Here are some interesting thoughts on the natural capacity for belief in the supernatural. Not sure what I think about it yet. http://musingsonscience.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/is-religion-merely-a-natural-phenomenon/
Ittai the Gittite: A "Little" Help from Your Friends
As David is fleeing east from Jerusalem because of his son Absalom’s betrayal, he meets an old friend Ittai the Gittite. Ittai is planning to come with David, and the following conversation occurs: DAVID: Why would you come with us? Go back and stay with Absalom. You’re a guest here. You just got here yesterday.… Read More »
Absalom the Usurper
For bedtime reading, our family has been reading through the David cycle in the Hebrew Scriptures. Of course, this part of the Scriptures is my bread-and-butter. One day, I will write a book on David and it will sell like five copies – AT LEAST. But I digress. The other night, we started reading about… Read More »
Uriah the Hittite
2 Samuel 11 contains a story that pretty much any Sunday School kid learned. King David commits adultery with a young woman named Bathsheba and they conceive a child. He then has her husband killed to cover up the sin. Of course, in chapter 12, Nathan the prophet confronts David and he repents. Being a… Read More »
Lame Men at the Table of the King
Last night, we read 2 Samuel 9 with our daughter. It is the account of King David taking his predecessor’s grandson Mephibosheth into his care. It is a beautifully composed story that transcends times and cultures. Here is David, king by divine appointment and public acclamation. He has successfully defeated or pacified all competitors. He has… Read More »
Some Background on Gedara and the Windstorm
Jesus’ encounter with the demonic forces on the Lake Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee) occurs as he is trying to get to the region of Gedara. The name of the city itself means “border country” and it is essentially the eastern edge of Jewish influence. Beyond Gedara was the Decapolis, an entirely new municipality founded by… Read More »
Looking Back
It is always insightful to look back and contemplate how we change over time. Back in 2008 I wrote a post about the regionalization of the local church At the time, we were a congregation of about 50. We were in the midst of planning a renovation, and we were financially strapped. There were all… Read More »
Don't Shoot for Average
Last night, I watched LeBron James (supposedly the greatest individual player in the NBA) have an average game and lose. The Miami Heat consists of two tremendously talented players (James and Dwyane Wade) and a cast of basically nameless supporting players. In order for them to win, James and Wade must play extraordinary basketball. Against… Read More »
Learning Exercises (ugh!)
One of the key reasons I don’t do conferences is that inevitably someone wants you to do some kind of “learning exercise.” I am a high-brain, verbal learner which means that I learn best by taking in information and teaching others, and most “learning exercises” do nothing for me. At the Biblical Imagination Conference we… Read More »
Fred Phelps and Historical Precision
Apparently, Fred Phelps (the pastor of that bastion of hope and encouragement, Westboro Baptist Church) has some tremendous insight into the Scriptures. In the video below, Phelps pinpoints the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to the year 1898 BC. This is tremendous news to me since until now I have wondered endlessly how to date the… Read More »
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