The Bible and Sex: A Response to Newsweek

February 16, 2011

Newsweek recently published an article called What the Bible Really Says About Sex which begins: What does the Bible really say about sex? Two new books written by university scholars for a popular audience try to answer this question. Infuriated by the dominance in the public sphere of conservative Christians who insist that the Bible … More The Bible and Sex: A Response to Newsweek

C.S. Lewis, Cupid & God’s Inescapable Love

February 14, 2011

Here’s a repost from last year worth sharing again. -JB It’s Valentine’s Day.  The celebration heart-shaped candies that taste like chalk, and overpriced cards that tell our sweethearts what some Hallmark writer thinks — who, for all we know, has never even been on a date.  It’s the day of chocolates, amor and perhaps some … More C.S. Lewis, Cupid & God’s Inescapable Love

Pastor 9 – Baby Boomers’ Bondage to Self

February 9, 2011

Another excerpt from Will Willimon’s book “Pastor.” In this section, Willimon addresses a mindset common among Baby Boomers (and passed down to their children, I might add): “A few years ago, three sociologists, noting the huge decline in memberships being suffered by mainline (now fast becoming the old-line or sidelined) denominations, described what they termed … More Pastor 9 – Baby Boomers’ Bondage to Self

Pastor 8 – Pastors as Preachers

February 6, 2011

More reflections on Willimon’s book called “Pastor.” Today some insights on preaching: “Whereas classical rhetoricians such as Aristotle spent much of their energies concerned with the limitations and desires of the listeners, urging speakers to take care to tailer their speeches to the disposition of their listeners, Christian speaking is first concerned with the disposition … More Pastor 8 – Pastors as Preachers

Pastor 7 – “Obedient Playfulness” with the Text

February 4, 2011

Honestly, this is one of the best sections of any book I have ever read.  I have rarely been this excited and passionate about anything I’ve read related to the power of Scripture.  In the reading of these words, my reason for being a pastor was reaffirmed.  I have experienced firsthand the world altering power … More Pastor 7 – “Obedient Playfulness” with the Text

Pastor 6 – More on the Scriptures

February 2, 2011

More insights from Willimon’s book “Pastor”: “One of the challenges of biblical interpretation is that the Bible contains a wide array of genre. We contemporary preachers of the Word marvel at the resourcefulness of these early communicators of the faith. They use poetry, myth, parable, genealogy, invective, hyperbole, and a host of other literary devices … More Pastor 6 – More on the Scriptures

A Summary of the Bible (D.A. Carson)

January 30, 2011

Oh, how I love grasping the main plot of the entire Bible, how all 66 books tell one coherent story of redemption and grace!  While Carson is extraordinarily articulate, I believe all Christians should be able to share this basic storyline of Creation-Fall-Covenant-Christ-New Creation in their own words.  Sadly, many Christians can’t yet see the … More A Summary of the Bible (D.A. Carson)

Pastor 4 – Recollecting the Mighty Acts of God

January 26, 2011

More from Bishop Willimon’s book on vocational ministry called “Pastor.” “The priest is the one who keeps pointing the congregation to the presence of Christ in our midst; keeps narrating our lives in a manner quite different from that of the world. The world tells us that we are our own creations, that we are … More Pastor 4 – Recollecting the Mighty Acts of God