“Boundaries help define what a household, family, church, or community holds precious. However, the modern world is deeply ambivalent about boundaries and community. Although we yearn for home and a place to belong, often we find ourselves more comfortable with empty space where we can ‘sing our own songs’ and pursue our own plans. Hospitality…
CHAPTER Thirteen And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. Matthew 28:…
The word “evangelical” has taken on negative connotations in many circles. While it has traditionally been used (in the United States) to designate conservative Protestants who are Biblicist in their reading of the Bible (insists that the Bible is inerrant/infallible) and believe that one’s salvation is dependent on affirming Jesus as one’s savior and lord….
Recently here on EDN, Robert Cornwall had an excellent article on the need to study history. On that point I completely agree. That said, I thought the view of history in the article he recommended was a bit binary and one sided. To be sure, there is a lot of truth in the description of…
There is a saying which I’ve seen variously attributed to African, Amerind and Asian wise men, which goes “I don’t know if it happened this way, but I know this story is true”. A little while ago, I blogged on the back of a short story by Ursula le Guin called “The Ones Who Walk…
A brief discussion of ANTONY FLEW, JOHN HICK AND FREEDOM1 John Hick summarized the traditional freewill defense as an argument with three phases. First, God’s omnipotence is defined as excluding the capacity to perform what is logically absurd. Secondly, to claim that man is free to assert that he can choose between right and wrong….
Recently, as our congregation’s sexton was changing the sermon title on the congregation’s marquee, a woman drove up and asked him, “Are you the new age church?” He responded, “We’re part of the United Church of Christ and our pastor is a biblical preacher.” She continued, “But, how can you be Christian? You’re celebrating earth…
History is a subject we all take in school. Sometimes it’s taught well. Sometimes it’s not. Either way, the study of history is often viewed as irrelevant to daily life. History is about the past, and while we’re told at times that if we fail to learn the lessons of the past, we’re fated to…
Allan Bevere posted a link to three posts by Roger Olson, in which Roger successively defined Fundamentalist, Evangelical, and Liberal. Now Energion author, United Church of Christ pastor, and theologian, Dr. Bruce G. Epperly, responds to Roger Olson’s definition of Liberal. A growing number of liberal Christians are rethinking what it means to be liberal. Many…
Chapter 12 YERUSHALAYIM, The cradle of miracles Onofrio and Samuel would never find two better mentors than Serou and Tremiyo. Serou, grand gallant Serou even won the attention and admiration of his lovely wife of almost twenty years. Glistening eyes admired the eloquence of his speech, demeanor and gesturing habits. He was the only man…