Archive for the 'Theology' Category

Independent Local Convention, Day 3: Serving the Greater Good

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Welcome to the third day of our local convention. Today, we will tackle patriotism. The theme of the convention is: Kingdom First. The topic for the day is: “Serving the Greater Good.”

Continue reading ‘Independent Local Convention, Day 3: Serving the Greater Good’

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Independent Local Convention, Day 2: Convictions Beyond Politics

This second day of the Independent Local Convention, hosted in the San Fernando Valley and reported exclusively on “Serving Bread,” we will discuss the topic of convictions and politics. The theme for the week is: Kingdom First

Continue reading ‘Independent Local Convention, Day 2: Convictions Beyond Politics’

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Independent Local Convention, Day 1: Life and Security

Welcome to the Independent Local Convention, hosted in the San Fernando Valley and reported exclusively on “Serving Bread.” The theme for the week is: Kingdom First. Today’s topic: “Life and Security”

Continue reading ‘Independent Local Convention, Day 1: Life and Security’

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Related Posts:

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Independent Local Convention, Day 3: Serving the Greater Good
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Thank God for the 3.4 oz. Rule

Not a bad reason to pray

My nearly three year old daughter is my resident theologian. After our nightly prayer, she turns to her mother and confesses, “After I pray I feel happy.” (Incidentally, she actually had been feeling unusually sad this evening before the prayer time)

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God cares about crude oil

I’m not much of a prayer warrior, but with gas prices up (with no relief in sight), I may have to join this group of the faithful. It seems that when all else fails (politics, capitalism, boycotts, economics), turn to God. The price of oil continues to rise, and people are now bracing themselves for $5/gallon at the pump. So my friends, why not join the “Prayer at the Pump”?

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Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained For Ministry

From the extended syllabus of Systematic Theology 3:

10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.
8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited to such tasks as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do ministerial tasks.
7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football and basketball games demonstrates this.
5. Some men are handsome, and this will distract women worshipers.
4. Pastors need to nurture their congregations. But this is not a traditional male role. Throughout history, women have been recognized as not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more fervently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are prone to violence. No really masculine man wants to settle disputes except by fighting about them. Thus they would be poor role models as well as dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was betrayed by a man. His lack of faith and ensuing punishment remind us of the subordinated position that all men should take.
1. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof, and perhaps even lead the song service on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the church.

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(HT: Discerning the Times)

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Male and Female Relationships

Here is a recent paper I wrote on a Biblical framework for male and female relationships.

We live in a culture that has a confused understanding of male and female relationships. Perhaps this confusion exists among all cultures and has been experienced through the generations, but it seems that in our current cultural context, human sexuality and relationships among men and women are far from the Biblical ideal and the intention of God.

There are many ways we see the implications of a broken view of human sexuality and male-female relationships, whether it be gender identity confusion, the prevalence of divorce, or promiscuity. And it is not just the prevalence of these implications that points to this distortion, but it’s the glorification and affirmation of them.[1]

Continue reading ‘Male and Female Relationships’

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Why do bad things happen to good people?

I recently completed an academic exercise, reflecting on the problem of evil. I found the assignment useful for my ministry, as I regularly confront questions about why God allows suffering and evil. The assignment is in response to Rabbi Harold Kushner’s best-selling book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People.

Continue reading ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’

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My thoughts on inerrancy

I’m not much of a theologian. (Though I would say that all humans are theologians in that we have certain ideas of God that work themselves out in how we live and interact with others) When I say I’m not much of a theologian, I mean I don’t engage in too many discussions on theological issues that are on the philosophical level.

Part of an exercise of a class I am taking is on the role of the authority of Scripture. I may have little or no opinion on various other doctrines, but over the last few years I have developed a position in regards to the doctrine of inerrancy. Continue reading ‘My thoughts on inerrancy’

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