the Menu Bar visible? the Search Bar? (There is no Salad Bar) Have you found the icons for PDF, email and print?
Monday, March 30. 2009
I just came from the Garage where I left our car for work it needs.. I walked the 2 miles back and, as usual, found the sights and sounds and smells interesting on this very damp, dreary day. Most buildings and houses on most streets around here are dingy and dumpy and in disrepair.
But, there are daffodils and crocuses pushing through ugly brown lawns. And there are houses here and there where the owners show pride and care for their property. That is always inspiring and encouraging to me. These folks are not giving in to the neglect, abuse and blight surrounding them. They are not giving up or doing as their neighbors do. (Hopefully, they will be an example others will follow) They are keeping their candles burning. They are points of light in the darkness.
Monday, March 30. 2009
In his latest newsletter, James Emery White wrote about the new American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) released on March 9, 2009.
"What was most alarming", he says, "was the increase in [those who are unaffiliated with any Religion] – nearly doubling from 8% to 15%, making those who claim no religion at all the third largest defined constituency in the United States, eclipsed only by Catholics and Baptists". The "nones" rose in percentage in every single state. Barry Kismin, co-researcher for the survey, said, “These people aren’t secularized. They’re not thinking about religion and rejecting it; they’re not thinking about it at all.”
Continue reading "THE RISE OF THE "NONES" AND THE FUZZY WUZZIES"
Monday, March 30. 2009
Our City of 150,000 has many problems. We could save millions of dollars if we stopped busing childen over 6th grade to their schools. But someone pointed out to the School Board that State Law requires busing for children who are poor enough to qualify for the free or reduced price breakfast and lunch programs. (I don't understand the connection) That turns out to be more than 85% of some 29,000 public school students. Most of those children will not graduate from high school. Most of those live in single parent homes. We have one of the highest teen birth rates in the State.
Continue reading "THANK GOD FOR TEACHERS"
Thursday, March 26. 2009
Last night's discussion of The Shack was the best yet. The book raises all kinds of theological questions as well as stimulates debate about how God works in our lives. In our small table groups, we shared and discussed serious issues in our childhood and marriages and about faith and our relationship with the Lord. Doing this has probably been the best part of this series. We read and discussed at least 5 portions of of Scripture (one per chapter we had read before hand) and folks asked many good questions.
The frustrating part, again, is that there was no time to try to really answer the questions. In 45 minutes we merely scratched the surface. This book should be studied page by page for as long as it takes and time should be given to digging into Scripture on each topic the book raises (and it is full of unorthodox teaching that needs to be challenged) -also for as long as that takes.
So the question now is what to do for follow-up? A good one is needed and whatever that might be should be done while interest is high.
Saturday, March 21. 2009
If you are serious about the subject of Spiritual Powers, what they are, what they do and about deliverance from them, then there is an an extensive Bible Study with many verses and word studies for you HERE
Saturday, March 21. 2009
Spiritual Warfare is not what people often think it is. If you want a good Scriptural Definition from the Apostle Paul look HERE
Thursday, March 19. 2009
Part 1 of this Essay about the attributes of God, comes out of a larger study and concern I have about Open Theism, as well as the changes I see in Theology among advocates of the Emergent and Missional church movements, which in turn are rooted in, or greatly influenced by, Post Modernism. I like the challenge and admit I have had to rethink some basic convictions I have held.
Read Parts 1 and 2 of this Essay about the attributes of God on my website HERE
Thursday, March 19. 2009
Last night the discussion of The Shack continued at out church. We sit around round tables and after a brief introduction by the Pastor, we discuss the assigned chapters, using a discussion guide the Pastor provides each week. My wife and I have intentionally sat with different people each week and have been impressed with the participation. The best part of this series is getting to know people better. The book challenges preconceptions and provokes a lot of sharing. That is all to the good. What is not good is that, once raised, there is no study to find answers to the questions. Last night the focus was on the Trinity. It could be this, it could be that. How do we know what it is? Do we just share off the top of our heads? There is no recourse to Scripture, let alone any time to study it. That is a shame, because most every one seems primed for such study. It is a good teaching and learning moment lost. The hope would be that Bible Study classes will be offered soon as followup.
The most depressing moments were those in which some people were disparaging of others who have criticized the Shack for its Theology. There is a tendency for those who like, approve and take seriously the book's Theology, and there is a lot of that in the book, to answer would-be critics by saying, "Hey, lighten up, it just fiction". Yes, the plot or story line is fiction, but that fiction is used by the author to teach his point of view about, eg- the Trinity. And in my view, what the author teaches about the Trinity, along with many other topics, is definitely not Scriptural.
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