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A Resource by Mark D. Roberts |
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A chronological list of all blog entries for 2005
(beginning with June 26, 2005)
by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts
Copyright © 2005 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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| Sun, June 26 |
In Praise of Teachers
I offer a few words of thanks for teachers. |
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Series Continues: Evangelical Christians and Social Activism: Will a New Statement Promote the Health of the Nation? |
| Mon, June 27 |
For the Health of the Nation: Preamble
An examination of the first part of the NAE Statement. (Part 3 of series) |
| Tue, June 28 |
The Basis for Christian Civic Engagement
What, according to the NAE Statement, is the basis for Christian social activism? (Part 4 of series) |
| Wed, June 29 |
The Method of Christian Civic Engagement, Section A
So how are Christians to act if they wish to make a difference in the world? How is the Bible relevant to today's world? (Part 5 of series) |
| Thu, June 30 |
The Method of Christian Civic Engagement, Section B
Concludes yesterday's post, with some personal reflections. Why is a "normative vision" so important? (Part 6 of series) |
| Fri, July 1 |
The Structures of Public Life, Section A
How, in very practical ways, should a Christian vision for the world be worked out in instutions? Should biblically-oriented people favor monarcy? theocracy? democracy? Or . . . ? (Part 6 of series) |
| Sat, July 2 |
Blogging Week in Review (the previous six days listed above) |
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A Fun Picture |
| Kaiser Wilderness information |
My son Nathan and I did some hiking in the Sierra mountains of California this past week. This photo is from the Kaiser Wilderness, at about 8,700 feet. In the shade the snow is still quite deep, with drifts up to ten feet! This is very unusual for this time of year. Snow has virtually shut down activity in the higher elevations. |
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| Sun, July 3 |
A Couple of Fish Stories
Good for a laugh, with fun pictures. |
| Mon, July 4 |
Fourth of July: Fun and Remembrance
A pictoral "essay" celebrating Independence Day. |
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Series Continues: Evangelical Christians and Social Activism: Will a New Statement Promote the Health of the Nation? |
| Tue, July 5 |
The Structures of Public Life, Section B
How can Christians be loyal to country and to Christ? What should be our relationship to the rest of the world? (Part 8 of series) |
| Wed, July 6 |
Is All of This Really About Polishing the Evangelical Image? Section A
A critical examination of a recent article in the Boston Globe. Why do evangelicals show concern for the poor? (Part 9 of series) |
| Thu, July 7 |
Is All of This Really About Polishing the Evangelical Image? Section B
A critical examination of a recent article in the Boston Globe, continued. Some thoughts on why the secular press has such trouble understanding conservative Christians. (Part 10 of series) |
| Fri, July 8 |
Why Democracy is Better: Some Personal Reflections, Section A
The NAE Statement sees democracy as a very positive form of government. So do I. Here's why. (Part 11 of series) |
| Sat, July 9 |
Blogging Week in Review (the previous six days listed above) |
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A Fun Picture |
| Snow Plant |
On my recent trip to the High Sierra with my son, we saw a number of Snow Plants. This was a surprise, because these plants are fairly rare. In all of my years in the mountains I've seen no more than half a dozen. Last week my son and I saw thirty or forty plants, at least. No doubt the reason for this bounty is the exceptional amount of snowfall in the Sierra. It turns out that these plants are edible, but since they're rare, they're protected by law, so I don't recommend eating them. |
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Series Continues: Evangelical Christians and Social Activism: Will a New Statement Promote the Health of the Nation? |
| Sun, July 10 |
Why Democracy is Better: Some Personal Reflections, Section B
I reflect upon democracy from my own practical experience in church. (Part 12 of series) |
| Mon, July 11 |
Principles of Christian Political Engagement: Religious Freedom and Liberty of Conscience
(Part 13 of series) |
| Tue, July 12 |
Principles of Christian Political Engagement: Nurturing Family and Protecting Children
(Part 14 of series) |
| Wed, July 13 |
Principles of Christian Political Engagement: The Sanctity of Human Life
(Part 15 of series) |
| Thu, July 14 |
Principles of Christian Political Engagement: Justice for the Poor
(Part 16 of series) |
| Fri, July 15 |
Principles of Christian Political Engagement: Human Rights
(Part 17 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Kingdom Rain |
Billy Graham and the Last Crusade
Don Williams comments on Billy Graham's recent crusade in New York. |
| Yahoo News |
Pope Allegedly Disapproves of Harry Potter
This is either bad news for Harry Potter, or for the Pope. |
| Theology, News and Notes |
Hoodwinked by Harry?
Here's my take on whether Christians should ready Harry Potter or not. |
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A Fun Picture |
| Vacation Bible School at Irvine Presbyterian Church |
Joyful pandemonium during the Vacation Bible School gathering at my church. Our theme this year was "Kingdom of the Son," with lots of jungle decorations and wild animals. The kids love it, and so do the kids at heart. |
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| Sun, July 17 |
And Now for a Little Fun . . . Crocs Rule!
Some excerpts from my church's recent Vacation Bible School skit. |
| Mon, July 18 |
A Little More Fun . . . VBS Encore
If nothing else, enjoy the pictures. |
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Series Continues: Evangelical Christians and Social Activism: Will a New Statement Promote the Health of the Nation? |
| Tue, July 19 |
Principles of Christian Political Engagement: Peace
(Part 18 of series) |
| Wed, July 20 |
Principles of Christian Political Engagement: Protecting Creation
(Part 19 of series) |
| Thu, July 21 |
The Final Section: Our Commitment
(Part 20 of series) |
| Fri, July 22 |
For the Health of the Nation: Concluding Thoughts
(Part 21 of series; final part) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Culture Watch |
A Great New Blog: Culture Watch by Doug Groothuis
Doug Groothuis (pronounced groot-hice) is a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary. He's done some great writing on all sorts of topics in his ten books and articles. Now he has a blog! This will be one of my regular stops. |
| Panoramas |
Video Panoramas Online
Here is one of the most amazing websites I have found. You can look at dozens of sites around the world in full panorama. My favorite was shot from the top of Mt. Everest. |
| One Hand Clapping |
The Theology of Suicide Bombing
Don Sensing, a blogger with one of the sharpest minds in the business, writes an insightful piece on what motivates suicide bombers. Troubling, but important. |
| Theology, News and Notes |
Hoodwinked by Harry?
