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A Resource by Mark D. Roberts |
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A Chronological List of All Blog Entries
from January - June 2006
Note: for other years, click here.
by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts
Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts
Note: You may download this resource at no cost, for personal use or for use in a Christian ministry, as long as you are not publishing it for sale. All I ask is that you give credit where credit is due. For all other uses, please contact me at mark@markdroberts.com. Thank you
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The Daily Psalm: What? How? Why?  |
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| Part 4: What is the Purpose of The Daily Psalm? |
January 6, 2006 |
| Part 3: Why Did You Create The Daily Psalm? |
January 5, 2006 |
| Part 2: How Do I Use The Daily Psalm? |
January 4, 2006 |
| Part 1: What is The Daily Psalm? |
January 3, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| Are Men Really That Bad? |
January 2, 2006 |
| Happy New Year's Hope for Fellowship |
January 1, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Executable Outlines: An Outstanding Resource of Christian Links.
Mark A. Copeland has gathered together an outstanding collection of Christian links. It's part of the larger Christian Classics Ethereal Library, which is an even larger collectiom of online resources. |
Readable, Critical Reviews of Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus.
Bart Ehrman, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has written a new book with a most intriguing title: Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why. The book, with its "gotcha" title and its criticism of evangelical Christianity is getting a lot of secular press, such as a major interview on NPR. Two outstanding New Testament scholars have written online critiques of Ehrman's book. One is by P. J. Williams and the other is by Dan Wallace. Both of these scholars are experts in the field of text criticism, the topic of Ehrman's book. |
| A Dog's Life |
| My dog, Sandy, has a problem. You see, there's a "kitty door" in the door from our house into the garage, which allows our cat, Lily, to visit the kitty box without actually having to open the whole door. But the opening for Lily is small, way too small for Sandy, a Golden Retriever. This doesn't keep Sandy from trying, however. Lily thinks this is pretty cool, because she can keep a safe distance from Sandy and swat at her nose when it comes through the kitty door. Yet Sandy, always the optimist, keeps on trying. So Lily, always the opportunist, enjoys the chance to make Sandy play the fool. Do you ever feel like Sandy? (For another picture of a frustrated Sandy being taunted by a clever Lily, click here.) |
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| The Bible, the Qur'an, and the Words of God |
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| Part 4: Do We Even Have the Bible God Inspired? |
January 13, 2006 |
| Part 3: The Bible as God's Word . . . and Words? Section B |
January 12, 2006 |
| Part 2: The Bible as God's Word . . . and Words? Section A |
January 11, 2006 |
| Part 1: The Bible and the Qur'an: Did the Pope Get It Right? |
January 10, 2006 |
| The Daily Psalm: What? How? Why? |
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| Part 5: Why the Psalms? |
January 9, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| A Missed Opportunity |
January 8, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
The Bible in Legos at The Brick Testament
This site has to be seen to be believed. You'll find dozens upon dozens of Bible stories illustrated with Legos. That's right, Legos. A word of warning to parents: Some of the pictures are not quite appropriate for younger folks, so check out this site when the kids aren't around. |
Very Important Articles But Very Hard to Read
Christianity Today's cover story is one of the hardest I have read in a long time. It's an account of the horrific use and slaughter of children in Uganda. Yet as much as this article is terrible, it's important that this information get out. Hency my link. After you read the cover story, "Deliver Us From Kony," be sure to read the follow-up article by the same author, called, "Brutality Therapy." Kudos to CT for taking on such an difficult and important issue, and to J. Carter Johnson for some gutsy reporting. |
| Do You Have Way Too Many Clothes? |
| Do you have way too many clothes? I know I do. So, every year after Christmas, when I always get new clothes, I go through my closet and drawers and give away a bunch of clothing to charity. Here's a picture of this year's pile. Some of what I give away is still in great shape; some of it virtually unusued. My rule of thumb, however, is that if I don't wear something very much, I should give it away to somebody who really needs it. I'm not boasting about this, mind you, but rather urging you to do the same. If we'd give away that we rarely use, it would make a huge difference for folks who have very little. |
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| The Bible, the Qur'an, Bart Ehrman, & the Words of God |
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| Part 7: How Ehrman Exaggerates the Problems in the NT Text |
January 20, 2006 |
| Part 6: The Text-Critical Case Against Biblical Inspiration, Section B |
January 18, 2006 |
| Part 5: The Text-Critical Case Against Biblical Inspiration, Section A |
January 17, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| Last Holiday: A Delightful Film |
January 19, 2006 |
| I Have a Dream |
January 16, 2006 |
| The Welcome of Jesus |
January 15, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
A Million Little Lies
The Smoking Gun provides and lengthy and detailed exposé of the falsehoods in one of the most popular books of 2005, A Million Little Lies, by James Frey. This book, purportedly a memoir, is filled with fiction. Many are talking about this issue. The Smoking Gun has the facts. |
| Something New in Worship |
| Last week in our Veritas worship service (post-contemporary), we had a couple of women paint during the singing and the sermon. They didn't illustrate the themes of the service in a literal sense. I was preaching on Job, and neither person painted a picture of Job. But they used their talents to bring glory to God and to encourage others. We're not the first church to do this. I've seen it elsewhere. But it was an interesting, and mostly successful, experiment for us. The point? To learn to worship God with all that we are. |
