At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian. Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, their religious beliefs, or their actions. This is a recurring segment in this blog.
Nicholas Krebs: (b. 1401, Germany – d. 1464, aka: Nicholas of Cusa, Nicholas Cusanus, Nicholas of Kues) Roman Catholic Cardinal, jurist, mystic, mathematician, philosopher, astronomer. He taught that God’s complexity overcomes contradictions. His mathematics was a precursor to calculus and he was the first to use concave lenses to correct myopia.
Leslie Theodore Lyall: (b. 1905, United Kingdom – d. 1996) Protestant missionary in China, writer, biographer of evangelist John Sung.
Yu Cidu: (b. 1873, China – d. 1931, aka: Dora Yu) Evangelist, Watchman Nee considered her to be his “spiritual mother.”
Ann Hart Coulter: (b. 1961, New York, USA) Syndicated columnist, political commentator, author. She “does not pretend to be impartial or balanced.”
Mikhail Yuhanna: (b. 1936, Iraq, aka: Tariq Aziz) Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq (1979-2003). In 2009, he was convicted of the forced displacement of the Kurds from north-east Iraq. Aziz was sentence 26 October, 2010 to be executed by hanging. He is a Chaldean Catholic
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Another light bulb joke
How many vampires does it take to screw in a light bulb?
None, they like to work in the dark.
None, they like to work in the dark.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Three New Blogs Listed
I have added three new blogs/websites to my list.
"The Paranormal Pastor," a blog in which a Christian minister examines the occult and paranormal phenomena.
http://theparanormalpastor.blogspot.com/
The Allison Lynn Blog, in which a professional musician talks about her life and events in her career.
http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/
The Chef Whitt Website, where E.M. Whittington posts articles about food and religion.
http://www.chefwhitt.com
"The Paranormal Pastor," a blog in which a Christian minister examines the occult and paranormal phenomena.
http://theparanormalpastor.blogspot.com/
The Allison Lynn Blog, in which a professional musician talks about her life and events in her career.
http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/
The Chef Whitt Website, where E.M. Whittington posts articles about food and religion.
http://www.chefwhitt.com
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Recipes from Biblical Times
Chef Whitt (E.M. Whittington) presents "Recipes from Biblical Times." He speaks of a Persian banquet related in the book of Esther which lasted 100 days! The recipes he lists on this page are: Lamb Stew with Figs and Wine; Raisin Cake; Rose Apple Salad; Barley Cakes; Date Syrup; Broiled Fish with Honeycomb; Whole Baked Onions; Chicken Braised with Spinach and Prunes.
http://www.chefwhitt.com/index_files/Page706.htm
http://www.chefwhitt.com/index_files/Page706.htm
Monday, April 26, 2010
Be Careful Interpreting Biblical Facts
Some modern scholars have decided that Paul didn't write all the books normally attributed to him. For a discussion of this you should read What Paul Meant by Garry Wills. I personally am not convinced by his arguments.
The question of whether or not Paul wrote Hebrews is a different matter. I don't think he did. He always put his name into his letters as a way to stress the teaching authority of his letters, but no name is attached to "To the Hebrews.(ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ)"
The book reads as a scholarly and well-written, logically constructed essay; Paul's letters read like they were poured out of the intellectual volcano that was Paul. He was, after all a Pharisee, and his letters sound like a preacher speaking extemporaneously, throwing out question after question, piling paradoxes on top of one another, sometimes sarcastically insulting his opponents, sometimes sounding gentle and fatherly. Just when he seems like he may go too far, he pulls back and asks "does this mean?" questions. His repeated answer; "God forbid!"
One of the arguments used to decide that Paul didn't write Hebrews is the fact that the book uses 112 Greek words that are not found anywhere else in the New Testament.
Moses Stuart (1780-1852), an attorney, pastor, and linguist (Hebrew, Syriac, Greek, and German) countered this argument with the fact that everyone agrees that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians yet it contains 230 words found nowhere else in Paul. In other words, the unusual words in Hebrews probably prove nothing about its authorship.
The non-Pauline author most commonly mentioned for Hebrews is Apollos (Acts 18:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:4-6, 16:12, Titus 3:13). The fact that no writer's name is placed on the book has led some to think it may have been written by a woman.