Here's my take on whether Christians should ready Harry Potter or not. |
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A Fun Picture |
| Vacation Bible School at Irvine Presbyterian Church |
Okay, so here's one last picture from our VBS. These are kids and leaders in my church sanctuary. What I love about this picture is seeing children having a great time worshiping God. As pastor of this church, this sort of thing makes my day! |
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New Series: Seeking the Peace of Christ: Christianity and Peacemaking |
| Mon, July 25 |
Seeking the Peace of Christ: Introduction
The beginning of a new series: Seeking the Peace of Christ: Christianity and Peacemaking. |
| Tue, July 26 |
Peace and Paradise
(Part 2 of series) |
| Wed, July 27 |
Paradise Lost and Peace Destroyed
(Part 3 of series) |
| Thu, July 28 |
The Peacemaking Mission of Jesus
(Part 4 of series) |
| Fri, July 29 |
Peace with God through Christ
(Part 5 of series; final part) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Smart Christian |
A Blog Worth Checking: Smart Christian
Andy Jackson's Smart Christian blog always has interesting "stuff." |
| Culture Watch |
A Great New Blog: Culture Watch by Doug Groothuis
Doug Groothuis (pronounced groot-hice) is a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary. He's done some great writing on all sorts of topics in his ten books and articles. Now he has a blog! This will be one of my regular stops. |
| Theology, News and Notes |
Hoodwinked by Harry?
Here's my take on whether Christians should ready Harry Potter or not. |
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A Fun Picture |
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As I was finishing up my recent series on evangelicals and politics, I saw this bumper sticker on the care in front of me. Managed to get a picture without crashing. In case you can't read it, it says: "Last Time We Mixed Politics with Religion . . . People Got Burned at the Stake." So, there you go! Tell that to the evangelicals who worked for the abolition of slavery. |
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Series: Seeking the Peace of Christ: Christianity and Peacemaking |
| Mon, Aug 1 |
Inner Peace Beyond Understanding
(Part 6 of series) |
| Tue, Aug 2 |
Peace Among People, Section A
(Part 7 of series) |
| Wed, Aug 3 |
Peace Among People, Section B
(Part 8 of series) |
| Thu, Aug 4 |
Being Peacemakers in Church, Section A
(Part 9 of series) |
| Fri, Aug 5 |
Being Peacemakers in Church, Section B
(Part 10 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Kingdom Rain |
Billy Graham and the Last Crusade
Don Williams comments on Billy Graham's recent crusade in New York. |
| Culture Watch |
A Great New Blog: Culture Watch by Doug Groothuis
Doug Groothuis (pronounced groot-hice) is a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary. He's done some great writing on all sorts of topics in his ten books and articles. Now he has a blog! This will be one of my regular stops. |
| Theology, News and Notes |
Hoodwinked by Harry?
Here's my take on whether Christians should ready Harry Potter or not. |
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A Fun Picture |
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While on vacation in Montana, I spied this poster on a bulletin board of a little country store. (In case you don't get the joke, when bears become a nuisance, they are tranquilized and relocated to some distant location, often with electronic signal collars to track their movements.) |
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Series: Seeking the Peace of Christ: Christianity and Peacemaking |
| Mon, Aug 15 |
(on vacation) |
| Tue, Aug 16 |
Becoming a Peacemaker: Some Practical Advice
(Part 16 of series) |
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Series: Summer Vacation 2005 |
| Wed, Aug 17 |
It's Always Something
(Part 1 of series) |
| Thu, Aug 18 |
Living Among Giants
(Part 2 of series) |
| Fri, Aug 19 |
A Haunted Cabin?
(Part 3 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Ben Witherington |
Outstanding Blog
I just discovered a relatively new blog: Ben Witherington. I can't tell you how excited I am that Witherington has entered the blogosphere. He is one of my favorite New Testament scholars, and has written many excellent books. A professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, Witherington is one of the top academics in the world of biblical scholarship, yet he can also write for lay readers. His blog will be regular stop for me from now on. |
| Alligator in Los Angeles |
No Urban Legend Here
A seven-foot long alligator is loose in Los Angeles. No lie! Check it out. |
| Personal Ad in Cornfield |
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If You Grow It They Will Come
A farmer from New York didn't have time to date, so he did the next best thing, turning his farm into a colossal personal ad. It's especially helpful if one wants to date flight attendants or space aliens. |
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An Amazing Picture |
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Recently I took this picture near Bishop, California. It's a pre-sunset shot of the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, with an amazing sky. I love the way the shadow of that dark cloud somehow colors the sky itself. |
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Series: Summer Vacation 2005 |
| Sun, Aug 21 |
A Real Leap of Faith, Section A
(Part 4 of series) |
| Mon, Aug 22 |
A Real Leap of Faith, Section B
(Part 5 of series) |
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New addition to series: Popewatch: Reflections on the Papacy of Benedict XVI |
| Tue, Aug 23 |
What Did the Pope Actually Say to Muslim Leaders?
(Part 4 of series) |
| Wed, Aug 24 |
Pope Benedict XVI on Common Ground Between Muslims and Christians
(Part 5 of series) |
| Thu, Aug 25 |
The Welcoming Address: Section A
(Part 6 of series) |
| Fri, Aug 26 |
The Welcoming Address: Section B
Includes a discussion of Benedict XVI's surprisingly few references to Mary. (Part 7 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| It Takes a Church |
Better Than X-Box
An insightful vacation-themed post by Tod Bolsinger |
| John Mark Reynolds |
Why Diet?
Some wise insights on dieting from philosophy professor, John Mark Reynolds. Especially helpful for those of us who put on a few pounds while on vacation. His website is always worth a look. |
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A Fun Picture |
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A couple of weeks ago my daughter and I hiked in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The photo to the right is of the Little Lakes Valley area of Rock Creek. We're at about 10,000 feet in elevation as we stand. It just doesn't get much better than this! |
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| Sun, Aug 28 |
Lakeside Reflections
(Part 6 of series: Summer Vacation 2005) |
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Series: Popewatch: Reflections on the Papacy of Benedict XVI |
| Mon, Aug 29 |
The Welcoming Address, Section C, On Relics
(Part 8 of series) |
| Tue, Aug 30 |
Address at the Youth Vigil, Section A
(Part 9 of series) |
| Wed, Aug 31 |
Address at the Youth Vigil, Section B, On the Saints
(Part 10 of series) |
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Series: In the Aftermath of Hurrican Katrina |
| Thu, Sep 1 |
The Brokenness of Nature: A Sad Reminder
(Part 1 of series) |
| Fri, Sep 2 |
A New Way to Help: High Tech/High Touch Responses to Hurricane Katrina, Section A
(Part 2 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| The Truth Laid Bear |
Hurricane Katrina: Blog Relief
Blogger N.Z. Bear is doing a fantastic job encouraging and logging the efforts of bloggers to help victims of the hurricane. This is a fantastic use of the blogosphere. Kudos to N.Z. Bear. If you're a blogger, or if you've given as a result of encouragement by a blog, you can participate. |
| The Presbyterian Polis |
The Disaster Aid Network
Ed Brenegar, a Presbyterian pastor who works as a leadership consultant, is working to organize a network so that churches in the Gulf Coast region can have church partners to help, not only in relief, but in longer term building efforts. A wonderful example of how an individual can make a difference. |
| Ben Witherington |
Was the Hurricane "An Act of God"?