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The Bible, the Qur'an, Bart Ehrman,
& the Words of God |
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| Part 11: The God of Imperfect Textual Transmission (continued) |
January 27, 2006 |
| Part 10: The God of Imperfect Textual Transmission |
January 26, 2006 |
| Part 9: Should the History of the NT Undermine our Confidence in the Bible? (cont) |
January 24, 2006 |
| Part 8: Should the History of the NT Undermine our Confidence in the Bible? |
January 23, 2006 |
| My Reflections on the Psalms |
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| Part 1: The Most Beloved Psalm |
January 25, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| What Would People Think? |
January 22, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
More on the James Frey, Oprah, and A Million Little Pieces Controversy
Last Saturday I put up a link to The Smoking Gun exposé of James Frey's supposed memoir, A Million Little Pieces. Since then there have been some surprising developments. After the exposé came out, showing in detail that Frey had made up much of his "memoir," Frey appeared on Larry King Live, in which he mostly defended himself and showed little concern for the issues of truthfulness. Then, Oprah herself called in and defended Frey and his book, minimizing concerns about its honesty and blaming the publishers. (Here's a transcript of King's show.) But, yesterday Frey appeared on Oprah's program, now for the second time. Oprah took Frey to the woodshed for his dishonesy, and issued a very strong apology for her earlier minimizing of Frey's falsehoods. |
Dare to Be True . . . Now More Than Ever
A couple of years ago I published the book Dare to Be True. In this book I advocated not only truthful speech, but truthful living as well. The book hasn't exactly set any sales records, even though the foreword was written by Rick Warren, who has set many sales records. Friends have told me that Dare to Be True, as important as it may be, just makes people too uncomfortable. Oh well . . . .
One of my primary points in this book is that the lack of truthfulness in our world opens up a door of opportunity for Christians, both to make a difference in the world and to reflect the presence of God in our lives. If we're willing to be truthful people this will be noticed. The case of James Frey underscores this point.
So, if you'll pardon a bit of shameless self-promotion, I'd recommend Dare to Be True, even and especially if it makes you feel a bit uncomfortable. |
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| Safe in Ohio |
| Last week I spoke at Olivet Lutheran Church, a wonderful congregation in Sylvania, Ohio (near Toledo). When I checked out the spa in the hotel where I was staying, I was impressed. Notice the safety features of this spa. First, there's a "no diving" warning sign. Now I'm not quite sure what it implies about the intelligence of people who stay in this hotel, given the obvious depth of the pool, but better safe than sorry, I always say. On the opposite wall you see a number of other safety feathers, including: a First Aid kit, a life preserver ring attached to a fifteen-foot-long rope, a stretcher, and a sign proclaiming "No Lifeguard on Duty." Now, once again, I worry about the need for such a sign in a tiny room where it was rather obvious that there was no lifeguard. And I'm not quite sure why that life preserver needed such a long rope, but I was reassured to know that if I was stupid enough to dive head first into that shallow Jacuzzi, somebody passing by would be able to throw me a ring, haul me to safety, and carry me to a hospital on the stretcher. I couldn't quite see how the plant in the corner could make a difference. But, I figure, in Ohio, plants like that must help rescue drowing hotel guests somehow. |
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| Ruminating on the National Prayer Breakfast |
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| Part 1: Praying with Bush and Bono |
February 3, 2006 |
| Oprah, James Frey, & Me: Three Degrees of Separation |
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| Part 4: Three Degrees of Separation, Network #2 (continued) |
February 2, 2006 |
| Part 3: Three Degrees of Separation, Network #2 |
February 1, 2006 |
| Part 2: Three Degrees of Separation, Network #1 |
January 31, 2006 |
| Part 1: How Oprah Winfrey and James Frey Got Into Big Trouble |
January 30, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| When Welcome Isn't Easy |
January 29, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Common Saints: Music and Worship in the Church Today
I've recently become reacquainted with an old friend from high school, Dan McGowan. Not to imply that Dan is old. He's the same age as I am that could never be ol . . . well, never mind. Anyway, Dan is one of the most creative people I have ever known. His website is filled with lots of wisdom on worship and other things. And if you look around a bit, you'll find some good laughs too. |
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
If you're in Washington D.C., and if your hungry for great seafood, and if you don't mind plunking down a chunk of change, then by all means check out the Oceanaire Seafood Room. (This restaurant is in other majors cities as well.) The atmosphere is classic and quiet, a nice place to talk. The service is top notch. And the fish is excellent: a wide variety of options. I had the local rock fish with a sour cherry and pear chutney. Outstanding! Perhaps my favorite part of the menu, however, is the section entitled "Not Seafood." Now that's a no-spin description if I ever heard one. |
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| Ruminating on the National Prayer Breakfast |
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| Part 7: Do Christians and Muslims Pray to the Same God? |
February 10, 2006 |
| Part 6: What Does It Mean to Pray "In Jesus's Name?" (continued) |
February 9, 2006 |
| Part 5: What Does It Mean to Pray "In Jesus's Name?" |
February 8, 2006 |
| Part 4: Should Christians Pray with People Who Aren't Christians (cont) |
February 7, 2006 |
| Part 3: Should Christians Pray with People Who Aren't Christians |
February 6, 2006 |
| Part 2: Praying with People Who Aren't Christians |
February 5, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Church Musings by Tod Bolsinger
Tod Bolsinger of It Takes a Church is in the middle of an important series of posts on the nature and life of the church. Tod is springing off of a recent book by George Barna, Revolution, in which the author diminishes the value of local church. Tod has many right on things to say about what it means to be the people of God. Be sure to check out his series of Church Musings. |
