Does the Bible deal with the tough issues? It does. Christianity is neither merely a religion nor outdated. People despair. People struggle with mental illness. People get trapped in the belief that there are only two choices – a long tortuous death or a quick release… but the problem is that there are almost always…Continue reading Suicide in the Bible
Category: Theological Questions
Is the end of the world coming on Saturday?
Is the end of the world coming Saturday? Well, I suppose… maybe. I am sorry that the tone of this will, at times, be a little tongue-in-cheek. As a rational Christian skeptic, I have a hard time taking faddish, panicky social media input very seriously. The 2nd coming of Christ and the “Day of the…Continue reading Is the end of the world coming on Saturday?
My Theology of Race – Part 4
Intermarriage There were multiple commands from God to the Jews not to intermarry with the Canaanites and other tribes they were conquering in the Promised Land. “You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me,…Continue reading My Theology of Race – Part 4
My Theology of Race – Part 3
Tower of Babel The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-8,9) “Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.” This passage, which is among the shortest and most obscure in the entire Bible to…Continue reading My Theology of Race – Part 3
My Theology of Race – Part 2
Shem, Ham, Japheth A common Jewish tradition is that the three “races” were the progeny of Noah’s three sons, Shem, Japheth and Ham. Gen 9:18-19 “The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from…Continue reading My Theology of Race – Part 2
My Theology of Race – Part I
Throughout Christian history, people have made great use, and sometimes great abuse, of the Holy Bible to seek to explain the diversity of human beings. Obviously, in various ways, people are different from one another, and sometimes those differences are obvious – like skin tone. For years, people have used those skin tone differences to…Continue reading My Theology of Race – Part I
Two Mini-Seminars: "Helping Parents Talk to Kids About tragedy"
This next Wednesday, November the 9th, FBC and Alethia Family Counseling will host two short seminars for adults – moms, dads, grandparents, teachers and others – We will be in the Great Room at FBC South Campus (just south of the new loop) at 9:30am (hoping that is convenient for parents who drop off kids…Continue reading Two Mini-Seminars: "Helping Parents Talk to Kids About tragedy"
Calvinism and my views – Part II
Now, here are some of my personal responses to these points. My issue with the Calvinism branch of reformed theology is mostly based on the view that if one thing is true, others things cannot be… when often this is not the case biblically. If something appears to be paradoxical, it may be our error.…Continue reading Calvinism and my views – Part II
Calvinism and my views – Part I
John Calvin (1509-1564) was a serious player in the “reformation” – the break of what is now known as the Protestant Church from the Roman Church. He had very strong opinions on the way that the Sovereignty of God trumps any freedom that mankind might have… which might be none. Often today one misnomer (my…Continue reading Calvinism and my views – Part I
The uncommon life Popular historian and self proclaimed former Christian-turned-atheist, Dr. Bart Ehrman, in his debate with Dr. William Craig, clarified that a historian’s job is not to tell “what” happened, but what was “most likely” to have happened. He goes on to explain why that makes it impossible for him to hold to the…Continue reading
Is our President a Christian?
Is Barack Obama a Christian? Much has been made in the last few days as to whether Barack Obama is a Christian. As seems to almost always be the case, the media assumes (maybe rightly) that we have way too short an attention span to look at questions like these with any depth or intelligence.…Continue reading Is our President a Christian?
5 Greek words for "Love"
The Five Loves Welcome! How wise of you to be researching love. Few things in life are more important than true love (“except maybe for a nice MLT: mutton lettuce and tomato sandwich…”)… I am no Greek scholar, but I am passing on what I have been taught and what I understand about these words…Continue reading 5 Greek words for "Love"
What did Pope Francis just say?
What did Pope Francis say? Is has been widely reported that recently, at a speech before the “Pontifical Academy of Sciences” on 10/27/14, Pope Frances made a number of statements that have drawn special attention. The one drawing the most attention is: “God is not a divine being or a magician, but the Creator who…Continue reading What did Pope Francis just say?
Middle Knowledge
I sometimes need to teach through the concept of middle knowledge, so I thought I should have a page with just this information. For a more in-depth conversation, check out the articles at “Calvinism predestination middle-knowledge and does God know the future…whew” Middle Knowledge God decides to create. At this point, He has limitless options…Continue reading Middle Knowledge
How to Engage with a Rated – R Bible!
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/is-the-bible-an-r-rated-children-s-book.html This is Stan Ward’s and my article about dealing with the rated R aspects of the Bible. Enjoy!
Understanding Sex Talks Finally Available
Too often, sex has become frozen in our hearts… cold and stilted… clearly something beautiful has been caught in a freeze… and it isn’t what God intended. Just recently, we had a very late freeze at our house – well after all of the fruit trees had budded out. It immediately made me think…Continue reading Understanding Sex Talks Finally Available
Summer Womenary 2014 is coming!
Womenary Summer 2014! On the mornings of June 2, 9, and 16, the Womenary will meet at Colonial Hills Baptist Church. Our Text will be “Is God A Moral Monster?” by Paul Copan We will spend that time examining the hermeneutics of sex and gender in the Bible – including some of the laws in…Continue reading Summer Womenary 2014 is coming!
Thoughts on the 10 Commandments
These are just some quick thoughts about the 10 Commandments The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments are rules created by God and directly transferred by Him for the purpose of guiding His people, a society, to survive and thrive as most other societies, even larger and more powerful ones, faded into the History books. …Continue reading Thoughts on the 10 Commandments
MIGHTY -men's meetings
We are back on (we started tonight but I forgot to get the word out)… Wed nights from now through May 7th. Dinner is at 5:30pm… teaching for men only is at 6:30. We are looking at some of the most fantastic men of the Bible, in epic detail. “Did they tell you stories about…Continue reading MIGHTY -men's meetings
"Reasonable Faith"
This is stolen/paraphrased from Dr. William Lane Craig Part I For all you atheists who might read this – this is just a though project meant to clear a definition – it is not a trap of any kind. It will help you understand if you actually play along. Imagine that you are fleeing a…Continue reading "Reasonable Faith"