Biblical scholar Ben Witherington weighs in on the question of whether the hurricane was truly an act of God. Check out his helpful post and the discussion that follows. |
Jesus Creed |
When the Knees of New Orleans Buckled
New Testament scholar Scot McKnight has written a moving, deep, poetic piece on the tragedy in New Orleans. |
| A Fun Picture |
| Yes, even Presbyterian ministers get to baptize new Christians by immersion. Though, as you can see, we're not exactly outfitted with the most hi-tech baptismal pool. This shot is from last week's Veritas worship service (our post-contemporary service). The guy doing the baptism here looks a lot like me, though I thought I had more hair. Sigh! Nevertheless, I love baptizing people, even in a kiddie pool. It's one of my greatest joys in being a pastor. |
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Series: In the Aftermath of Hurrican Katrina |
| Sun, Sep 4 |
Words of Wisdom Concerning Hurricane Katrina
(Part 3 of series) |
| Mon, Sep 5 |
A New Way to Help: High Tech/High Touch Reponses to Hurricane Katrina: Section B (Part 4 of series) |
| Tue, Sep 6 |
Am I As Bad as the Looters?
(Part 5 of series) |
| Wed, Sep 7 |
Looting and Poverty: Is There a Connection?
(Part 6 of series) |
| Thu, Sep 8 |
Did God Send Hurricane Katrina as an Act of Judgment? Section A
(Part 7 of series) |
| Fri, Sep 9 |
Did God Send Hurricane Katrina as an Act of Judgment? Section B
(Part 8 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| John Mark Reynolds |
Church Rides at Disneyland
Prof. Reynolds has a fun and thoughtful piece, comparing different churches and denominations to rides at Disneyland. Check it out. |
| The Presbyterian Polis: Disaster Aid Network |
The Disaster Aid Network
Ed Brenegar, a Presbyterian pastor who works as a leadership consultant, is working to organize a network so that churches in the Gulf Coast region can have church partners to help, not only in relief, but in longer term building efforts. A wonderful example of how an individual can make a difference. |
| Culture Watch: Doug Groothuis |
A Different Kind of Fast
Groothuis proposes - gasp! - a media fast. Check out this challenging piece, but don't stop reading my blog. (Well, maybe for a week.) |
| Kingdom Rain |
Time Magazine Meets George Barna
Don Williams connects the dots, and offers a crucial challenge to the church regarding its priorities. Must reading for church leaders. |
| My Pet Peeve |
| Today I stopped into my local Costco for a few supplies. As I was minding my own business in the stationery section, all of a sudden I heard it . . . Christmas music, a buzzing electronic version of "Jingle Bells." And so my Christmas season began, on September 9th, in Costco. Ugh! The picture to the right proves my point. And it was the "climb up and down the ladder" Santa who emitted the obnoxious version of a beloved carol. Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas! But just not in September! Sigh! |
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| A Crucial Reminder |
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| Sun, Sep 11 |
Obituary Oddity: A Strange Combination
Remembering Gilligan (Bob Denver) and Robert W. Funk |
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New Series: Unmasking the Jesus Seminar |
| Mon, Sep 12 |
Robert W. Funk and the Jesus Seminary
(Part 1 of series) |
| Tue, Sep 13 |
The Radical Vision of Robert Funk
(Part 2 of series) |
| Wed, Sep 14 |
The Jesus Seminar: What I Expected
(Part 3 of series) |
| Thu, Sep 15 |
The Jesus Seminar: A Beady Democracy
(Part 4 of series) |
| Fri, Sep 16 |
The Jesus Seminar: A Circle Dance
(Part 5 of series) |
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My Posts on Theologica (click on post to go to permalink) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Theologica |
Theologica Gets Started
World Magazine has added a new blog consortium to its collection. It's called Theologica, and, as you might guess, it features blogging on theology. The blogging group, of which I am pleased to be a member, is a diverse collection of broadly evangelical/orthodox bloggers. I will always link to my posts in Theologica so readers of markdroberts.com can access them easily. But I'd recommend that you visit Theologica often. Already it has some fascinating posts. |
| Mark Daniels: Better Living |
The Place of "Place" in Faith and Life
Mark Daniels, one of my favorite bloggers, is beginning a valuable series of reflections on the place of "place" in the Christian life. This promises to be fascinating series. |
| Tod Bolsinger: It Takes a Church |
Tod Bolsinger: A File Collection
Tod has a fine collection of insights and links this week. Check it out! |
| A Lawsuit Waiting to Happen |
| Last week I visited a church where one of my friends in the pastor. They're in the midst of building a new sanctuary. As I scanned the project, I was deeply distressed by what I saw. (The sign on the left side of the photo reads, "Toddler Room," with the arrow pointing to the construction site, right past the yellow caution tape.) Now this seems to me to be very irresponsible. A construction site is no place for young children. Besides, in this day and age, someone is bound to sue the church. I've notified the appropriate authorities. |
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| Sun, Sep 18 |
The Welcome of Christ |
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Series: Unmasking the Jesus Seminar |
| Mon, Sep 19 |
Swing Your Partner Round and Round
(Part 6 of series) |
| Tue, Sep 20 |
The Jesus Seminar and Oral Tradition
(Part 7 of series) |
| Wed, Sep 21 |
Storytelling and Early Christianity
(Part 8 of series) |
| Thu, Sep 22 |
Was Oral Tradition Like Playing Telephone?
(Part 9 of series) |
| Fri, Sep 23 |
What Do Scholars Really Think About Jesus?
(Part 10 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
OneTrue-
GodBlog.com |
OneTrueGodBlog
Hugh Hewitt has just launched a new project. He's gathered a few Christians from a range of theological perspectives, and he's going to be asking us to answer questions that Hugh believes are being asked by ordinary folk out there. His first question, in light of the movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose: Do you believe in demons? Why? What should be the attitude of a mature Christian believer on the subject? |
| Presbyweb |
Presbyweb
As you can tell from the name, this website is primarily targeted for Presbyterians. Indeed, it collects and links to news stories of interest to Presbyterians. But it is also the best collector of news stories that are of interest to religious folk in general. There is a modest subscription fee, which is actually is determined on a "pay what you can" basis. Presbyweb is a must for all Presbyterians, though I'd recommend it to others as well. Check it out for a month for free and see how helpful Presbyweb can be. One of the things I like about this site is its theological and political balance. It links to the best materials for left, right, center, and wherever else one might be. (Note: the host of the site is in Houston, and may have to shut down for a while this weekend.) |
| Theologica |
Theologica Continues
World Magazine has added a new blog consortium to its collection. It's called Theologica, and, as you might guess, it features blogging on theology. The blogging group, of which I am pleased to be a member, is a diverse collection of broadly evangelical/orthodox bloggers. I will always link to my posts in Theologica so readers of markdroberts.com can access them easily. But I'd recommend that you visit Theologica often. Already it has some fascinating posts. |
| New Orleans Churches on Canal Street |
| This is a recent (before Rita) photo of St. Anthony of Padua church in New Orleans. It's on Canal Street, about three blocks from the Canal Street Presbyterian Church. You can see that the water is just about to the level of the sanctuary floor. (Whether this is the highest the water rose, I don't know. But I don't see evidence of water damage on the walls of the church.) A couple members of the Canal Street Presbyterian Church were able to visit the church. There is lots of damage, but the church is still intact. Here's the report. |
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| Sun, Sep 25 |
A Most Embarrassing Moment |
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Series: Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? |
| Mon, Sep 26 |
Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable?