The question of whether or not Paul wrote Hebrews is a different matter. I don't think he did. He always put his name into his letters as a way to stress the teaching authority of his letters, but no name is attached to "To the Hebrews.(ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ)"
The book reads as a scholarly and well-written, logically constructed essay; Paul's letters read like they were poured out of the intellectual volcano that was Paul. He was, after all a Pharisee, and his letters sound like a preacher speaking extemporaneously, throwing out question after question, piling paradoxes on top of one another, sometimes sarcastically insulting his opponents, sometimes sounding gentle and fatherly. Just when he seems like he may go too far, he pulls back and asks "does this mean?" questions. His repeated answer; "God forbid!"
One of the arguments used to decide that Paul didn't write Hebrews is the fact that the book uses 112 Greek words that are not found anywhere else in the New Testament.
Moses Stuart (1780-1852), an attorney, pastor, and linguist (Hebrew, Syriac, Greek, and German) countered this argument with the fact that everyone agrees that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians yet it contains 230 words found nowhere else in Paul. In other words, the unusual words in Hebrews probably prove nothing about its authorship.
The non-Pauline author most commonly mentioned for Hebrews is Apollos (Acts 18:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:4-6, 16:12, Titus 3:13). The fact that no writer's name is placed on the book has led some to think it may have been written by a woman.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
About This Blog
κηρυσσων την βασιλειαν του θεου και διδασκων τα περι του κυριου ιησου χριστου μετα πασης παρρησιας ακωλυτως. This is a themed blog based on the idea that Christians should be, and are, in every nook and cranny and that they should, and do, excel in every field. Comments on films, current events, doctrinal questions, ethics, science, humor, etc. are welcomed. Readers are encouraged to comment on any post and to suggest new topics for discussion.
There are three pages on this site:
1. The main blog page. The blogs can be about any subject; nothing is off limits.
2. My bibliography. By me and about me.
3. The About This Blog page. The one you're reading now.
Recurrent segments include:
Book Comment: Comments on books about Christianity, religion, philosophy, ethics, history, scholarship, Bible study, Christian writing, children's books, publishing, pastoring, etc.
Christians: Mini biographical listings of persons from any period of history who have, at some time in their lives, been identified as Christians. You may be surprised to see some of these people listed here.
Female Images of God: Obviously, if you think about it, God is not male or female. He is both and more. The gender identification of God was given to us so we would have a point of reference from which to understand Him as a Person (He is obviously not an "it.") It may surprise you that the Bible often presents God with female imagery.
Film Comment: Many films address issues of religious and/or philosophical import. Some may provide insights for Christians which were possibly not part of the original intent of the film's director.
Interesting Websites: Websites which present interesting or eccentric points of view; websites of Christian oriented groups; etc.
Messianic Prophecies from the Bible: Christians believe that many Old Testament (TANAKH) passages speak about the Messiah Jesus.
Religious Humor: Contrary to what many people think, Christians are not without humor. Look up Rev, Grady Nutt.
Religious Place Names: The religious origins of some place names may not be immediately obvious.
Trivia: Obscure facts about Christianity, the Bible, religion, etc. Some really are trivial, some, not so much.
What Does It Mean?: Many passages in the Bible need a little explaining to make sense to modern readers because they must be understood in the historical and religious context in which they were written. Remember that they made perfect sense to their original readers/hearers.
There are three pages on this site:
1. The main blog page. The blogs can be about any subject; nothing is off limits.
2. My bibliography. By me and about me.
3. The About This Blog page. The one you're reading now.
Recurrent segments include:
Book Comment: Comments on books about Christianity, religion, philosophy, ethics, history, scholarship, Bible study, Christian writing, children's books, publishing, pastoring, etc.
Christians: Mini biographical listings of persons from any period of history who have, at some time in their lives, been identified as Christians. You may be surprised to see some of these people listed here.
Female Images of God: Obviously, if you think about it, God is not male or female. He is both and more. The gender identification of God was given to us so we would have a point of reference from which to understand Him as a Person (He is obviously not an "it.") It may surprise you that the Bible often presents God with female imagery.
Film Comment: Many films address issues of religious and/or philosophical import. Some may provide insights for Christians which were possibly not part of the original intent of the film's director.
Interesting Websites: Websites which present interesting or eccentric points of view; websites of Christian oriented groups; etc.
Messianic Prophecies from the Bible: Christians believe that many Old Testament (TANAKH) passages speak about the Messiah Jesus.