Scot McKnight on Jesus and Homosexuality
One of my favorite New Testament scholars and bloggers, Scot McKnight, is doing an excellent series on Jesus and Homosexuality. This series, along with related posts, is gathered in Scot's Generous Orthodoxy collection. I highly recommend this discussion, and Scot's blog in general, Jesus Creed. It's truly one of the treasures of the blogosphere. |
| A Very Small World, Even on the Other Side of the Country |
A week ago I was in Washington DC for the National Prayer Breakfast. The next day was a gorgeous (clear, around 50 degrees), so I walked around the Mall. While passing in front of the White House, I heard someone call, "Pastor Roberts!" I turned, and there was Will, a high schooler from my church, with three of his friends. He was in DC for a school field trip. What a surprise to see him! Will, a senior in high school, gets extra credit for being willing to acknowledge his pastor in front of his friends! (In the photo, Will is the guy with ample hair and minimal midriff. The White House is behind us, through the trees.) |
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| Ruminating on the National Prayer Breakfast |
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| Part 12: God and the Poor: Biblical Testimonies |
February 17, 2006 |
| Part 11: Is God on the Side of the Poor? |
February 16, 2006 |
| Part 10: The ONE Campaign: Some Facts, Including Some Suprising Ones |
February 15, 2006 |
| Part 9: Bono's Sermon: His ONE Point |
February 14, 2006 |
| Part 8: Bono's Sermon |
February 13, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| FEMA Scandal: The Untold Story |
February 12, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Praying the Psalms
Dr. Claude Mariottini's blog is a delightful buffet of posts on a variety of subjects, including but not limited to Dr. Mariottini's speciality, the Old Testament. He's a professor of OT at Northern Baptist Seminary, in Lombard, Illinois (outside of Chicago). One of the things I appreciate about this blog is that it makes scholarly information available to non-specialists. At any rate, Dr. Mariottini has written a fine piece on Praying the Psalms, which, as you may know, is a topic in which I have a keen interest. |
Learning to Do Everything for the Love of God and By Prayer
Recently I've been reading one of the greatest of Christians classics, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. Here I found a wonderful statement that and encourages me:
So, likewise, in his business in the kitchen (to which he had naturally a great aversion), having accustomed himself to do everything there for the love of GOD, and with prayer, upon all occasions, for His grace to do his work well, he had found everything easy, during the fifteen years that he had been employed there.
This text is one of many collected in the most helpful Christian Classics Ethereal Library. |
| Evidence for a Common Complaint? |
When politicians and pundits "inside of the Beltway" do and say such inane things, it's not uncommon for people to accuse them of being full of, well, ordure. Now I happen to know some fine people in Washington DC, but my recent trip there did produce evidence for the theory that many Washingtonians have an unusually great need for outhouses. (Note: I did not doctor this picture to make my point.) I'll leave it to you to decide the significance of my discovery. |
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| Ruminating on the National Prayer Breakfast |
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| Part 17: Introducing the EIGHTY Campaign |
February 24, 2006 |
| Part 16: Why the ONE Campaign is So Important |
February 23, 2006 |
| Part 15: A Bit More on the ONE Campaign |
February 22, 2006 |
| Part 14: Further Reflections on the ONE Campaign |
February 21, 2006 |
| Part 13: Reflections on the ONE Campaign |
February 20, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| Pride Goeth Before a Fall |
February 19, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
The Problem with the ESV
I always find Ben Witherington's blog enteries to be fascinating. And that's really saying something about such a fine scholar who has published many academic books and papers. Most recently he's put up a post on "the problem with the ESV." The ESV (English Standard Version) is a new translation of the Bible that has become quite popular in some circles. I own a copy of the ESV, and consult it regularly, though it's not my primary translation. I did not know some of the background to the ESV story, which Witherington reveals, though with laudable delicacy. The ESV is part of the larger NIV/TNIV controversy, upon which I blogged endlessly a few months ago. |
An Excellent Da Vinci Code Busting Book
While I'm singing the praises of Ben Witherington, I should mention his book, The Gospel Code: Novel Claims About Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Da Vinci. This is one of many books in the "Da Vinci Code Busting" genre. I've read three of them and scanned several others. The Gospel Code is my favorite of the bunch, not only for its clear and compelling refutation of much of the pseudo-history in The Da Vinci Code, but also for its placing this conversation in a larger perspective. With The Da Vinci Code movie on the way, I'd recommend that you buy The Gospel Code and read it. |
| Dreaming of Bali Hai |
This is the famed "Bali Hai" on the north side of Kaua'i, Hawaii. Featured in the movie South Pacific, the Bali Hai guards the northern end of the Na Pali Coast, one of the most stunning places on earth. I took this picture last year when my wife and I were staying on Kaua'i. Today, at the end of a long day and a busy week, I'm dreaming of Bali Hai. |
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| How Lent Can Deepen Your Relationship with God |
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| Part 5: Lent: A Season of Preparation |
March 3, 2006 |
| Part 1: How Lent Can Make a Difference in Your Relationship with God |
March 2, 2006 |
| Ash Wednesday: Practice and Meaning |
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| Part 3: What is Ash Wednesday? |
March 1, 2006 |
| A Tale of Two Bodes |
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| Part 3: Will Mardi Gras Bring New Orleans Back to Life? |
February 28, 2006 |
| Part 2: The Second Bod(i)e |
February 27, 2006 |
| Part 1: The First Bode |
February 26, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
No Church? No Problem?