(Part 1 of series) |
| Tue, Sep 27 |
Can We Know What the Original Gospel Manuscripts Really Said?
(Part 2 of series) |
| Wed, Sep 28 |
When Were the New Testament Gospels Written?
(Part 3 of series) |
| Thu, Sep 29 |
What Sources Did the Gospel Writers Use?
Section A: Written Sources (Part 4 of series) |
| Fri, Sep 30 |
What Sources Did the Gospel Writers Use?
Section B: Oral Sources (Part 5 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| It Takes a Church: Tod Bolsinger |
Being Salt for the Sake of Light
Once again, Tod Bolsinger hits the nail on the head. Well worth a read. |
| Ben Witherington |
Ben Witherington on "Jesus and Paul on Marriage, Singleness, and Divorce"
You may not agree with everything Ben Witherington says. And you may not like what he says. But this is an important piece, especially as we continue to struggle with the issues of marriage, singleness, and divorce. |
| Theopedia |
Theopedia: An Encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity
Wikipedia, is the phenomenally successful online encyclopedia, which is written and edited by online users. So what happens when Wikipedia technology teams up with some enterprising evanelical Christians? You get Theopedia, a fascinating website, now with 818 articles, and growing all the time. Check it out! |
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| Presbyweb |
Presbyweb
As you can tell from the name, this website is primarily targeted for Presbyterians. Indeed, it collects and links to news stories of interest to Presbyterians. But it is also the best collector of news stories that are of interest to religious folk in general. There is a modest subscription fee, which is actually is determined on a "pay what you can" basis. Presbyweb is a must for all Presbyterians, though I'd recommend it to others as well. Check it out for a month for free and see how helpful Presbyweb can be. One of the things I like about this site is its theological and political balance. It links to the best materials for left, right, center, and wherever else one might be. |
| Will the Real Napoleon Dynamite Please Stand Up? |
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On our summer vacation we made a pilgrimmage to Preston, Idaho, where they filmed the movie Napoleon Dynamite. The town even named the street where Napoleon lived in honor of this laconic sage! (Truly!) |
So, which is the real Napoleon Dynamite, and which is my son Nathan?
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| Sun, Oct 2 |
It's a Privilege |
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Series: Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? |
| Mon, Oct 3 |
Did the Gospel Writers Know Jesus Personally? Section A
(Part 6 of series) |
| Tue, Oct 4 |
Did the Gospel Writers Know Jesus Personally? Section B
(Part 7 of series) |
| Wed, Oct 5 |
Did the Gospel Writers Know Jesus Personally? Section C
(Part 8 of series) |
| Thu, Oct 6 |
What Are the New Testament Gospels? History? Fiction? Biography? Or . . . ? (Part 9 of series) |
| Fri, Oct 7 |
What Difference Does It Make That There Are Four Gospels?
(Part 10 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| GodBlogCon |
God Blog Convention Begins in Five Days
There's still room for you to join the GodBlogCon at Biola University. If you're a Christian blogger, or if you're thinking about becoming one (a blogger, that is), join me and lots of other Christian bloggers for a couple days of mutual encouragement and education. |
| Scot McKnight: Jesus Creed |
The Church, Embracing Grace, and Racism
Scot McKnight's blog, Jesus Creed, is one of my favorite websites. I've linked to a post that is the first of a seven-part series. I've known of Scot for many years because of his academic scholarship, which is top-notch. But I've discovered that's he's also a fascinating popular writer on a wide variety of subjects, including the emergent church and baseball. Embracing Grace, by the way, is the name of Scot's new book that's coming out in November. |
| Doug Groothuis: Culture Watch |
Important Books About Television (and not TV shows about books)
Doug Groothuis is another academic who writes fascinating bits for a popular audience as well as scholarly tomes. You'll never know what you'll find on his blog, which is half of the fun. This list of books is the sort of helpful resource you just don't find on most websites, or anywhere else for that matter. |
| Presbyweb |
Presbyweb
As you can tell from the name, this website is primarily targeted for Presbyterians. Indeed, it collects and links to news stories of interest to Presbyterians. But it is also the best collector of news stories that are of interest to religious folk in general. There is a modest subscription fee, which is actually is determined on a "pay what you can" basis. Presbyweb is a must for all Presbyterians, though I'd recommend it to others as well. Check it out for a month for free and see how helpful Presbyweb can be. One of the things I like about this site is its theological and political balance. It links to the best materials for left, right, center, and wherever else one might be. |
| A Sign from God? |
This picture is real! No digital tricks here. Just over a week ago a friend of Pastor Mike Hogg from the Canal St. Church took this picture of the sign out front. Katrina's winds had knocked all the letters off the sign, except for one symbol, which had once been part of the slogan: "A church with a [heart] for the city." Now, only the heart remains. If this isn't a sign from God, I don't know what is. It's a reminder of God's love for the Canal St. Church, and of their calling to love the city of New Orleans. |
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| Sun, Oct 9 |
Same Word . . . Different Responses |
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Series: Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? |
| Mon, Oct 10 |
What Differences Does It Make That There Are Four Gospels?
