Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Marcus J. Borg Website

Marcus Borg has a new website and has started to post occasional theological reflections, as well as promoting upcoming speaking engagements and his many books. To visit, click here.

For a sample of of his approach to a biblical concept, see "Narrow is the way."

Monday, June 21, 2010

Comedy Central at a Church Near You

What role does "humor" play in worship?

None you say. We all know better. What preacher doesn't try to make the congregation at least chuckle once during the sermon? Sometimes it's a series of one-liners. And at a recent Conference on Homiletics, ministers were instructed on the 10 Commandments of Stand-Up.

Collin Hansen at Christianity Today raises his concerns about comedy in the pulpit.

So what is your experience with humor at church. Do we need more or less from our worship leaders?

By the way, did you hear the one about a priest, a rabbi, and a pastor who . . .

Ephesus

Ben Witherington continues his posts on the lands of the bible, this time Ephesus. Below are three posts with pictures and text that are worth your while.

Ephesus - Part 1

The Cave Church of Paul and Thecla

Ephesus - Part 2

Monday, June 14, 2010

Lands of the Bible

Ben Witherington has started a series on Lands of the Bible in conjunction with a DVD series he is filming around the ancient Mediterranean. These blogs have some great photos and supporting narrative that help us understand the setting of the our New Testament documents. Here is his most recent post, this one on Philippi.

Contemporary Worship - An Instructional Video

In a recent visit with my sister, we attended her church, which has a contemporary service. Since I do not normally attend a contemporary service, I was somewhat apprehensive about "how to" worship in this style. Fortunately, I was able to consult the following instructional video that provided many useful tips. I share it in case you may have the same concerns that I did.

BP Deals with a Coffee Spill

Thanks to Robert Cargill for posting this YouTube video that answers the penetrating question: How would BP handle a coffee spill?

Theological Diversity

New Testament scholar, David E. Aune, comments in Direction Journal on the importance of theological diversity.

Since most of our theological language is analogical rather than univocal, or metaphorical rather than literal, it seems to me that we do a basic disservice to the theological task when we transform diversity into contradiction, varieties into irreconcilables. Diversity is not only a sign of the vitality of the Christian religion, it is absolutely necessary if Christianity is to be meaningful and living for people of radically different social, cultural and historical contexts.

See all of his article here.