Religious Humor: Contrary to what many people think, Christians are not without humor. Look up Rev, Grady Nutt.
Religious Place Names: The religious origins of some place names may not be immediately obvious.
Trivia: Obscure facts about Christianity, the Bible, religion, etc. Some really are trivial, some, not so much.
What Does It Mean?: Many passages in the Bible need a little explaining to make sense to modern readers because they must be understood in the historical and religious context in which they were written. Remember that they made perfect sense to their original readers/hearers.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Religious Place Names
Pernik, Bulgaria: From “Perun,” the name of a Slavic god, plus “nik,” a Slavic suffix carrying the idea of “associated with.”
Kilkeel, Northern Ireland: The Irish name of this town is Cill Chaoil, meaning “church of the narrow place.”
Omagh, Northern Ireland: This is An Omaigh, Irish for “sacred plain.”
Picket Wire, Arizona: This is an English language corruption of “purgatoire,” the French word for Purgatory.
Christmas, Arizona: From the Greek verb, “chriein,” which means “to anoint.”
Kilkeel, Northern Ireland: The Irish name of this town is Cill Chaoil, meaning “church of the narrow place.”
Omagh, Northern Ireland: This is An Omaigh, Irish for “sacred plain.”
Picket Wire, Arizona: This is an English language corruption of “purgatoire,” the French word for Purgatory.
Christmas, Arizona: From the Greek verb, “chriein,” which means “to anoint.”
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Bread of Life
"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating." Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) is considered to have been one of the greatesy operatic tenors of all time,with a strong booming voice which never missed a note. He was a large man who loved life, women, and food, a lot. His meals, especially, were legendary.
Gluttony is considered one of the great sins, but enjoyment of food is not gluttony. The idea of the sin of gluttony is eating (or any other activity) taken to an excessive level, especially when the activity is at the expense of others. It reduces back to The Great Sin; the deification of self.
The enjoyment of food, the study of food, and the appreciation of cooking as an art form are all acceptable to God as long as we remember that our real food comes from study of the Word of God, communion with His people, and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.
"Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works." Ecclesiastes 9:7
"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." John 4:34
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Messianic Prophecies from the Bible: He Will Be from Nazareth
"And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:23
This Messianic prophecy has no direct counterpart in the Old Testament (TANAKH) and has led some to say it reflects an error in Matthew and others to say that it is a reflection from a lost Jewish scripture. Probably, neither one of these views is correct.
The ancient Jews were zealous, even fierce, protectors of their holy books, and especially the Torah. Hand copies of the books were checked letter by letter for exactness. If any book failed to have the correct word total and letter total, it was discarded. If any one letter was not in the correct sequence, the entire book was discarded. There were no erasers and any corrections or smudges of the letters rendered the books unusable. Because the unusable books were still revered scripture, they were not destroyed, but were placed into sealed chambers (genizah: Hebrew for "hiding place") along with torn or soiled copies and books worn out by constant use. Needless to say, archeologists and biblical scholars jump with joy when one of these chambers is newly discovered.
Back to Matthew 2:23. Instead of a specific “proof text” Old Testament quotation, this verse probably connects the fact that the Nazarenes were held in contempt as unsophisticated country hicks (John 1:46; John 7:52) with the prophecies that the Messiah would be held in contempt (Psalm 22:6-8, 69:9-11, 19-21; Isaiah 53:2-4, 7-9).
This allusion would have been immediately obvious to Matthew’s Jewish readers, even the illiterate ones who had heard the scriptures read thousands of times. It is us modern readers, who don’t really know our Bibles, who have to dig it out. Dinesh D'Souza had it right when he said, "...we live in a religiously illiterate society..."
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Film Comment: The Red Balloon
One day as he's walking down one of the old and empty streets of Montmartre, a little boy named Pascal sees a large shiny red balloon with its thick cord loosely wrapped around the top of a lamp post. being a boy, he shimmies up the pole to claim his prize and soon learns a secret. The balloon is alive.
The balloon follows Pascal around town and hovers outside his bedroom window after his mother throws it out of the house. Pascal secretly lets it into his room through his window.
The next day the balloon goes to school with Pascal and waits outside for him. The children of the town take a liking to the balloon, then some take a wanting to it, then some decide it would be fun to pop it. Pascal does his best to escape and to protect his treasure, but he fails and the balloon ends up as a shriveled pile of limp rubber in a bare field of rocks and dirt. Then something wonderful happens.