Section B (Part 11 of series) |
| Tue, Oct 11 |
Are There Contradictions in the Gospels? Section A
(Part 12 of series) |
| Wed, Oct 12 |
Are There Contradictions in the Gospels? Section B
(Part 13 of series) |
| Thu, Oct 13 |
Are There Contradictions in the Gospels? Section C
(Part 14 of series) |
| Fri, Oct 14 |
Are There Contradictions in the Gospels? Section D
(Part 14 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| GodBlogCon Blog |
Reporting on the GodBlogCon
Over the last couple of days the first annual GodBlogCon convened at Biola University. A gathering of around 100 Christian bloggers, this was the first meeting of its kind, anywhere, I think. The blog of the GodBlogCon -- of course a convention of bloggers must have its own blog! -- includes links to the reports of many participants. Some even have virtual transcripts of the plenary sessions. If you're at all interested in blogging, I'd recommend a visit to the GodBlogConBlog. |
| Fox News on GodBlogCon |
Fox News Does a Piece on GodBlogCon
Check out the Fox News story on GodBlog Con. (Note: there was an AP photographer at the convention, so I expect there will be other secular news accounts of the convention.) |
| Comments on a Lecture by John Mark Reynolds |
What Runalong with Pastor Mark Thought of the GodBlog Lecture by John Mark Reynolds
Confusion reigns supreme in the blogging world. I've received several e-mails from people who think that I'm John Mark Reynolds, professor of philosophy at Biola University. (John Mark Roberts, Mark D. Reynolds, etc.). Then there's the blogger known as Pastor Mark who has the site Runalong with Pastor Mark. I met him at GodBlogCon and we talked about trail running. Both of us love to run on trails (dirt roads, hiking trails, etc.). I sometimes go as far as eight miles. The Runalong with Pastor Mark guy goes 50 or 100 miles, just for fun. Anyway, the Running Pastor Mark (not me) has a helpful review of a great lecture by John Mark Reynolds (not me) at GodBlogCon. |
| Accurate Notes of the Lecture by John Mark Reynolds |
A Voice in the Wilderness on John Mark Reynolds
A Voice in the Wilderness blog (no, not done by John the Baptist, but by Travis Fell from Austin, Texas), has an accurate almost-transcript of the lecture at GodBlogCon by John Mark Reynolds. As you can tell, I was impressed by this lecture. Actually, I hope JMR will put up his notes, if not the whole text. Meanwhile, if you read Runalong Pastor Mark's account (above) with the accurate notes by shoutalong Travis Fell, you'll get the gist of JMR's lecture, which reflected on the significance of blogging from the perspectives of Plato and Dante (no joke!) |
| GodBlogCon |
Here are a couple picture of GodBlogCon, thanks to Mike's Noise. The top photo shows a group of GodBloggers hanging out in the courtyard of the Biola University library. Some of the "biggies" are there, including JoeCarter of Evangelical Outpost, David Wayne, the JollyBlogger, John Mark Reynolds, and Andy Jackson of Smart Christian.
The bottom photo is from a panel discussion moderated by Hugh Hewitt. Seated on the left is John Mark Reynolds, on the right, Tod Bolsinger, and I am in the middle. If you're interested in the content of this panel conversation, you can get a "liveblog" summary from Brant E. Debow and Charmaine Yoest at Reasoned Audacity (might win prize for coolest blog name, I think). If you look closely at this picture, you'll notice that John Mark and Tod are closely watching Hugh. I, on the other hand, have my hands folded and my eyes closed, obviously praying. You can see who's the most spiritual.
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| Sun, Oct 16 |
Charitable Giving in a World of Need: How Do We Choose? |
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Series: Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? |
| Mon, Oct 17 |
If the Gospels are Theology, Can They Be History? Section A
(Part 16 of series) |
| Tue, Oct 18 |
If the Gospels are Theology, Can They Be History? Section B
(Part 17 of series) |
| Wed, Oct 19 |
If the Gospels are Theology, Can They Be History? Section C
(Part 18 of series) |
| Thu, Oct 20 |
Do the Miracle Stories Undermine the Reliability of the Gospels?
Section A (Part 19 of series) |
| Fri, Oct 21 |
Do the Miracle Stories Undermine the Reliability of the Gospels?
Section B (Part 20 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Theopedia |
Theopedia: An Encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity
Wikipedia, is the phenomenally successful online encyclopedia, which is written and edited by online users. So what happens when Wikipedia technology teams up with some enterprising evanelical Christians? You get Theopedia, a fascinating website, now with 818 articles, and growing all the time. Check it out! |
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| Presbyweb |
Presbyweb
As you can tell from the name, this website is primarily targeted for Presbyterians. Indeed, it collects and links to news stories of interest to Presbyterians. But it is also the best collector of news stories that are of interest to religious folk in general. There is a modest subscription fee, which is actually is determined on a "pay what you can" basis. Presbyweb is a must for all Presbyterians, though I'd recommend it to others as well. Check it out for a month for free and see how helpful Presbyweb can be. One of the things I like about this site is its theological and political balance. It links to the best materials for left, right, center, and wherever else one might be. |
| Zephyr Point, Lake Tahoe, Nevada |
| Last week I spoke at a conference at Zephyr Point Conference Center, on the Nevada shore of Lake Tahoe. What you see in the picture is the California side of the lake at sunset. The "Portal of Prayer" is one of those things that Christian camps invent, a little corny, but sweet nonetheless. You've got to admit, this is a rather inspiring image of prayer! |
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| Sun, Oct 23 |
No post. Playing hooky. |
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Series: Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? |
| Mon, Oct 24 |
Do Historical Sources from the Era of the Gospels Support Their Reliability? Section A (Part 21 of series) |
| Tue, Oct 25 |
Do Historical Sources from the Era of the Gospels Support Their Reliability? Section B (Part 22 of series) |
| Wed, Oct 26 |
No post. Stuck in the Land of Internet Deprivation |
| Thu, Oct 27 |
Does Archeology Support the Reliability of the Gospels?
Section A (Part 23 of series) |
| Fri, Oct 28 |
Does Archeology Support the Reliability of the Gospels?
Section B (Part 24 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Theopedia |
Theopedia: An Encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity
Wikipedia, is the phenomenally successful online encyclopedia, which is written and edited by online users. So what happens when Wikipedia technology teams up with some enterprising evanelical Christians? You get Theopedia, a fascinating website, now with 818 articles, and growing all the time. Check it out! |
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| Presbyweb |
Presbyweb
As you can tell from the name, this website is primarily targeted for Presbyterians. Indeed, it collects and links to news stories of interest to Presbyterians. But it is also the best collector of news stories that are of interest to religious folk in general. There is a modest subscription fee, which is actually is determined on a "pay what you can" basis. Presbyweb is a must for all Presbyterians, though I'd recommend it to others as well. Check it out for a month for free and see how helpful Presbyweb can be. One of the things I like about this site is its theological and political balance. It links to the best materials for left, right, center, and wherever else one might be. |
| Airline Prohibitions |
| If you do much flying, you probably ignore the myriad of warnings and instructions that are found all over an airplane. In my recent travels, however, I couldn't help but noticing a couple of curious prohibitions. The top sign appeared on the wall of a plane immediately in front of me (I was sitting in an exit row). Here's my exegesis: USE BOTTOM CUSION FOR FLOATION. AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T USE YOUR BRIEFCASE FOR FLOTATION. The next picture is from that safety card that the flight attendants always beg you to read. The disappointing part is that you're not allowed to use our remote control cars anymore on the plane. Too bad! No more running that little baby up and down the aisles, bumping into flight attendants and tripping people on their way to the worlds tiniest restrooms. Oh well . . . |
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| Sun, Oct 30 |
Saying "I Do" All Over Again |
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Series: Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? |
| Mon, Oct 31 |
Does Archeology Support the Reliability of the Gospels?
