Originally posted October 2009. -JB The following paragraphs are taken from CNN.com. This issue is not going away and the slide toward the normativity of sexual promiscuity is only growing steeper by the day. How can Christ-followers show the world the beauty of God’s design for monogamous sexual fidelity? Here’s the message the pop … More CNN: “Is Monogamy Realistic?”
Brennan Manning has died and gone home to his Abba at last. Thank you Brennan for your life of painting pictures of God’s relentless love and scandalous grace toward all of us ragamuffins. I had the opportunity to hear Brennan speak several times in person. It was always refreshing to see someone older than me … More Thank You Brennan
What do you think?
Bloomberg Businessweek thinks so… Hey, I didn’t turn out half bad. ;-)
Jen Floyd Engel’s article at FoxSports.com on Tebow is worthy of consideration: What if Tim Tebow were a Muslim? Imagine for a second, the Denver Broncosquarterback is a devout follower of Islam, sincere and principled in his beliefs and thus bowed toward Mecca to celebrate touchdowns. Now imagine if Detroit Lionsplayers Stephen Tulloch and Tony Schefflermockingly bowed toward Mecca, too, after tackling … More The Tebow Factor
If you haven’t heard the news yet…well…you probably have a life outside the Christian blogosphere. But Rob Bell is leaving his church to pursue a new venture in Hollywood. Meanie Christians are already drawing their own conclusions, questioning his motives and condemning this fellow brother…. Well, Eugene Cho, fellow Covenant pastor has the right take … More Rob Bell Going to Hollywood
From CT: On 9/11 I thought, For the most powerful, militarized nation in the world also to think of itself as an innocent victim is deadly. It was a rare prophetic moment for me, considering Presidents Bush and Obama have spent billions asking the military to rectify the crime of a small band of lawless individuals, destroying a … More Will Willimon on 9/11
Here are Ben Witherington’s top ten reasons why you should pay exactly no attention to Mr. Harold Camping and his false predictions about the May 21 Rapture: No. 10— Every such prediction since the time of Christ has had an 100% failure rate! That should have put a stop to theological weather forecasting, but alas, … More 10 Reasons to Not Go Camping on May 21 (Witherington)
Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed is my first stop for a thoroughly Jesus-shaped perspective on all things. Here’s his thoughts on the death of a bin Laden. There are a number of places to begin and ideas to consider. But I have to begin with this. Jesus said, “Put your sword back in its place,” … More Scot McKnight on the Death of Bin Laden
I found myself torn in my own reaction to the death of Bin Laden — wrestling with two Bible verses most of the past few days: Romans 13 and Matt 5:44. Romans 13 speaks of the government’s God-given role in bringing justice by use of ‘the sword.’ Thus, as an American citizen I was celebrating … More A Christian Response to the Death of Bin Laden (J. Merritt)
Nearly 20,000 people gathered on Sunday, April 24th at Qwest field in Seattle to form the largest church service to ever take place in the Pacific Northwest. Pastor Mark Driscoll preaches on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most important and influential man who has ever lived. His Twitter feed this afternoon … More A Stadium-sized Easter Celebration!
The Christian blogosphere is often a nasty place, where stones get tossed back and forth around the clock with very little listening to the other side. I think I’d give up all together on the hope for balanced and grace-filled conversation if it weren’t for Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed. He’s a kindred spirit in … More Widen Your Perspective
I found this very interesting. (Thanks Martin Luff.) After viewing the progress and positive trajectory of our global health and wealth, I asked myself, “Now I wish I could see a similar study gauging the direction of global morality and happiness over the past 200 years.” I’m wondering: Does increased health and wealth produce a … More 200 Years of Improvement in Health & Wealth
Look who’s #4 on this preeminent list of scholars! Greg Boyd was a college professor of mine, and his teaching ministry has had an enormous influence on my faith. Seeing his name on this list both overjoys and concerns me. Greg Boyd is one of the purist Jesus-shaped, robustly biblical thinkers I know and his … More 20 Most Influential Christian Scholars – Congrats Greg!
Some good thoughts from Ben Witherington on Black Friday: I was minding my business drinking my morning coffee, and looking out on the unexpected snowfall on Black Friday which made it white Friday here in Lexington when ‘what to my wondering eyes did appear, then a plane load of Irish, seeking out reindeer’. Yes, that’s … More Black Friday Reflections (B. Witherington)
I highly recommend attending this event.
This is a big deal for those like me who find themselves, as the Internet Monk used to say, “wandering about in the Evangelical wilderness in search of a more Jesus-shaped Christianity.” I think Scot McKnight is spot on in his analysis of the recent Albert Mohler cover story in Christianity Today and I stand … More McKnight on Al Mohler & the ‘Evangelical Shift’
The political climate in America this week is boiling hot on the heals of Sunday night’s signing of the Obamacare proposal. There is an apocalyptic like mood on the conservative right, with talk show hosts prognosticating on the eventual collapse of America as we know it. Today, I walked to the gas station for a … More Which Government Do You Serve?
“He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings” (Num 16:31-33). I … More Pray for Guatemala
Trevin Wax offers his reflections on Jennifer Knapp’s appearance on Larry King Live in an article for the Baptist Press called Jennifer Knapp and Homosexuality: Changing the Questions. Here’s an excerpt: I only know Jennifer Knapp — a former Dove Award winning artist who recently announced she is a lesbian — through her music. (Kansas is … More Trevin Wax on Jennifer Knapp & Larry King
Noah’s ancient ark is once again making the news. Is this the real deal? Probably not, but why not let ourselves indulge in some Indiana Jones like dreaming for a while. Here’s the story from the Daily Telegraph. Here’s Ben Witherington’s comments on this recurring alleged discovery. From the Telegraph: A group of Chinese and … More Noah’s Ark Found (Again) on Mount Ararat?
How do you celebrate Earth Day? How do Christians be faithful to our divine mandate, the Bible and navigate the politics of the modern day Environmentalism movement? Kevin DeYoung has some thoughts for Christians on Building A Better Earth Day HERE. He begins: Today is Earth Day, the fortieth anniversary in fact. It’s hard for me … More Kevin DeYoung on Earth Day
Jeremy L. Berg 