If you haven't seen The Red Balloon (Le ballon rouge, 1954), I won't ruin it for you. You need to see this wonderful classic children's film for yourself. (Yes, I know you're an adult. So what?) Many people will remember The Red Balloon from their childhood. Watch it again and recapture your childlike wonder and delight. Then watch it again and turn on your Christian adult eyes. This film has been described as a childhood fable of friendship, an allegory about love and loss, a minor trifling fantasy, and many other things.
The director of The Red Balloon, Albert Lamorisse (the real life father of the little boy Pascal, whose name means "Easter"), was a Roman Catholic and intentionally or not, he has filled the story with Christian symbolism.
The balloon knocks at Pascal's door; numerous friendly people (angels?) shelter Pascal and the balloon from the rain; the balloon causes discord within Pascal's family; the religious authorities do not respond favorably to the balloon; the children at first love the balloon and then want to kill it; after being killed, the balloon is resurrected and takes Pascal along with it.
Children often learn better from being shown than by being told. THis gentle film can be used to illustrate many Christian concepts in a visual manner which children will quickly grasp.
Albert Lamorisse appears to have never explained his intent with this film. He died not long after in a helicopter crash while making another film. He described The Red Balloon simply as a children's story.
I think old Albert knew exactly what he was doing.
The balloon follows Pascal around town and hovers outside his bedroom window after his mother throws it out of the house. Pascal secretly lets it into his room through his window.
The next day the balloon goes to school with Pascal and waits outside for him. The children of the town take a liking to the balloon, then some take a wanting to it, then some decide it would be fun to pop it. Pascal does his best to escape and to protect his treasure, but he fails and the balloon ends up as a shriveled pile of limp rubber in a bare field of rocks and dirt. Then something wonderful happens.
If you haven't seen The Red Balloon (Le ballon rouge, 1954), I won't ruin it for you. You need to see this wonderful classic children's film for yourself. (Yes, I know you're an adult. So what?) Many people will remember The Red Balloon from their childhood. Watch it again and recapture your childlike wonder and delight. Then watch it again and turn on your Christian adult eyes. This film has been described as a childhood fable of friendship, an allegory about love and loss, a minor trifling fantasy, and many other things.
The director of The Red Balloon, Albert Lamorisse (the real life father of the little boy Pascal, whose name means "Easter"), was a Roman Catholic and intentionally or not, he has filled the story with Christian symbolism.
The balloon knocks at Pascal's door; numerous friendly people (angels?) shelter Pascal and the balloon from the rain; the balloon causes discord within Pascal's family; the religious authorities do not respond favorably to the balloon; the children at first love the balloon and then want to kill it; after being killed, the balloon is resurrected and takes Pascal along with it.
Children often learn better from being shown than by being told. THis gentle film can be used to illustrate many Christian concepts in a visual manner which children will quickly grasp.
Albert Lamorisse appears to have never explained his intent with this film. He died not long after in a helicopter crash while making another film. He described The Red Balloon simply as a children's story.
I think old Albert knew exactly what he was doing.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
New blog added to list
I have added another blog to my blog list. Atypical Pastor's Wife.
http://atypicalpastorswife.blogspot.com/
Check out the excellent post, "Not Worth Nothin.'"
http://atypicalpastorswife.blogspot.com/
Check out the excellent post, "Not Worth Nothin.'"
Monday, April 19, 2010
Why Jesus Came
"Jesus came to raise the dead. He did not come to teach the teachable; He did not come to improve the improvable; He did not come to reform the reformable. None of those things works." –Robert Farrar Capon
"But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. " Matthew 9: 12-13
Sunday, April 18, 2010
New blog added to the list
Still Yelling ..., by Matt Stokes, is the newest blog I have added to the list of blogs and websites I check regularly. The address is http://yellingstop.wordpress.com/
Check out the Freshman Girl Syndrome in the post, "Thoughts on Tiger Woods." It puts a somewhat humorous name to a situation we've all seen before.
