28.2.07
Comments and Devotions
Here are some textual notes and devotional thoughts I write up for some of our church members based on this 3 year bible reading plan.
23.2.07
Family Blog
I'm afraid to post this, as I'll probably loose 4 of my 5 readers, but Jenecia just started The Griffiths Family Blog.
22.2.07
Solomon's Porch video
Long video, so don't feel compelled to watch the whole thing.
Now, I understand that Doug Pagitt and Solomon's Porch is emergent and blah blah. I've had friends "check out" one of their services and they brought back troubling reports. Very troubling. And I don't mean to undermine the seriousness of whatever errors Doug et al. might be propagating, yet I couldn't escape a thought as I watched chunks of this video: many Evangelical American Christians of whom I know or am aware would probably consider the folks on this video weirdos and "fools." And yet, these were probably the exact people who made up the early church and whom God has chosen to confound *ahem* certain other classifications of people.
[something's goofy with the video I posted here. it's on global warming? hit the link below and check it out straight.]
HT: Tony Jones
Now, I understand that Doug Pagitt and Solomon's Porch is emergent and blah blah. I've had friends "check out" one of their services and they brought back troubling reports. Very troubling. And I don't mean to undermine the seriousness of whatever errors Doug et al. might be propagating, yet I couldn't escape a thought as I watched chunks of this video: many Evangelical American Christians of whom I know or am aware would probably consider the folks on this video weirdos and "fools." And yet, these were probably the exact people who made up the early church and whom God has chosen to confound *ahem* certain other classifications of people.
[something's goofy with the video I posted here. it's on global warming? hit the link below and check it out straight.]
HT: Tony Jones
Comments
I'm looking for ways to participate more thoughtfully in comment dialogue on blogs. If you're in the same boat, then check out coComment. It may help us all help us all.
Also, I'd like to have a subscription to my own comments. Any know how out there for easy ways to do that on Blogger (oh yeah, without upgrading).
Also, I'd like to have a subscription to my own comments. Any know how out there for easy ways to do that on Blogger (oh yeah, without upgrading).
21.2.07
missions flash video
Buried on this obscure site (albeit connected with the Perspectives people) is this phenomenal flash video. Lo-tech; hi-cool. From the CALEB project.
The new 'rock and roll'
A journalist examines teenager's views of internet-living compared with that of the "over 30 crowd": Say Everything.
P.S. I get this feed called "Arts and Letters Daily," which seems to have one or two interesting articles. These articles usually are linked to and discussed by prestigious blogs later that day or the next. I stumbled across the feed somehow, but here it is: http://aldaily.com/rss/rss.xml. Copy, paste and enjoy.
P.S. I get this feed called "Arts and Letters Daily," which seems to have one or two interesting articles. These articles usually are linked to and discussed by prestigious blogs later that day or the next. I stumbled across the feed somehow, but here it is: http://aldaily.com/rss/rss.xml. Copy, paste and enjoy.
20.2.07
rss, atom, feeds
I just switched over to feedburner. So, if you use the marvelous googlereader or other such service, please update your feed, or you'll be out in the cold (in which case you won't get this post anyway *sigh*).
Historical Theology, Part 2 of 2
Not only does historical theology ultimately anchor us to redemption history, it also anchors us to church life. Too often has theology left the lives of working class church members. But if we tie it down, root it in the life of the church, for instance by allowing pastors to theologize and allowing professional theologians counseling opportunities, then we force theology to matter. And all this might come from a commitment to study theology in an integrated historical setting, because then…then, we, the church, can be (must be) a part of theological discourse, for we too are a part of history. We live. We are here. A commitment to keeping church and theology united is a commitment to setting all theological discussion within historical theology.
When laboring to start the heart of religious affections, there is no better way to kick-start religious zeal, true love of God and man, than to examine theology beginning with Moses, beyond John up to Augustine, Luther, Machen, and Wright. We can revive religious feelings by connecting our story with the Bible's story through historical theology.
When laboring to start the heart of religious affections, there is no better way to kick-start religious zeal, true love of God and man, than to examine theology beginning with Moses, beyond John up to Augustine, Luther, Machen, and Wright. We can revive religious feelings by connecting our story with the Bible's story through historical theology.
