General – Page 70 – neumatikos

In Search of Teh Greek

One of the most frustrating experiences for me as I continue in my pursuit of learning has been that the more education I get, the greater the sense of being behind. I’m already some five years behind the stereotypical track of burning right through to grad school. I’m 27 with the knowledge that some people are “right on track” coming in to my learning level at 22.

But that doesn’t get me too much. On a track to pastoral ministry, you could probably use a little age and experience on you. At the same time, though, I’m learning that those learnéd men of the past, up to whom we look so much, were much younger still. Continue reading “In Search of Teh Greek”

Piglett and the Danes

I’ve been sort of following some of the junk associated with the Danish cartoons about Mohammed. Now, I was under the impression that Denmark had many of the same freedoms that we have here in the US including freedom of speech. I’ve seen many political cartoons ridiculing Christ and different aspects of Christianity. In fact it was qute disturbing to see some of the things that I saw in a photo journal of one of the recent Walk for Life marches that happened in San Francisco. I don’t like it, but my belief says to love my enemies, pray for those who curse me, and turn the other cheek. It isn’t a sign of capitulation, weakness or even tolerance, but of love.

That said I’m really not very surprised but I am a bit appalled by some of the reactions of the Muslims in that part of the world. Continue reading “Piglett and the Danes”

Benefits of Marriage

I woke up this morning at a ridiculously early hour. I think it had something to do with the fact that today is the first day of classes this semester, and also the fact that I actually went to be at a decent hour last night (read: 10:30). But somewhere around 4:30, I realised that I really was awake, and my mind had no intention of slipping back to sleep. So I got up, took a shower and read through my comics and blogs as a postponement of studying for the Greek quiz that has been inflicted on us the first day of class tomorrow.

Just as I was finishing my reading, Valerie woke up. Not realizing I was up, she asked me to come back to bed,which would have been useless in the attempt. But I lay with her a few minutes, untill the incessant pinging of my mind forced me to either get up or talk to a drowsing wife. Charitably, I got up, and started searching in the dark for day clothes, the room lightened only by the kitchen light shining in the door. Better to search while she’s already awake than to wake her up by looking later.

However, when it came to shirts, I was stumped. How do you pick a shirt in darkness?

Just then a small voice called from the bed: “Your red sweater is on the left.”

I’m wearing red today. I love being married.

Don’t Post Every Day

It is a common aphorism in the blogosphere that if you want to get read, you should post something every day. Even better, you should post even more frequently. Why not shoot for fifty? This almost makes sense. I mean, it works something like the basic advice for politicians: you want to get electe? Get out there and say something. To get in office takes votes, not good ideas!

The problem is that blogging is not exactly parallel to getting elected. Sure, if the most important thing is getting more readers, it’s exactly like getting elected. It’s a kind of entertainment business, and the goal is to get as much attention as possible. If you’re trying to make a living off of this, you’ve got to expand the base as much as possible.

But seriously, is the whole blogosphere out to make a buck off of this thing? Continue reading “Don’t Post Every Day”

I am Not a Heretic

Now here’s a quiz I can get behind:

You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you’re not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.

Chalcedon compliant

100%

Pelagianism

50%

Adoptionist

50%

Apollanarian

42%

Nestorianism

33%

Monophysitism

33%

Docetism

Albigensianism

Monarchianism

Modalism

Socinianism

Donatism

Gnosticism

Arianism

Are you a heretic?
created with QuizFarm.com

Hat tip: BatesLine

On Calling

Those of you who know me have probably heard me agonize over my prospects of becoming a “professional Christian” at some time or another. With his famous “don’t muzzle the Ox” line, Paul makes it clear that it isn’t *wrong* to receive financial remuneration for ministry, so that isn’t it. But there’s always been something unnerving for me about treating the role of pastor the same way as a management career. Somewhere the parallels between the MBA and the MDiv just go away.

Our church right now is going through what seems to be the standard process of looking for a new pastor. The old pastor announces that he’s retiring (like ours) or leaving the church for whatever reason, and then the church begins to oil the machinery for searching out and appointing a new person to be in charge. I know this is the common procedure, but it’s jarring whenever I think about it. Especially when I think about myself as the prospective “new person in charge.” I can’t imagine sending out resumes asking to be overseer of a church I’ve never before attended. Why is it that it’s only the pastor who joins a church by application? Who else ever actually applies for membership and is politely declined in favor of another candidate? It’s *odd.*

And so I’m predisposed to make tents. Continue reading “On Calling”

OK I’m going to cheat.

I just finished my half of the new grents letter and I don’t want to pick and choose parts to put up here so you get to read my half. I will let you know that I plan to have pictures of Christmas break and Brookwoods up in the gallery soon, but right now I need to go eat lunch and get back to my homework.

So here’s what I wrote: Continue reading “OK I’m going to cheat.”

Teaser

I’m working on a real blog, honest. In the mean time…

I’m a Mercedes SLK!

You appreciate the finer things in life. You have a split personality – wild or conservative, depending on your mood. Wherever you go, you like to travel first class. Luxury, style, and fun – who could ask for more?

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Sigh…

I just checked. Jon Ruthven’s book On the Cessation of the Charismata, which I’ve been raving so about, can’t be bought, not even for ready money. Amazon.com has one used copy available, for $109. It’s a 270 page book! That’s 40 cents a page! You’d figure for money like that, they’d consider publishing a second edition.

I am seriously contemplating writing Dr. Ruthven a note to see if he knows how to get a copy. How can I recommend this book to all my friends if nobody can buy it?

I do intend to do a review of it still, but I’m still getting settled and prepping myself for the next semester.

Phillip Johnson is Funny

Phil Johnson has decided to finally take up the debate on cessationism, with characteristic results: He was already well-known, and then he started making outrageous statements which go against the grain of readers who apparently read him for the benefit of being offended. For some reason, he seems to find this frustrating.

At any rate, he’s made several statements that are amusing to me (though probably infuriating and heart-rending for people with a disposition like my mom’s): Continue reading “Phillip Johnson is Funny”