Section C (Part 25 of series) |
| Tue, Nov 1 |
Does Archeology Support the Reliability of the Gospels?
Section D (Part 26 of series) |
| Wed, Nov 2 |
Do the Gospels Reflect the Political Agenda of the Early Church? Section A (Part 27 of series) |
| Thu, Nov 3 |
Do the Gospels Reflect the Political Agenda of the Early Church? Section A (Part 28 of series) |
| Fri, Nov 4 |
Do the Gospels Reflect the Political Agenda of the Early Church? Section B (Part 29 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Tod Bolsinger: It Takes a Church |
The Tyranny of Tomorrow
Tod has a great series on the kingdom of heaven, including this challenging post on worry. I need this! Maybe you do too! |
| Craig Williams: Tabletalk |
C.S. Lewis on Allegory in the Chronicles of Narnia
My friend and fellow pastor has a fascinating post on the use of allegory (or not) in the Chronicles of Narnia. He shows that Lewis himself denies that the Chronicles are allegories (mentioning, by the way, that this contradicts something I have claimed in print). Craig is exactly right (and so is Lewis, of course), according to the strict definition of allegory, in which everything in a story stands for something else in a one-to-one correspondance. I was intentionally speaking of allegory in a less technical sense. In truth, the Chronicles are more of an elaborate metaphor with allegorical elements than a strict allegory. The allegorical aspects of the story center especially around Aslan, whose likeness to Jesus was intentional and is obvious to anyone who knows the Christian story. Yet the power of Lewis's depiction of Aslan isn't in trying to figure out all the ways he is like (and unlike) Jesus, but in allowing the story of the Chronicles to live in our hearts and minds. |
| Finding God in the Land of Narnia |
Finding God in the Land of Narnia,
by Kurt Bruner & Jim Ware
The authors of the best-selling Finding God in the Lord of the Rings have recently released a similar volume on The Chronicles of Narnia. Avoiding simplistic allegory and application, Bruner and Ware draw out some of the deep spiritual truths embeded within Lewis's story. Plus, they're good writers, so their book is engaging to read. I highly recommend Finding God in the Land of Narnia. (Confession: Jim Ware is an old friend, but my recommendation isn't just a favor. The book is quite wonderful.)
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| A Stunning Stained Glass Window |
| Recently I worshipped with the Waioli Hui'ia Church in Hanalei, Hawaii (on the island of Kaua'i). Yes, I know, life is tough! The church sanctuary is truly gorgeous, and even has a thriving Christian community filling it each week. You can't always say that about landmark churches. One of the most stunning aspects of the sancturay is its stained glass. I've included one picture to the right. There's a story behind the stained glass in this church. In 1992 Hurricane Iniki almost destroned the building, including its precious stained glass. The restoration of the building and glass were a painstaking operation. Bovard Studio, in Iowa of all places, ended up restoring the glass -- and an amazing job they did. If you want to read more about this story, check the Bovard Studio website. |
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| Sun, Nov 6 |
Thanksgiving a Little Early |
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Series: Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? |
| Mon, Nov 7 |
Closing Thoughts: On the Gospels and Faith (Part 30 of series) |
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Series: Churches, Elections, and the IRS |
| Tue, Nov 8 |
A Disturbing Headline (Part 1 of series) |
| Wed, Nov 9 |
The Contested Sermon, Section 1 (Part 2 of series) |
| Thu, Nov 10 |
The Contested Sermon, Section 2 (Part 3 of series) |
| Fri, Nov 11 |
The Won't-Be-Bullied Pulpit (Part 4 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| ScreenIt.com |
ScreenIt: All You Need to Know about What's Really in the Movies
ScreenIt is a fantastic site for parents who want to know what a "PG" or "PG-13" rating really means. This is a subscription site, but most of the material is free, you just have to wait a few days to get it. Where else are you going to learn that Jarhead has at least 278 "f" words? (What a job, counting these things!) Seriously, though, this is an invaluable site for judging which movies are appropriate and which are not. |
| Kids-in-Mind |
Kids-in-Mind
Kids-in-Mind is similar to ScreenIt. It has less content, but that content is more easily accessible. It also has a helpful quick-scan rating system. For example, Zathura received a 1.5.2 rating from Kids-in-Mind. This means there is nothing offensive in the "Sex and Nudity" category; a moderate amount in the "Violence and Gore" category; and little in the "Profanity" category. The Devil's Rejects, on the contrary, received a 9.10.10 rating, which means the "Sex and Nudity" was merely extremely graphic. Both "Violence and Gore" and "Profanity" were off the chart. Not a good film for kids, I reckon. |
| Topher's Composite Godzilla Movie Ratings |
Godzilla Movie Ratings
Speaking of movie ratings, if you like Godzilla movies, and I confess that I do, Topher's Composite Godzilla Movie Ratings has the definitive list, including almost all the Godzilla films and ratings by five different "experts." The original 1954 (1956 in U.S.) classic, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, gets a very high 4.4 rating out of 5. Topher's site also has a list of all of Godzilla's monster co-stars (King Kong, Rodan, Mothra, etc. ). |
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| The Kalalau Trail Along the Na Pali Coast |
| During a recent trip to the island of Kauai (Hawaii), my wife and I hiked a portion of the famed Kalalau Trail, which passes precariously on the cliffs of the Na Pali Coast. Along the way we rested at Hanakapiai Beach, which featured one of the most effective warning signs I've ever seen. The "unseen currents have killed" 82 visitors so far. The amazing thing is that people still go swimming at Hanakapiai, and they still die in the process. |
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| Sun, Nov 13 |
Welcoming Jesus |
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Series: Churches, Elections, and the IRS |
| Mon, Nov 14 |
What is the Role of Church in Society, Section 1 (Part 5 of series) |
| Tue, Nov 15 |
What is the Role of Church in Society, Section 2 (Part 6 of series) |
| Wed, Nov 16 |
On Preachers and Politics, Section 1 (Part 7 of series) |
| Thu, Nov 17 |
On Preachers and Politics, Section 2 (Part 8 of series) |
| Fri, Nov 18 |
Interim Conclusions on Preachers and Politics, Section 1
(Part 9 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Claude Mariottini |
Dr. Claude Mariottini -- Professor of Old Testament
I've only recently become aware of a great new blog by Dr. Claude Mariottini. Dr. Mariottini is Professor Old Testament at Northern (Baptist) Seminary in Illinois. His blog contains mostly: 1) cultural commentary from a solid Old Testament perspective and 2) popular notices of new archeological discoveries. Dr. Mariottini doesn't post daily, but he has an XML link. Check out this site! |
| Ben Witherington |
A Review of Christ the Lord. Beaten to the Punch!