Don Williams weighs in on the growing dissatisfaction with the church. His insights are well worth reading, as are many elements of the Kingdom Rain website. |
A Website for Smart Christians
Dr. Andrew Jackson is the host of smartchristian.com, one of the most useful and popular of the God blogs. Most of the blog entries on this website are links to other sites. Andrew does a great job pointing to things worth reading. His site is like an intelligent RSS reader, and it's well worth regular perusal. |
| Do You Need a Good Laugh? |
| I recently became aware of a delightful book of Bible-based cartoons. It's called Clay Pots, and it's the work of M. Pié. Every one of the 158 pages in the book made me smile. Many made me laugh. And many made me think. Mark Pié is not just a fine cartoonist, but also an adept interpreter of Scripture in today's culture. But he doesn't preach sermons or write a blog. Rather, he produces great cartoons, which are now available in his new book. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. (And don't miss the copyright page!) |
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| Opray, James Frey, and the Question of Truth |
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| Part 8: Does Truth Really Matter? (continued) |
March 10, 2006 |
| Part 7: Does Truth Really Matter? |
March 9, 2006 |
| Part 6: The Lesson that Random House and Nan Talese Should Have Learned |
March 8, 2006 |
| Part 5: How to Be Rightly Wrong: The Example of Oprah |
March 7, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| A Surprising Crash |
March 6, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| Walking the Line, but Not by Faith |
March 5, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Excellent Review of Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus
Some weeks ago I did a several part critique of Bart Ehrman's book, Misquoting Jesus. Since then, Ehrman's book, which seeks to undermine Christian trust in Scripture by citing the way in which the biblical manuscripts were passed on by copyists, was continued to receive lots of attention, in the Washington Post, and elsewhere. It comes as no surprise, really, since Ehrman plays nicely into the hands of those who dislike conservative Christianity. At any rate, Craig L. Blomberg, a top-notch New Testament scholar at Denver Seminary, has written pithy review of Ehrman's book. I commend it to you. |
National Get Over It Day
Mark Daniels of Better Living highlights "National Get Over It Day." He includes a fine piece by Pastor Glen VanderKloot. Be sure to check it out. And if you don't like it, then just get over it! |
| Do You Need a Good Laugh? Part 2 |
| Last week I highlighted a delightful book of Bible-based cartoons. It's called Clay Pots, and it's the work of M. Pié. Every one of the 158 pages in the book made me smile. Many made me laugh. And many made me think. Mark Pié is not just a fine cartoonist, but also an adept interpreter of Scripture in today's culture. But he doesn't preach sermons or write a blog. Rather, he produces great cartoons, which are now available in his new book. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. (And don't miss the copyright page!) |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Part 5: The Opportunities of The Da Vinci Opportunity |
March 17, 2006 |
| Part 4: A Threat or An Opportunity? |
March 16, 2006 |
| Part 3: Where I'm Coming From |
March 15, 2006 |
| Part 2: But It's Just Fiction! |
March 14, 2006 |
| Part 1: Here It Comes, Ready or Not! |
March 13, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| Perilous Waters |
March 12, 2006 |
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| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Another Outstanding Review of Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus
Ben Witherington has written an online critique of Ehrman's book. This is a solid critique by , one of the world's foremost New Testament scholars (and a fine blogger to boot!) My own critique of Ehrman focused on more of the theological aspects of his argument. Witherington goes after the textual and biblical issues. If you're looking for a serious criticism of Ehrman, check out Witherington's post. |
Al Mohler on March Madness
Al Mohler has a couple of thoughtful pieces about March Madness (that's the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, for those of you who live in Antartica). His first piece takes a look at the March Madness phenomenon and offers some insightful critique. Then Al goes way too far, almost into rank heresy, by putting up comments that question the priority of sports in America. (Seriously, though, these are challenges we need to take to heart. Thanks, Al, well, sort of.) |
| Do You Need a Good Laugh? Part 3 |
