tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196953152009-06-05T17:26:31.889-06:00...Ephphatha is a greek word, a root word for epiphany, and thus for understanding, the "aha" moment and the possibility of a new vision of the world...jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-71762897240963176002009-06-03T08:56:00.001-06:002009-06-03T08:58:04.054-06:00

"It will be argued in more general terms that it is always dangerous to go to the Philistines to sharpen one's tools (1 Sam. 13:19-21). After all, to mix biblical metaphors, the gold taken when Israel spoiled the Egyptians ended up in the golden calf. No doubt some of it did. Appropriation is inherently dangerous. But some of that gold ended up in the tabernacle as well, and it is that

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-30372026038038446382009-04-06T14:59:00.003-06:002009-04-06T15:06:32.806-06:00

"Man is but a reed,the most feeble thing in nature. but he is a thinking reed." Blaise Pascal 1623-1662

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-62632320002548002762009-04-06T13:05:00.006-06:002009-04-06T14:35:29.643-06:00

I have referred to the neo-reformed types in the past.  They are passionate and at times, vexing group. Their most prominent spokespersons are Mark Driscoll and John Piper. I commented on a previous blog about Driscoll here.  They have made a pretty sizable splash in the North American world as noted in a recent Time Magazine article.  Under the title, "10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now" this

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-9293951420183557102009-03-21T11:08:00.016-06:002009-03-30T12:12:57.158-06:00

"I have only found one religion that dares to go down with me into the depth of myself."G.K. Chesterton"Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it, that Thou mayest enter in. It is ruinous; repair thou it. It has that within which must offend Thine eyes; i confess and know it.  But who shall cleanse it?"  AugustineMy current focus on this blog is to putter around this idea of becoming

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-75573841493352393622009-03-17T05:56:00.011-06:002009-03-17T06:34:09.767-06:00

The other day i was reading George Herbert, the great poet who wrote in the early part of the 17th century.  It is in writers like him, and some of the earlier writers on the topic of sin, that i find a language that captures the nuances of sin and of humanity.   In a poem entitled The Pearl, Herbert meditates on how sin entices:"I know the ways of Pleasure, the sweet strains, The lullings and

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-72556307715759561752009-03-09T11:13:00.006-06:002009-03-17T05:48:51.002-06:00

Two Sundays ago, the second Sunday of Lent, i spoke in church about the grand narrative of the Fall in Genesis 3.  I am following a traditional arc of stories for the Lent season at our church to try and reconnect what we do with the greater Christian tradition.  I also feel compelled to explore the contours of the topic of sin.  Why would i choose this focus?  I have been trying to discern that

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-15673893804341786342009-03-02T10:53:00.017-07:002009-03-03T22:55:52.110-07:00

I think the issue bringing our humanity into deep interface with our faith tradition has been one that has driven many theological and religious explorations.  Early Christian thought was shaped by platonic and neo-platonic thought.  Both of these philosophical schools are very interesting but tend to emphasize rationality and ideas but minimize the body and the importance of social context.  

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-64608854907894157582009-03-02T09:35:00.015-07:002009-03-02T20:29:59.013-07:00

What does it mean to be truly human?This is a pretty interesting and also massive question. Whenever we approach this topic we can easily be overcome by the number of options that are available.  On top of a specific  anthropological theory, and an attendant personal philosophy, are the numerous factors that influence each individual life.  What does it mean for an individual in our time to

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-62814497921270554682009-02-26T12:52:00.003-07:002009-02-26T12:55:26.832-07:00

I mentioned a couple of posts back about the Bus Slogan Campaign put on by atheists and christian in the u.k.  I just discovered a link to a Bus Slogan Generator.  You simply type in your own suggestion for the caption and it will show you what it would look like on a double decker bus.  Cool!

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-31342778458362002542009-02-24T12:27:00.006-07:002009-02-25T15:49:57.913-07:00

What do our emotions have to do with our spirituality or faith? This is something i have pondered quite often and found its way into my graduate work in interpretation.  I think that emotions have a lot to do with how we are religious, or more specifically Christian, people.  Fear, doubt, happiness, anger, peace are significant indicators for how we are progressing in a spiritual journey.  In a

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-58093415188174247642009-02-23T11:13:00.006-07:002009-02-23T11:49:30.622-07:00

"The Loss of the Personal in a Technological Society" is a freebie essay on James M. Houston's website.  Houston is a great writer who is interested in the interaction between religion and culture.  Though i find many church types to be fairly slim on their understanding of cultural forces, Houston does not fit in that camp.  Like other Regent College teachers like Marva Dawn, Eugene Pederson and

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-24759441169048811792009-02-18T19:23:00.004-07:002009-02-19T09:08:36.598-07:00

The issue of human freedom and the Christian faith keep rising to the surface of conversations i have had over the last couple of years.  If God is truly sovereign and all powerful, do we have free will?  Or are we simply acting out a script God knows beforehand?  This is a fairly anachronistic way to look at the doctrine of sovereignty but it has its supporters.  Down in the states there is a

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-49377770345810203772009-02-16T09:06:00.008-07:002009-02-16T10:24:58.529-07:00

I have been a bit more active on my blog lately.  Mostly, because i was provoked and inspired to think about why i hold my particular views and beliefs about evangelicalism.  It all started when a friend of mine told me about a blog she wrote about inter-religious dialogue and how some more conservative Christians reacted.  At the same time in these last weeks i have attended a wonderful A.A.