I've been planning to read Anne Rice's new novel, Christ the Lord, and put up a review. I'm eager to see how this creative fiction writer, famous for her vampire novels, but now apparently a Christian, deals with the young life of Jesus. Ben Witherington, one of my all time favorite New Tesatment scholars and an insightful blogger has beaten me to the punch with his review of Christ the Lord. Thanks, Ben (truly)! (If you want to see something curious, check out the Amazon customer reviews of Rice's book. You'll see a lot of diversity. I wonder if there's a conspiracy afoot to discredit this book. Check out the larger number of very short and unimformative, but very negative "reviews." Hmmm.)
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| It Takes a Church: Tod Bolsinger |
They'll Know We Are Christians by Our FIGHTS
Ya gotta love Tod Bolsinger's blog, for its titles, if nothing else. But the "else" is great. Here's a challenging post on how we Christians should be dealing with our conflicts. Ouch! I needed that! |
| "Hoodwinked by Harry Potter?" |
Harry Potter: What's a Christian to Think?
Please pardon a self-referential link here. Some time ago I wrote a piece on Harry Potter for this website. It was edited and published by Fuller Seminary's journal, Theology, News And Notes. Given the new Harry Potter movie, I thought I'd point people to this article. Happy reading! |
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| How to Solve the Problem of the Growing Defense Budget |
| Recently I was driving alongside Camp Pendleton Marine Base in Southern California. Looking up, I noticed that many of the telephone lines in the area were decorated with hanging boots. Now unless I miss my bet, these are Marine boots, and in fairly good shape. So I've come up with a new plan to save billions of dollars in the defense budget: Stop making the poor Marines waste so much time by hanging their boots on phone lines. I know they probably stink up the barracks, but it seems like there must be a more cost effective solution to this problem. |
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Series: Churches, Elections, and the IRS |
| Sun, Nov 20 |
Interim Conclusions on Preachers and Politics, Section 2
(Part 10 of series) |
| Mon, Nov 21 |
Interim Conclusions on Preachers and Politics, Section 3
(Part 11 of series) |
| Tue, Nov 22 |
Should Preachers Be Allowed to Endorse Candidates?
(Part 12 of series) |
| Wed, Nov 23 |
Thankful for People in Whom I've Experienced God's Grace |
| Thu, Nov 24 |
Wholehearted Thanksgiving |
| Fri, Nov 25 |
A Brief History of Thanksgiving |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| Scot McKnight on Advent |
Advent Reflections by Scot McKnight
Scot McKnight is one of those rare professors who has the ability to address issues in a popular style, and to speak to a wide range of issues outside of his immediate discipline (New Testament). Scot is a top-notch scholar with a top-notch blog. He's doing a series of advent reflections, focusing on the people in the Christmas story. This is a treasure. |
| Don Williams at Kingdom Rain |
Don Williams on Bono: Superstar/Statesman
Just about everybody has heard of Bono. Even if you're no fan of rock music or have never heard the band U2, you've no doubt seen pictures of U2's leader, Bono, hanging out with political leaders. Nowadays he's making headlines for his socio-political activism. If you find this curious or puzzling, check out Don Williams's take on Bono and his recent Rolling Stone interview. |
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| "Hoodwinked by Harry Potter?" |
Harry Potter: What's a Christian to Think?
Please pardon a self-referential link here. Some time ago I wrote a piece on Harry Potter for this website. It was edited and published by Fuller Seminary's journal, Theology, News And Notes. Given the new Harry Potter movie, I thought I'd point people to this article. Happy reading! |
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| The Pumpkin Notes from a Thanksful People |
| One of my favorite traditions at church comes in our annual Thanksgiving Eve service. After singing, praying, and publicly sharing our gratitude, we each take a small paper pumpkin and write out our thanks on it. Children who don't know how to write are encouraged to draw pictures. Then, as we sing some more, we bring our pumpkins to the front of the sanctuary and add them to a giant cornucopia. We also bring offerings for needy folk and for our mission partners throughout the world. When we're done, we have a wonderful picture of God's gifts mingled with our thanksgivings. |
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Series: Advent and the Christian Year (2005) |
| Sun, Nov 27 |
Happy New Year! Again? (Part 1 of series) |
| Mon, Nov 28 |
The Advent Wreath: The First Candle (Part 2 of series) |
| Tue, Nov 29 |
Advent F.A.Q. (Part 3 of series) |
| Wed, Nov 30 |
Growing Closer to God in Advent: Some Practical Suggestions
(Part 4 of series) |
| Thu, Dec 1 |
Why Advent Matters (Part 5 of series) |
| Fri, Dec 2 |
My Greatest Advent Discovery (Part 6 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
Better Living: Thoughts
from Mark Daniels |
Longing for Christmas in the Midst of Winter
Mark Daniels shares some thoughts on Advent longing. This is a marvelous post, the sort of thing I've come to expect from Mark Daniels. If you're not familiar with Better Living, let me urge you to check it out . . . often. |
| Ben Witherington |
"Creatures of Habit" a Poem by Ben Witherington
In addition to being one of the world's leading New Testament scholars, Ben Witherington is also a poet. I never knew this until I discovered his blog. His most recent poem, "Creatures of Habit," is a stirring pre-Christmas reflection. Consider this one stanza, and then go read the whole poem: "What if we found/ That ordering our sphere,/ Is just a misnomer/ For controlling our fear?" |
| Scot McKnight on Advent |
Advent Reflections on New Testament Texts
Don't miss Scot McKnight's continued reflections on Advent. So far he has put up five posts on Joseph. These are full of wisdom and faith, from a top-notch biblical scholar. |
| My Advent Tree |
| I have a tree in my office window that I'm calling my Advent tree. No joke. Okay, it's based on what we usually call a Christmas tree (or, gasp, a holiday tree). But, unlike a typical Christmas tree, my Advent tree has a limited color scheme. In keeping with Advent, the glass balls that cover the tree are mostly purple, with a few pink highlights. The lights on the tree are also purple. This tree, which sits right alongside my desk, isn't just for me. It can be seen from the street outside of my window, which thousands of cars pass each day. My hope is that folks will notice my tree, and maybe even wonder why it's so purple. Of course the downside of having an Advent tree is that I'll need to redo it on Christmas Eve, swapping purple and pink for white and gold, the liturgical colors of Christmas. |
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| Sun, Dec 4 |
The Advent Wreath: The Second Candle |
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Series: Christmas Tree Controversies |
| Mon, Dec 5 |
Christmas Tree Controversies: Introduction (Part 1 of series) |
| Tue, Dec 6 |
"Holiday" or "Christmas" Trees: Sorting Out the Issues
(Part 2 of series) |
| Wed, Dec 7 |
A Memo to the President of Lowe's re: Christmas Trees, Section 1
(Part 3 of series) |
| Thu, Dec 8 |
A Memo to the President of Lowe's re: Christmas Trees, Section 2
(Part 4 of series) |
| Fri, Dec 9 |
A Memo to the President of Lowe's re: Christmas Trees, Section 3
(Part 4 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| The Online Advent Calendar |
The Online Advent Calendar
This one is rather like mine in feel, though it's got a clever way of "opening" the daily Advent doors. Beliefnet.com also has a fun online Advent calendar, with wide variety of Christmas resources. |
| Ben Witherington |
Billy Graham at Christmas
Once again, Ben Witherington shows why his blog is such a delight. Here's a very touching story about Billy Graham. And after reading this story, you might as well check out the rest of Ben's recent postings. Great stuff here. |
| John Mark Reynolds |
John Mark Reynolds on the Narnia Movie
Here is a wonderful, touching review of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by a brilliant professor philosophy who is one of my favorite bloggers. |
| Christianity Today Blog |
Christianity Today On Narnia, Christmas, and Much More
I think this is the first time I've linked to the Christianity Today Blog in The Blogging Week in Review. Big oversight on my part! This is an outstanding blog with lots of wisdom and links about many things. Check out the CT post on Narnia and you'll see what I mean. (You get extra credit if you can find the link to my site on this page. Clue: It isn't obvious, but it's good.) |
| Tall, Skinny, Kiwi |
tallskinnykiwi.com -- Go Visit!