| In the last couple of weeks I've drawn your attention to a wonderful book of Christian cartoons called Clay Pots. You can buy this book straight from Amazon, if you wish. BUT, I've been in contact with the author, Mark Pié. He's making a special online offer to readers of my blog. If you contact Mark directly to buy a book (or several), he'll give you a ten percent discount AND send an autographed copy as well. (By the way, I am getting no part of this deal, nor am I getting any money for this promotion. I'm doing it as a favor to my readers, and to help get the word out about a fine product. We need more healthy laughter in the Christian community, don't you think? |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Part 10: Excursus: What is Gnosticism? |
March 24, 2006 |
| Part 9: Opportunity #1: The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect D) |
March 23, 2006 |
| Part 8: Opportunity #1: The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect C) |
March 22, 2006 |
| Part 7: Opportunity #1: The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect B) |
March 21, 2006 |
| Part 6: Opportunity #1: The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect A) |
March 20, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| Uplifting Mountains |
March 19, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
"The Wolf in the Sheep Suit: Exposing the True Face of Gossip"
Recently I wrote an article for In Touch magazine. It's about gossip, and how gossip can hurt us withour our even realizing it. In Touch just put this article up on their website, so you can find it here. I hope it will be helpful to you, or challenging, at any rate. If you don't like it, just don't go tell all your friends. |
Tod Bolsinger on the Church and the Kingdom of God
Tod Bolsinger, author of the award-winning It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian, is continuing his excellent series on the Church and the Kingdom of God. Tod's theology is right on, and he's always fascinating to read. Check it out! |
| The Best Coffee Ever? |
| A couple of my regular blog readers, Jim and Anita, are the proud owners of the Aloha Island Coffee Company. They grow their beans on the big island of Hawaii, in Kona, where some of the finest beans in the world are grown. The coffee grown and roasted by Jim and Anita is truly amazing. I am a coffee lover, and I don't think I've ever had a more flavorful yet mellow coffee. Now if you've never purchased Kona coffee before, be aware that it isn't cheap. (Though the cost per cup is still quite reasonable.) So far I've tried the Gold and Platinum coffees. They are wonderful. So if you're a coffee lover, or if you know one, consider getting one or more of the Aloha Island treasures. You can purchase them online at Aloha Island Coffee (where else?) (Note: This is not a paid ad. It's more of a testimonial and a help for my blog readers!) |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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Part 15: Opportunity #1:
The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect F) |
March 31, 2006 |
Part 14: Opportunity #1:
The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect E) |
March 30, 2006 |
| Part 13: Excursus: Gnosticism vs. Orthodoxy as a Battle for Truth |
March 29, 2006 |
| Part 12: Excursus: Why is Gnosticism Popular Today? (cont) |
March 28, 2006 |
| Part 11: Excursus: Why is Gnosticism Popular Today? |
March 27, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| A Mighty Warrior |
March 26, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Bad News, Good News for the Church
Recently the Barna Group published an article with this title: "Spirituality May Be Hot in America, But 76 Million Adults Never Attend Church." The bad news? We who are committed to the church aren't doing a very good job drawing folks to it. The good news? There are lots of people out there who are ripe for the pickin', so to speak. |
The Da Vinci Dialogue
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| New Best Friends? |
| If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that, periodically, I report in on how my cat and dog are doing. About a year ago I explained how they "play fight," and I including a short video clip. Now, a year later, Lily (the cat) and Sandy (the dog) have become fast friends. The picture to the right isn't a wrestling match. Rather, Sandy has come to get her head licked by Lily. When nobody's home, Sandy and Lily often sleep in close proximity. Of course Sandy will still chase Lily, but they both seem to understand that this is a game. Are they new best friends? Perhaps? I don't know. |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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Part 20:
Opportunity #2: The Engagingly Human Jesus (Section B) |
April 7, 2006 |
Part 19:
Opportunity #2: The Engagingly Human Jesus (Section A) |
April 6, 2006 |
Part 18:
Opportunity #1: The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect I) |
April 5, 2006 |
Part 17:
Opportunity #1: The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect H) |
April 4, 2006 |
Part 16:
Opportunity #1: The Antiquity and Reliability of the NT Gospels (Sect G) |
April 3, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| Longing for God |
April 2, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
The Funniest Christian Website?