Check out the Freshman Girl Syndrome in the post, "Thoughts on Tiger Woods." It puts a somewhat humorous name to a situation we've all seen before.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Station No. 7
It's not often that a ten year old can stir up international controversy but Jackson Potts of Houston, Texas managed to do it this Easter with his photograph "Station No. 7." It is a photograph depicting a crowd approving of a police officer beating a small boy with his night stick. The photographer was Jackson Potts, now 11, who explained the photograph's symbolism as follows: the child is jesus, who was totally innocent; the policeman represents the centurion who beat Him when He fell, the man was "just doing his job;" the crowd on onlookers represent those who stood by approvingly or those who watched and said nothing; and the little girl in the blue dress represents Jesus' followers who were appalled by what they were seeing.
The photograph was commissioned by Xnihilo Gallery, a Christian art gallery in Houston which shares its space with the Ecclesia Church, as part of it's annual Stations of the Cross Exhibit. When they saw it, the controversy erupted.
Some believed that Jackson's father did the photograph but the main objection was that many on the board were "afraid it would not protect the impressionable minds of young children." Some wanted the photograph banned but the final decision was to exhibit the photograph only on the opening night of the exhibit and to place it behind a curtain with a parental warning placard.
What???? Christians hiding Jesus being a curtain? What weenies some of us have become. Realize what the world thinks of us.
"Piss Christ" is a 1987 photograph of a small plastic crucifix floating in a glass of the photographer's urine. It was an award winner and was sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, an agency of the United States government.
"The Holy Virgin Mary," a collage by Chris Ofili (1996) uses a paiting of Mary based on primitive African art and splattered with elephant feces. It is defended as art by many critics and art professors.
Those are supposed to be OK but a reverent symbolical treatment of an event in Jesus' life is not. Children are supposed to begin mandatory sex education including the subject of "alternate lifestyles" in elementary school, but they may be frightened by the truth of what the world did to Jesus. Using the arguments of the secularists, we should expose our children to scriptural teachings, even the harsh things, as they become able to understand. If they are not yet ready, we should exercise parental responsibility just as the secularists tell us. But we should not hide or dilute the truth. The first Christians never hid from the truth and neither should we.
"A new image and new lessons," http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6911097.html
Busttillo, Miguel, "A (Very) Young Artist Makes Waves," The Wall Street Journal,3-4 April, 2010, p. W9.
"Dung-covered Madonna sparks controversy: Art professor Michael Davis takes a look," College Street Journal, http://www.mtholyoke,edu/offices/comm/csj/991008/madonna.html
http://Jacksonstation.blogspot.com/
Mercer, Ilana, "Dung and other offal at the gallery," http://www.ilanamercer.com/phprunner/public_article_list_view.php?editid1=269
"Piss Christ," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ
The photograph was commissioned by Xnihilo Gallery, a Christian art gallery in Houston which shares its space with the Ecclesia Church, as part of it's annual Stations of the Cross Exhibit. When they saw it, the controversy erupted.
Some believed that Jackson's father did the photograph but the main objection was that many on the board were "afraid it would not protect the impressionable minds of young children." Some wanted the photograph banned but the final decision was to exhibit the photograph only on the opening night of the exhibit and to place it behind a curtain with a parental warning placard.
What???? Christians hiding Jesus being a curtain? What weenies some of us have become. Realize what the world thinks of us.
"Piss Christ" is a 1987 photograph of a small plastic crucifix floating in a glass of the photographer's urine. It was an award winner and was sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, an agency of the United States government.
"The Holy Virgin Mary," a collage by Chris Ofili (1996) uses a paiting of Mary based on primitive African art and splattered with elephant feces. It is defended as art by many critics and art professors.
Those are supposed to be OK but a reverent symbolical treatment of an event in Jesus' life is not. Children are supposed to begin mandatory sex education including the subject of "alternate lifestyles" in elementary school, but they may be frightened by the truth of what the world did to Jesus. Using the arguments of the secularists, we should expose our children to scriptural teachings, even the harsh things, as they become able to understand. If they are not yet ready, we should exercise parental responsibility just as the secularists tell us. But we should not hide or dilute the truth. The first Christians never hid from the truth and neither should we.
"A new image and new lessons," http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6911097.html
Busttillo, Miguel, "A (Very) Young Artist Makes Waves," The Wall Street Journal,3-4 April, 2010, p. W9.