One of the most diverse and fascinating blogs out there is tallskinnykiwi.com, by Andrew Jones, director of the Boaz Project, an effort to help the church connect with contemporary culture. Apart from being an entertaining writer, Andrew has recently noted, with large crocodile tears, that my website gets more visits than his. What he doesn't realize is that I pay my son a decent wage to sit at his computer and visit my site all day long. At any rate, make an effort to visit Andrew's blog. It will help him feel better, and you'll get to read some good stuff to boot! |
| Now That's What I Call a Christmas Light Display! |
| The "home office" for Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is in Costa Mesa, California (about ten miles from my home). Their Christmas light display reportedly contains more than a million lights. This picture (taken from across the freeway, hence the red tail light blurs) shows a small portion of the TBN display, which features the words, "Happy Birthday Jesus." |
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| Sun, Dec 11 |
The Advent Wreath: The Third Candle |
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Series: Reflections on the Narnia Movie |
| Mon, Dec 12 |
Christmastime Reflections on the Narnia Movie (Part 1 of series) |
| Tue, Dec 13 |
Talking About Narnia: Communication Strategy
(Part 2 of series) |
| Wed, Dec 14 |
Talking About Narnia: Worldview 101
(Part 3 of series) |
| Thu, Dec 15 |
Talking About Narnia: Our Response to Aslan
(Part 5 of series) |
| Fri, Dec 16 |
Talking About Narnia: Our Place in the Story
(Part 6 of series) |
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| Note: My four "Talking About Narnia" posts were a response to Hugh Hewitt's question on OneTrueGodBlog, and were posted there as well. |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| A Letter on Narnia "To My Religious Friend" |
A Wonderful Letter by John Mark Reynolds
John Mark Reynolds, philosophy professor at Biola University and blogger, has written a great letter to "a religious friend" concerning The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. |
| Best Books on the Emerging Church |
The Best Books on the Emerging-Missional Church
Andrew Jones of TallSkinnyKiwi lists the best books on the Emerging-Missional Church, a growing, influential Christian movement. He also links to another site that has a longer list of resources. This is very helpful. Thanks, Andrew. |
| Skipping Christmas |
| No doubt you've seen the story that many churches, especially many prominent megachurches, will skip worship on Sunday, December 25th. Rather than having even one service on Christmas day, these churches are encouraging people to stay home with their families. Tod Bolsinger has some valuable insights about this, as does Ben Witherington in three posts (#1, #2, #3). My church will have one service on Christmas morning, in addition to four services on Christmas Eve. |
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| Sun, Dec 18 |
The Advent Wreath: The Fourth Candle |
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Series: King Kong vs. Aslan |
| Mon, Dec 19 |
King Kong vs. Aslan (Part 1 of series) |
| Tue, Dec 20 |
The Love of Kong (Part 2 of series) |
| Wed, Dec 21 |
The Love of Aslan (Part 3 of series) |
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Series: Celebrating Christmas in Public |
| Thu, Dec 22 |
Squelching Diversity in the Name of Diversity (Part 1 of series) |
| Fri, Dec 23 |
Making the Most of Christmas (Part 6 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
| A Letter on Narnia "To My Secular Friend" |
Another Wonderful Letter by John Mark Reynolds
John Mark Reynolds, philosophy professor at Biola University and blogger, has written a great letter to "a secular friend" concerning The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. |
| The Animals Christmas |
| If you were reading my blog a year ago, I put up a picture of my cat joining my nativity scene. Well, that cat went to be with Jesus in 2005, but my new cat also found the nativity scene to be quite intriguing. She hasn't yet decided, however, that she wants to join in with the sheep and wise men. |
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Series: Christmas Reflections |
| Sun, Dec 25 |
Merry Christmas! (Part 1 of series) |
| Mon, Dec 26 |
The Greatest Christmas Present Ever (Part 2 of series) |
| Tue, Dec 27 |
My Strangest Christmas (Part 3 of series) |
| Wed, Dec 28 |
Christmas on Sunday: Some Personal Reflections, Section 1
(Part 4 of series) |
| Thu, Dec 29 |
Christmas on Sunday: Some Personal Reflections, Section 2
(Part 5 of series) |
| Fri, Dec 30 |
Celebrating Christmas in a Broken World (Part 6 of series) |
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Posts by Other Bloggers, News Items, etc. |
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Charles Dickens and Christmas Carol Links
I'm a giant fan of Charles Dickens in general, and A Christmas Carol in particular. I began a Dickens series a year ago, and still need to finish it up sometime. In the meanwhile, here are some fun and informative Dickens links:
The Charles Dickens Museum
David Perdue's Charles Dickens Page: an amazing resource!
Survey of movie versions of A Christmas Carol
The Victorian Web has a fine collection of Dickens resources.
And, finally, a recipe for Smoking Bishop, referenced near the end of A Christmas Carol. We might call this mulled wine, with a punch.
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| The Pinnacles |
| Yesterday my kids and I, along with some friends, enjoyed the great outdoors of California. We hiked in The Pinnacles, a collection of rock formations in the San Bernardino National Forest. Though we were at about 5,000 feet of elevation, there wasn't any snow, since we haven't had significant precipitation in Southern California for a long time. The air was cool (about 50 degrees), but not too cold to enjoy a hike in the mountains. On the top of the pinnacle pictures you can see my children and our friends as they enjoy the view. |
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