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-26819258672887330232009-02-15T19:38:00.006-07:002009-02-16T09:29:21.531-07:00

If you have not had the opportunity to read the book "The Shack", it is certainly an interesting read and if nothing else a publishing phenomenon.  You might want to check it out.  Paul Young, the author, wrote this book as a gift to his kids and grand kids a few years back.  It somehow got picked up by a publisher and has sold somewhere over 4 million copies.  That is a pretty good retirement

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-60035071151010256852009-02-13T10:36:00.003-07:002009-02-13T10:59:02.223-07:00

This is a whole book i found on-line by John Baillie.  The scottish theologian wrote a wonderful book of prayers called A Diary of Public Prayer.  I want to get down to reading this one day.  But loved this old school cover.  

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-86360007295228474172009-02-12T11:06:00.008-07:002009-02-16T13:21:25.177-07:00

You might have heard of the recent bus campaign in Canada and elsewhere produced by atheists groups.  You can read some stuff about it here.  The main bus ad invented read like this: "There is probably no God.  Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."  Kind of funny and i get the point.  No biggie.  I find this a rather weak attempt to counter the religious, and more specifically Christian

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-50976879797300811432009-02-10T15:37:00.012-07:002009-02-16T13:22:34.373-07:00

Hey i have joined in a conversation in another blog in Calgary about the value of inter-religious dialogue.  It is quite interesting and is a hot topic in a wide variety of contexts, especially at the University level.  Should we befriend people of various faith backgrounds?  Should we interact?  If so, how should it function?  See the blog here.  The blog is written by a friend named Meera and

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-48616510682001637222009-01-21T11:41:00.008-07:002009-01-21T12:17:07.657-07:00

In this new job i have it gets me thinking about how we treat others, what the meaning of community is, and why should we try and gather as people in what seems to be a dangerous world at times.  One song that has inspired me over the first couple of months is a song by Bob Dylan.  The song is called Dignity.  It is a song about the search for dignity.  But dignity is not easily found.  It is

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-18893735707953734252009-01-20T16:22:00.003-07:002009-01-20T16:36:52.826-07:00

I have just discovered that the brilliant and provocative "Device to Root Out Evil" display is in Calgary!  I first saw an picture of this peice of artwork a few months ago and put it in a post here. This peice of art has both its admirers and critics.  An article in the Vancouver Sun describes the mixed reviews it received in Vancouver.  I wonder how Calgarians will respond?  I think the artist

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-71045701098317074372009-01-19T21:51:00.008-07:002009-01-20T16:13:23.976-07:00

I have started a new job and have been pretty busy.  thus my feeble reason for not posting anything for awhile.  Even so, my new job allows me to read some great material written by devout AND humanistic sorts of people--my favorite kind!!   Over the Advent season i read the first chunk of Jean Vanier's "Drawn Into the Mystery of Jesus Through the Gospel of John."  This book is not really a

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-79114831883882061472008-12-08T11:01:00.003-07:002008-12-08T11:08:07.465-07:00

In this the Christmas season.  We should also remember that storm troopers are people too!heh, heh....

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-6093899255224192152008-10-24T11:22:00.007-06:002008-10-24T11:51:56.379-06:00

Ok, i have been slacking...cuz of some transition stuff in my life i will share in a blog very soon.  But wanted to get the last of the leadership quotes for a new time of church engagement.  This last one is written by Parker Palmer.  He is not really a theologian but someone who calls us to live according to our deepest idealisms and dreams.  This rubs super-pragmatists the wrong way because

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-90865212089147752352008-10-05T14:19:00.003-06:002008-10-05T14:37:59.424-06:00

The next quote comes from a guy who thinks that modernity has eroded our ability to conceive of a living and active God.  Commenting on the work of sociologist David Reisman on the difference between inner and outer directed selves, he notes:"The 'inner directed' self is motivated by ultimate, typically religious, purposes and by the dictates of conscience shaped by religious belief.  Such

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-8407449681938877802008-10-02T09:30:00.006-06:002008-10-02T09:46:39.431-06:00

Ok, i lost focus for a couple of days.  But here is number 8.Speaking of virtue ethics and the church (ecclesiology) Jonathan Wilson writes:"First, the church does not exist for itself.  Just as any account of Christian virtues is ultimately for the sake of witness to the gospel, so also any account of the church as the community of those virtues is ultimately for the sake of its witness to the

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19695315.post-46622339024151503592008-09-25T18:14:00.007-06:002008-09-25T18:34:21.913-06:00

Part 2:"We have forgotten about prophetic dreaming as our lives have curved inward.  Thoughts of a truly holistic service for the sake of our community and the world have diminished.  The story of Jesus--his life, death and resurrection--have become tokens of a purely personal hope. Even our understanding of sin has shrunk to where we are more concerned with the bad influences of society than

jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618239019704109543noreply@blogger.com0