"Dung-covered Madonna sparks controversy: Art professor Michael Davis takes a look," College Street Journal, http://www.mtholyoke,edu/offices/comm/csj/991008/madonna.html
http://Jacksonstation.blogspot.com/
Mercer, Ilana, "Dung and other offal at the gallery," http://www.ilanamercer.com/phprunner/public_article_list_view.php?editid1=269
"Piss Christ," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Christian Film Database
If you're, like me, a film enthusiast, you're probably already aware of the International Film Database (www.imdb.com). You can find at least some information on virtually any movie ever made (except for porn; there are separate databases for that, but we won't go there.) If you're interested in a 1925 Japanese film, or one of comedian Eddie Deezen's films, it's probably listed in the IMDB.
Now, there is a database being created for Christian films named, appropriately enough, The Christian Film Database. (http://www.christianfilmdatabase.com/) "We don't sell films, we help you find them." The site makes the listed films available through a film rental program (similar to Netflix) for $7.99 per month.
The non-denominational site features Search functions and categories such as Coming Soon, Films in Theaters, Film Trailers, Browse, etc. The film categories may not be as conservative as would please the most traditional viewers but they all address issues which are currently being discussed in the Church. As the Church, we should be able to address and discuss any issue; we don't do the cause of Christ any favor by pretending the issues don't exist.
Now, there is a database being created for Christian films named, appropriately enough, The Christian Film Database. (http://www.christianfilmdatabase.com/) "We don't sell films, we help you find them." The site makes the listed films available through a film rental program (similar to Netflix) for $7.99 per month.
The non-denominational site features Search functions and categories such as Coming Soon, Films in Theaters, Film Trailers, Browse, etc. The film categories may not be as conservative as would please the most traditional viewers but they all address issues which are currently being discussed in the Church. As the Church, we should be able to address and discuss any issue; we don't do the cause of Christ any favor by pretending the issues don't exist.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Christians
At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian. Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, their religious beliefs, or their actions. This is a recurring segment in this blog.
Richard Crankathorpe: (b. 1567, England - d. 1624) Calvinist Anglican churchman. Apologist, writer on metaphysics and logic.
Liezel van der Merwe: (fl. 2009) Managing editor of the Afrikaans language Christian sex magazine, Intiem (Intimacy).
Isaac Shelby (b. 1750, Maryland – d. 1826) First and fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Veteran of the War of 1812. Presbyterian.
Leo Allatius: (b. 1587/1588, Greece – d. 1669)
Ivan Timofeevitch Voronaev: (b. 1885, United States – d. ca 1929) Voronaev introduced pentacostalism into Russia and established over 350 churches in Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, and the United States. He was eventually arrested by the Soviet police and is believed to have died in a prison in Siberia. He was therefore a martyr.
Richard Crankathorpe: (b. 1567, England - d. 1624) Calvinist Anglican churchman. Apologist, writer on metaphysics and logic.
Liezel van der Merwe: (fl. 2009) Managing editor of the Afrikaans language Christian sex magazine, Intiem (Intimacy).
Isaac Shelby (b. 1750, Maryland – d. 1826) First and fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Veteran of the War of 1812. Presbyterian.
Leo Allatius: (b. 1587/1588, Greece – d. 1669)
Ivan Timofeevitch Voronaev: (b. 1885, United States – d. ca 1929) Voronaev introduced pentacostalism into Russia and established over 350 churches in Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, and the United States. He was eventually arrested by the Soviet police and is believed to have died in a prison in Siberia. He was therefore a martyr.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Film Comment: Island of Lost Souls
Island of Lost Souls (1933) is a truly perverse film and was recognized as perverse almost as soon as it was released. On Dr. Moreau's island there are some "strange looking natives."
The hyper-talented Charles Laughton portrays Dr, Moreau, who has created a tribe of animal-men who worship him as their God. He rules his subjects with an iron hand, always with the threat of returning them to The House of Pain, where he performed brutal unanesthetized surgeries on the island's animals to transform them into "men." He has deputized the Sayer of the Law (Bela Lugosi) to remind his "men" of the three laws: "Not to run on all fours. Not to eat meat. Not to spill blood."
This was bad enough, but then the real fun starts: Moreau attempts to spark a love match between a shipwrecked man and one of his "girls" named Lota (the beautiful Kathleen Burke), who began her existence as a panther.
This film was more than controversial. Remember that this was 1933. The film hints at brutality, sadism, animal abuse, torture, human-animal sexuality, unprincipled science run amok, and a man who has basically made himself into God the Creator. Add to this the fact that Laughton clearly portrays Moreau as a soft, self-pampering homosexual.