17.2.07
Historical Theology, Part 1 of 2
Two separate points commend the primacy of Historical Theology (when departing exegetical discourse), though from different angles: Biblical Theology, and Ecclesial Theology.
Theological discourse amongst fallen creatures tends to abstraction, to distance, and ultimately to uselessness, which is to say, pastorally speaking, disobedience. This urge to sterilize God's story subverts its central message: that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. God entered history. The Bible is, partly, history. And as such, we are connected with it by virtue of our existence within that same history. The canonical record stops in the first century, but the story continues; it and its theology with it. We can no more understand Jesus apart from Judaism, Maccabean revolts, and Roman rule, than we can any theological truth claim apart from the historical context in which it was made. And, yes, that context includes the Philosophic and Popular thought of the day. By working to understand theological statements in their history, we anchor ourselves to the story of God recorded in the Bible, flowing beyond its binding, even around us.
A caution: that theology is better understood in connection with history is not to say it is unintelligible apart from its history. Truth exists apart from history, and we can discuss truth claims without possessing an exhaustive knowledge of its history. Yet, we know that we cannot fully understand if we allow the distance of time and place to persist. (Granted, we cannot bridge that distance completely, but that doesn't mean we don't try).
Theological discourse amongst fallen creatures tends to abstraction, to distance, and ultimately to uselessness, which is to say, pastorally speaking, disobedience. This urge to sterilize God's story subverts its central message: that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. God entered history. The Bible is, partly, history. And as such, we are connected with it by virtue of our existence within that same history. The canonical record stops in the first century, but the story continues; it and its theology with it. We can no more understand Jesus apart from Judaism, Maccabean revolts, and Roman rule, than we can any theological truth claim apart from the historical context in which it was made. And, yes, that context includes the Philosophic and Popular thought of the day. By working to understand theological statements in their history, we anchor ourselves to the story of God recorded in the Bible, flowing beyond its binding, even around us.
A caution: that theology is better understood in connection with history is not to say it is unintelligible apart from its history. Truth exists apart from history, and we can discuss truth claims without possessing an exhaustive knowledge of its history. Yet, we know that we cannot fully understand if we allow the distance of time and place to persist. (Granted, we cannot bridge that distance completely, but that doesn't mean we don't try).
16.2.07
The Trouble with me and Mercy
Here's the trouble: I don't want God's mercy. I want His strength so that I can do what I need to do. But His mercy? That means I've failed. That means I cannot do what I need to do. Failure.
When you're discouraged, for what do you cry out? Mercy or Strength? Both, right. But one you want and one you need.
We're people of mercy, not strength. Weakness needs mercy in order to appear strong. But then it's not strength, is it? It's mercy.
When you're discouraged, for what do you cry out? Mercy or Strength? Both, right. But one you want and one you need.
We're people of mercy, not strength. Weakness needs mercy in order to appear strong. But then it's not strength, is it? It's mercy.
15.2.07
Cleaning Up
Well, I'm back (to the joy of baby watchers). NCB needs a lot of TLC, to which I'll soon attend. In the mean time, don't bother with the side bars and links except for the snazzy new Google Reader shared articles ("David's Shared Items"). I love Google reader. But we can talk about that later. See you around.
13.2.07
Pandora.Emusic.you
If you spend large sections of your day in front of a web-enabled computer, then check out this excellent music service: Pandora.eMusic.
(HT: Lifehacker)
(HT: Lifehacker)
11.2.07
Happy Birthday, Solomon
Little Solly
"Man of Rest"
I put you down for your second nap
after you skipped the first one
and fussed before succumbing.
Sleep comes no easier,
I'm afraid,
the older you get,
the older you are.
We try and tuck you in,
you roll out, stand up,
yell, "AAAH-DAA-DA!"
We're all standing up in our cribs,
yelling
in garbled, unwitting speech,
infantile,
for Someone to give us peace.
So you've been named in hope,
Hope that you'll rest in Jesus as you are
(this instant)
resting atop blankets.
Happy Birthday,
The first of an eternity.
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