A friend introduced me to a hilarious Christian website called Lark News.com. It's especially funny if, like me, you find your church home among evangelicals. I can't vouch for the funniness of everything on this site. Nor can I promise that you'll never be offended. But I you're a Christian with a sense of humor and you need a good laugh, check out this site. (And if you're bald, or balding, like me, look for the "Bald Men Only" link on the homepage.) |
The Da Vinci Dialogue
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| Palm Sunday |
| This Sunday is Palm Sunday, one of the most festive in the Christian year. In my church, the children are given palms and then they process into the sanctuary for singing and special prayers. I love watching the joy of the children as they wave their branches. I'm not so sure they're thinking about Jesus. Rather, they like having those cool palms. I also enjoy watching the first grade boys turn holy palms into instruments of warfare as they whack each other, in Christian love, of course. The joyful chaos of Palm Sunday is a delight, even as it begins the most solemn of weeks in the Christian year, Holy Week |
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| Easter Inspiration |
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| The San Gabriel Mission and the Cross: Strange Ironies |
April 21, 2006 |
| The World's Most Heard Easter Sermon |
April 20, 2006 |
| Easter Sunrise Service |
April 19, 2006 |
| Easter: Still More Than Just a Day |
April 18, 2006 |
| Hope and Hopelessness |
April 17, 2006 |
| Easter Blogging |
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| I Know that My Redeemer Lives |
April 16, 2006 |
| The Seven Last Words of Christ ( 2006) |
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| The Seventh Word |
April 15, 2006 |
| The Sixth Word |
April 14, 2006 |
| The Fifth Word |
April 14, 2006 |
| The Fourth Word |
April 13, 2006 |
| The Third Word |
April 12, 2006 |
| The Second Word |
April 11, 2006 |
| The First Word |
April 10, 2006 |
| The Gospel of Judas |
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| The Gospel of Judas: A Special Report |
April 9, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Great Posts on Jesus
Ben Witherington, one of the world's leading scholars on Jesus, has put up a typically insightful and moving post on Easter. He also has a fine series of posts (four) offering a critical review of James Tabor's controversial new book, The Jesus Dynasty. Here they are: #1, #2, #3, #4. |
| Washington DC in Spring |
| I am always moved when I visit our nation's capital. There is so much there to instill pride in our nation. But Washington DC in the spring is an extra treat. On my recent trip there, I was too late for the cherry blossoms, but I did manage to catch the Dogwoods in full bloom. (Apparently, the colored "petals" of the Dogwood tree are, technically, a kind of leaf. I'll take this from the experts, but they sure look like flowers to me.) This picture to the right shows some of the Dogwoods surrounding the Capitol building. |
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| When in Virginia . . . |
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| Griping About Crying Babies and Inconsiderate Parents |
April 28, 2006 |
| A Hot Tip for Fathers (and Mothers too) |
April 27, 2006 |
| Whither the Renaissance Man? |
April 26, 2006 |
| Coffee, Anyone? |
April 25, 2006 |
| When in Virginia . . . |
April 24, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| How Will I Be Remembered? |
April 23, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Personal Update on Canal Street Presbyterian Church in New Orleans
Steve Norris of Thy Grace is Sufficient recently visited New Orleans, including Canal Street Presbyterian Church. This is the church I mentioned often in the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina. Steve's post is both newsworthy and moving. After reading this post, scroll down to see other great posts on Steve's visit to New Orleans. |
| Canal Street Presbyterian Church on Easter |
| Thanks to Steve Norris, here's a picture of the congregation at Canal Street Presbyterian Church as they worship on Easter morning. It was only the second time since Katrina that they had been able to worship in their sanctuary. For more info, see Steve's blog. |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Opportunity #4: The Empowerment of Women in Orthodoxy (Section A) |
May 5, 2006 |
| Opportunity #3: The Inclusiveness of Orthodoxy vs. Gnosticism (Section B) |
May 4, 2006 |
| Opportunity #3: The Inclusiveness of Orthodoxy vs. Gnosticism (Section A) |
May 3, 2006 |
| The Engagingly Human Jesus of the Biblical Gospels (Section C) |
May 2, 2006 |
| The Da Vinci Code FAQ |
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| Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about The Da Vinci Code |
May 1, 2006 |
| When in Virginia . . . |
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| Freedom of Religion in Virginia? |
April 30, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Real Meal Ministries: Dr. Brian D. Russell
Real Meal Ministries is the work of Brian D. Russell, who is an associate professor of Old Testament at the Orlando campus of Asbury Theological Seminary. Brian is another serious academic who is also an engaging popular communicator. Be sure to check out his blog, which has fascinating posts on a wide variety of subjects and in a wide variety of genres. (Note: With Ben Witherinton and Brian Russell, Asbury Seminary has some excellent scholar-bloggers.) |
| Southern California in the Spring |
| Seasons in Southern California aren't very distinct, unlike in parts of the country that have a real winter. But one of the things I love about spring in my neck of the woods is the blooming of wildflowers in the hills, especially mustard. I took the picture to the right last week in Crystal Cove State Park. Notice the wide expanses of mustard blooming in the background. It's truly glorious! |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Excursus: Why Didn't Jesus Get Married? |
May 12, 2006 |
| Excursus: Was Jesus Married? (Section D) |
May 11, 2006 |
| Excursus: Was Jesus Married? (Section C) |
May 10, 2006 |
| Excursus: Was Jesus Married? (Section B) |
May 9, 2006 |
| Excursus: Was Jesus Married? (Section A) |
May 8, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| Great is the Lord, and Greatly to Be Praised |
May 7, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Common Sense Media
I recently became aware of a fantastic website for parents (and others) who are concerned about the quality and content of various media. Common Sense Media offers "family friendly reviews" of movies, television programs, video games, music, websites, and books. Here's their mission statement: "We exist to give parents, educators and kids a choice and a voice about the media they consume. Our goal is to provide trustworthy information and create a forum where adults and kids can learn from each other, speak out, and participate in creating a responsible and enjoyable media environment for everyone. We are a non-partisan, non-profit organization. Membership is free." So now I have three websites that help me to know what's in movies (and other media): Common Sense Media, Screen It!, and Kids-in-Mind. |