Moreau's world begins to fall apart when his subjects ask the question, "Are we not men?"
The hyper-talented Charles Laughton portrays Dr, Moreau, who has created a tribe of animal-men who worship him as their God. He rules his subjects with an iron hand, always with the threat of returning them to The House of Pain, where he performed brutal unanesthetized surgeries on the island's animals to transform them into "men." He has deputized the Sayer of the Law (Bela Lugosi) to remind his "men" of the three laws: "Not to run on all fours. Not to eat meat. Not to spill blood."
This was bad enough, but then the real fun starts: Moreau attempts to spark a love match between a shipwrecked man and one of his "girls" named Lota (the beautiful Kathleen Burke), who began her existence as a panther.
This film was more than controversial. Remember that this was 1933. The film hints at brutality, sadism, animal abuse, torture, human-animal sexuality, unprincipled science run amok, and a man who has basically made himself into God the Creator. Add to this the fact that Laughton clearly portrays Moreau as a soft, self-pampering homosexual.
Moreau's world begins to fall apart when his subjects ask the question, "Are we not men?"
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Another light bulb joke
How many Amish men does it take to screw in a light bulb?
None, they don't own a light bulb.
None, they don't own a light bulb.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Other Sheep
There are multiple suggestions floating around as to the identity of the "other sheep" mentioned in John 10:16.
1. The other sheep are the Gentiles who will be grafted into the Vine.
2. Some, who deny the exclusivity of Christianity, say that the other sheep are righteous followers of other religions.
3. Reverend Jeremiah Wright of Chicago has implied that the "other sheep" are Muslims.
4. The possibility exists that the reference is to extraterrestrial life forms.
5. The Mormons say that the "other sheep" are the descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, ie: polynesians, Native Americans, etc,)
6. The Jehovah's Witnesses declare the "other sheep" to be an earthly class of Christians numbering 144,000.
7. Other Sheep is an ecumenical organization which advocates for the inclusion in the Church of LGBT people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual).
Answer number 1 is the traditional and most likely meaning of the reference.
"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd"John 10:16
1. The other sheep are the Gentiles who will be grafted into the Vine.
2. Some, who deny the exclusivity of Christianity, say that the other sheep are righteous followers of other religions.
3. Reverend Jeremiah Wright of Chicago has implied that the "other sheep" are Muslims.
4. The possibility exists that the reference is to extraterrestrial life forms.
5. The Mormons say that the "other sheep" are the descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, ie: polynesians, Native Americans, etc,)
6. The Jehovah's Witnesses declare the "other sheep" to be an earthly class of Christians numbering 144,000.
7. Other Sheep is an ecumenical organization which advocates for the inclusion in the Church of LGBT people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual).
Answer number 1 is the traditional and most likely meaning of the reference.
"Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." Ephesians 2: 11-18.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Man in a Loud Voice
"...one cannot speak of God by speaking of man in a loud voice."
Karl Barth (1886-1968)
Saturday, April 10, 2010
What We Can Learn from Wolfgang Mozart
There is a 2008 documentary about the electric guitar entitled It Might Get Loud. It often does inside my car.
Today, I was driving up US Highway 31 to get supper at Habaneros and playing "Why" by Joe Satriani, loud. The thought came to me that "Mozart would love this." To those unfamiliar with the composer, put it this way: he was all music all the time. Sure, many thought he was silly and immature; some were probably jealous of him (the movie, Amadeus, certainly declares that Antonio Salieri was; and he had absolutely no money sense (today he would be a multi-billionaire anyway with Oscars for his numerous big-budget film scores).
Mozart is universally recognized as one of the top five composers in history. He was everywhere, composing in every musical style and for every instrument known to his culture (so there were no Mozart compositions for the sitar, the samisen, the huaca, or the didgeridoo). Think what he could have done with a Moog Synthesizer, a theremin, a set of electric drums, or a tricked out Fender electric guitar! I think he would have loved Swing, Jazz, Country, Heavy Metal, and even, shudder, Rap.
We can't all be geniuses like Old Wolfgang (actually he died young) but I think that Christians could learn something from him, at least in his attitude about what was most important to him. He was obsessive about music from the time he was a small child, playing the piano, violin, clavier, and organ and writing symphonies, chamber music, church music, masses, sonatas, concertos, operas; in total, over 600 works. If we studied our Bibles as hard or worked at our callings or ministries, the things we say we love, with as much vigor and determination as Mozart gave to his, just imagine what we could do.
