No new thoughts here, but just found out my brief articles at GoingtoSeminary.com are all indexed here. Haven’t written anything new at that site in many months. Kari’s articles are here, which are deeper and better; especially recommend “A Word to Seminary Wives.” While Kari graduated last Spring, I’m currently taking a class-at-a-time, and not exactly sure when I’ll finish. But, as you may guess, we’re more about the journey than the destination (deepening process > a degree). SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Some (not new) thoughts on the seminary journey",...

“If you aren’t developing a generous heart, then you don’t get grace. Grace gives.”\n-@JoshPatterson (unrelated, I think) SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Grace gives", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2009/11/01/grace-gives/" });

October 31st is a significant day on the yearly calendar for at least two reasons. The lesser publicly-celebrated reason came about 492 years ago: It was around two o’clock in the afternoon on the eve of the Day of All Saints, October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther, hammer in hand, approached the main north door of the Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenberg and nailed up his Ninety-Five Theses protesting the abuse of indulgences in the teaching and practice of the church of his day. In remembrance of this event, millions of Christians still celebrate this day as the symbolic beginning of the...

“My love of consistency with my own doctrinal views is not great enough to allow me knowingly to alter a single text of Scripture. I have great respect for orthodoxy, but my reverence for inspiration is far greater. I would sooner a hundred times over appear to be inconsistent with myself than be inconsistent with the word of God.” —Charles Spurgeon (more via Randy Alcorn, Spurgeon’s Theology: Embracing Biblical Paradox) SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Consistent & inconsistent", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2009/10/27/consistent-inconsistent/" });

Here’s what I’m reading these days: A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World, by Paul Miller The Relationship Principles of Jesus, by Tom Holladay (for our current Love & Relationships series at WCC, for group life; just finished) Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional, by Jim Belcher College Ministry 101: a guide to working with 18-25 year olds, by Chuck Bomar (recently finished) The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission, by Lesslie Newbigin (just finished) Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them,...

While we’re looking forward to soon seeing Collision, Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson have both written short editorials in the Huffington Post: Collision: Is Religion Absurd or Good for the World?. Hitchens wrote “Religion is Absurd” Wilson wrote “Atheists Suck at Being Atheists” Both make some good points, and only Wilson could get away with saying some of the things he does. Satirical and true, smart and savvy. Read them both… — We’re having a small Collision party next Friday night (10/30). Let me know if you’re in the Portland...

“The quest for a contemplative life can actually be self-absorbed, focused on my quiet and me. If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love … and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer. By spending time with our Father in prayer, we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives...

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m looking forward to the release. This is not an ad hominem attack against atheists (or Christians). It appears to be a gracious look at the collision of two lives: self-described anti-theist Christopher Hitchens (God is Not Great) and Pastor Douglas Wilson. They debate the question: “Is Christianity good for the world?” What’s more, documentaries of this type don’t normally have a rock soundtrack. Awesome. New trailer (Oct. ‘09): From collisionmovie.com: In May 2007, leading atheist Christopher Hitchens and Christian apologist...

Perhaps we can all save ourselves time if we followed some simple protocols. Say your sorry with a formal apology slip: SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "I’m sorry for ______.", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2009/10/19/im-sorry/" });

It seems like the key to reading the one-chapter “postcard” Epistle of St. Jude is the word “keep” (or “kept”). God will keep His people by the one true message, the Gospel, which has been delivered once and for all to the saints (His chosen people, v. 3). But, this message is not just for us. It is to propel us forward in a mission towards others (vv. 22-23). The readers can understand the falling away and false teaching of their age (and ours) through Jude’s quick-but-thorough analysis. He bridges the OT and NT epochs under the one message of Jesus, the...