| The Best Office View in California? |
| Recently I did a prayer retreat for a church on the central coast of California. I took the train up and back, which, these days, actually saved money over the cost of driving. Yet the greatest perq of all was the ever-changing view from my "office" window. If you look in the lower right hand corner you can see part of my computer screen. Not a bad place to work! Or even to read, or simply to look out the window. The train goes through coastal stretches that are inaccessible to cars. It's a wonderful trip and I highly recommend it. |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Opportunity #5: How the NT Gospels Made It Into the Bible (Section D) |
May 19, 2006 |
| Opportunity #5: How the NT Gospels Made It Into the Bible (Section C) |
May 18, 2006 |
| Opportunity #5: How the NT Gospels Made It Into the Bible (Section B) |
May 17, 2006 |
| Opportunity #5: How the NT Gospels Made It Into the Bible (Section A) |
May 16, 2006 |
| Opportunity #4: The Empowerment of Women in Orthodoxy (Section B) |
May 15, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| All That Is Within Me |
May 14, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Common Sense Media (once again)
I recently became aware of a fantastic website for parents (and others) who are concerned about the quality and content of various media. Common Sense Media offers "family friendly reviews" of movies, television programs, video games, music, websites, and books. Here's their mission statement: "We exist to give parents, educators and kids a choice and a voice about the media they consume. Our goal is to provide trustworthy information and create a forum where adults and kids can learn from each other, speak out, and participate in creating a responsible and enjoyable media environment for everyone. We are a non-partisan, non-profit organization. Membership is free." So now I have three websites that help me to know what's in movies (and other media): Common Sense Media, Screen It!, and Kids-in-Mind. |
| The Oaks of Austin |
| I recently returned from a quick trip down to Austin, Texas to give a lecture on . . . The Da Vinci Code (what else?). I did have a little time to explore the neighborhoods on the northwestern side of Austin. Most impressive to me were the oak trees, thousands upon thousands of oak trees, many like the one to the right, with branches sweeping down to the ground. It must be a challenge to mow the lawn in front of this house, with the oak branches only a foot or so about the ground. |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Excursus: Newsweek on "The Mystery of Mary Magadalene" (Section B) New |
May 26, 2006 |
| Excursus: Newsweek on "The Mystery of Mary Magadalene" (Section A) |
May 25, 2006 |
| Excursus: My Da Vinci Movie Review, Part 2 |
May 24, 2006 |
| Excursus: The Da Vinci Movie Review Puzzle Solved |
May 23, 2006 |
| Excursus: The Da Vinci Movie Review Puzzle |
May 22, 2006 |
| Excursus: Did Constantine Throw Santa Claus in Jail? |
May 21, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Bring It!
Dan McGowan of Common Saints has a challenging little piece on worship and what we bring to worship. I find this post especially pertinent because I'm in a season of my ministry where I'm visiting other churches. How easy it is to become a critic rather than a worshiper! (Note: Dan is an old friend from high school. He's in the picture to the right. You'll have to guess which one he is.) |
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Old Hands, Tired Bones, A Life Receeding
Steve Norris of Thy Grace is Sufficient has a thoughtful post on growing older. |
Memorial Day Gratitude
Here are my reflections on Memorial Day from last year's blogging. |
| Flowers in Central California |
| Here are some flowers I saw in Central California. They're part of a Society Garlic plant. According to the Garlic Central website, this plant (Tulbaghia Violacea) is not actually garlic, though it's in the lily family, like actual garlic. Society Garlic got its name because it was once believed that one could eat this plant, enjoying the flavor of garlic, without having "garlic breath." But Garlic Central warns against this, since eating Society Garlic can make you sick. (Note the oaks in the background, characteristic of Central Californian foothills.) |
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Opportunity #6: The Antiquity of Christian Belief in the Divinity of Jesus (Section A) |
June 2, 2006 |
| Excursus: The Curious Anti-Catholic Perspective of The Da Vinci Code (Section B) |
June 1, 2006 |
| Excursus: The Curious Anti-Catholic Perspective of The Da Vinci Code (Section A) |
May 31, 2006 |
| Excursus: Newsweek on "The Mystery of Mary Magadalene" (Section C) |
May 30, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| How to Avoid the Crowds on Memorial Day . . . or Not, as the Case May Be |
May 29, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| One Thing I Like About the Bible |
May 28, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Holy Land Photos
This website is a treasure chest of photographs of biblically-related sites. Great for browsing and for use in classes, studies, etc. |
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| Rhode Opera House, Kenosha, Wisconsin |
This weekend I've been giving presentations on The Da Vinci Opportunity at the Rhode (pronounced ROAD-ee) Opera House in Kenosha, Wisconsin. This theatre, built in 1927, has had a long history with both good times and bad times. It is now being restored as part of the renewal of downtown Kenosha. Below is a picture of the main lobby.
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Opportunity #7: The Compelling Christian "Story" (Section C) |
June 9, 2006 |
| Opportunity #7: The Compelling Christian "Story" (Section B) |
June 8, 2006 |
| Opportunity #7: The Compelling Christian "Story" (Section A) |
June 7, 2006 |
| Opportunity #6: The Antiquity of Christian Belief in the Divinity of Jesus (Section C) |
June 6, 2006 |
| Opportunity #6: The Antiquity of Christian Belief in the Divinity of Jesus (Section B) |
June 5, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| Where Do I Begin the Buffet? |
June 4, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Darrell Bock's Blog
New Testament scholar Darrell Bock has a blog. This is good news, because Bock is a fine academic who can communicate with a popular audience. I'll be making regular stops at Bock's Blog. (HT Justin Taylor, whose blog is worth checking out too.) |
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| "Good Samaritan" Resuce on Mt. Everest |
Check out a wonderful "Good Samaritan" story about a man who was climbing Mt. Everest, and was almost to the top, when we spotted a man whom others had left for dead. But the man was still alive. So Daniel Mazur faced a tough decision.
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| The Da Vinci Opportunity |
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| Postscript: Did Christianity Pilfer from Paganism? (Section A) |
June 16, 2006 |
| Postscript: Faith and Truth |
June 14, 2006 |
| Colorful Arguments for the Existence of God |
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| A Light Green Argument for the Existence of God |
June 15, 2006 |
| A Violet Argument for the Existence of God |
June 13, 2006 |
| A Yellow Argument for the Existence of God |
June 12, 2006 |
| Sunday Inspiration |
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| Why is Life So Hard? |
June 11, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Tod Bolsinger's Book Reviews
Tod Bolsinger has put book reviews of Lauren Winner's Mudhouse Sabbath, N.T. Wright's Simply Christian, and Brian McClaren's The Secret Message of Jesus. Well worth reading, because Tod's judgment is solid. |
Mark Daniels on TR
Mark Daniels offers a fascinating piece on TR (Teddy Roosevelt), after touring his home. Daniels argues that TR would be a blogger. What do you think? |
Ben Witherington Wins the Blogging Diversity Award
Well, okay, there isn't a blogging diversity award. But if there were, Ben Witherinton would win it this week. First, he puts up a funny (in parts) and telling (in parts) Ten Commandments for the Internet Age. Next he comes out with an insightful review of the hit movie, Cars. Then he finishes the week with a long, intellectually-demanding post, an excerpt from his soon-to-be-released commentary on Hebrews, James, and Jude. No other blogger has Ben's range. If you don't know Ben Witherington, he's one of the top New Testament scholars in the world, and a mighty fine blogger as well. |
| Modern Art Takes It on the Chin Once Again |
A couple of years ago modern art took it on the chin when a survey of 500 "leaders in the arts" ranked a urinal as the greatest piece of art in the 20th century. No joke! Now modern art receives another blow, as the Royal Academy of Arts, one of Britain's most prestigious museums, mistakenly puts meaningless pieces of stone and wood on display. David Hensel had submitted a piece of sculpture (the laughing head in the photo to the right), along with a plinth (slate for display) and wooden piece (to balance the head). But museum officials, rejecting the head for display, accepted the plinth and piece of wood and put them on display as art (see lower photo). In a statement for the press, museum officials explained the gaff by saying, "Given their separate submission, the two parts were judged independently. The head was rejected. The base was thought to have merit and accepted." Now, museum officials are debating whether or not to add the head to the exhibit. (I vote "yes," for what it's worth, because I rather like the head.) |
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| On Baptists and Blogging |
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| Less Time for Wireless Telephones, More Time for Winning People to Jesus? |
July 3, 2006 |
| Less Time for Computers, More Time for Converts? |
July 2, 2006 |
| Less Time for Blogging, More Time for Baptizing? |
July 1, 2006 |
| Less Time of Websites, More Time for Witnessing? |
June 30, 2006 |
| Outgoing Southern Baptist President Takes Swipe at Bloggers |
June 29, 2006 |
| The Bloggers Revolt |
June 28, 2006 |
| The End of the Presbyterian Church USA? |
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| Does God Want Us to Leave the PCUSA? |
June 27, 2006 |
| Are There Biblical Reasons for Breaking Fellowship with Other Christians? (Section B) |
June 26, 2006 |
| Are There Biblical Reasons for Breaking Fellowship with Other Christians? |
June 24, 2006 |
| Should Biblically-Committed Christians Leave the PCUSA? (Section B) |
June 23, 2006 |
| Should Biblically-Committed Christians Leave the PCUSA? |
June 22, 2006 |
| The Beginning of the End of the PCUSA? |
June 21, 2006 |
| Miscellany |
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| Communications in a Multimedia Age |
June 20, 2006 |
| Why a Newsletter? |
June 19, 2006 |
| Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Zealotry
Scot McKnight of Jesus Creed is once again stirring the pot with a challenging series on Zealotry. Here's a short excerpt: "Zealotry is the choice to protect holiness by living beyond what the Bible says, and it finds in that zeal a source of immunity from being wrong. I contend that zealotry reflects an absence of trust in God’s Word. Its motivation is the fear of freedom. Its implication is inevitable: judgmentalism and boundary-marking that together destroy, in separable ways, the unity in Christ. God’s people were not meant to be penguins, waddling all alike, but instead freed, separable, unique individuals who live in community." |
Tod Bolsinger is Having Way Too Much Fun
Check out this picture of Tod Bolsinger, and then deal with the sin of envy. |
A Nation of Britneys: Privacy and Exposure on the Internet
Some challenging thoughts from the always challenging and fascinating Joe Carter of The Evangelical Outpost. |
| An Old Cabin in the High Sierra |
| This is a picture of an abandoned cabin near Duck Lake. You can get to this idyllic site by hiking about two miles south from Lake Alpine, near Ebbetts Pass in the High Sierra (north of Yosemite, south of Tahoe). One word of warning: visit this place in the late summer, when the mosquitoes are gone, or bring plenty of DEET. |
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