Today, I was driving up US Highway 31 to get supper at Habaneros and playing "Why" by Joe Satriani, loud. The thought came to me that "Mozart would love this." To those unfamiliar with the composer, put it this way: he was all music all the time. Sure, many thought he was silly and immature; some were probably jealous of him (the movie, Amadeus, certainly declares that Antonio Salieri was; and he had absolutely no money sense (today he would be a multi-billionaire anyway with Oscars for his numerous big-budget film scores).
Mozart is universally recognized as one of the top five composers in history. He was everywhere, composing in every musical style and for every instrument known to his culture (so there were no Mozart compositions for the sitar, the samisen, the huaca, or the didgeridoo). Think what he could have done with a Moog Synthesizer, a theremin, a set of electric drums, or a tricked out Fender electric guitar! I think he would have loved Swing, Jazz, Country, Heavy Metal, and even, shudder, Rap.
We can't all be geniuses like Old Wolfgang (actually he died young) but I think that Christians could learn something from him, at least in his attitude about what was most important to him. He was obsessive about music from the time he was a small child, playing the piano, violin, clavier, and organ and writing symphonies, chamber music, church music, masses, sonatas, concertos, operas; in total, over 600 works. If we studied our Bibles as hard or worked at our callings or ministries, the things we say we love, with as much vigor and determination as Mozart gave to his, just imagine what we could do.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Christians
At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian. Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, their religious beliefs, or their actions. This is a recurring segment in this blog.
Shenouda the Archimandrite: (b. 348, Egypt – d. 466) , aka: Shenoute of Atripe) Anti-Nestorian Coptic Orthodox saint, nephew of Saint Pigol. When he succeeded his uncle as head of the White Monastery there were 30 monks. At Shenouda’s death in 466, there were 2200 monks and 1800 nuns. The monks were employed in their former occupations and the monastery became self-sufficient.
Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev: (b. 1874, Russia – d. 1948) Christian existentialist. He said that freedom ultimately comes from God and that “the Kingdom of God is anarchy.” He didn’t mean that the way it sounds,; he was strongly opposed to autocratic government, whether czarist or communist.
Aristide Pierre Maurin: (b. 1877, France – d. 1949, aka: Peter Maurin) He was a social activist and the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. He advocated small agricultural communities, saying “there is no unemployment on the land.” He was one of 24 children.
Joel Franklin Mann: (b. 1953, Alabama, USA) Medical technologist, writer, blogger. Member of the clinical faculty of the Jefferson State Community College and of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Jacques Ellul: (b. 1912, France – d. 1994) philosopher, law professor, sociologist, lay theologian, Christian anarchist (he held that absolute allegiance to Christ renders all other laws irrelevant). He believed that modern technology threatened human freedom and Christian faith and took a strongly anti-political stance. A leader of the French Resistance during World War II, he was awarded the title Righteous among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1981. He wrote 58 books and over 1000 articles.
Shenouda the Archimandrite: (b. 348, Egypt – d. 466) , aka: Shenoute of Atripe) Anti-Nestorian Coptic Orthodox saint, nephew of Saint Pigol. When he succeeded his uncle as head of the White Monastery there were 30 monks. At Shenouda’s death in 466, there were 2200 monks and 1800 nuns. The monks were employed in their former occupations and the monastery became self-sufficient.
Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev: (b. 1874, Russia – d. 1948) Christian existentialist. He said that freedom ultimately comes from God and that “the Kingdom of God is anarchy.” He didn’t mean that the way it sounds,; he was strongly opposed to autocratic government, whether czarist or communist.
Aristide Pierre Maurin: (b. 1877, France – d. 1949, aka: Peter Maurin) He was a social activist and the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. He advocated small agricultural communities, saying “there is no unemployment on the land.” He was one of 24 children.
Joel Franklin Mann: (b. 1953, Alabama, USA) Medical technologist, writer, blogger. Member of the clinical faculty of the Jefferson State Community College and of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Jacques Ellul: (b. 1912, France – d. 1994) philosopher, law professor, sociologist, lay theologian, Christian anarchist (he held that absolute allegiance to Christ renders all other laws irrelevant). He believed that modern technology threatened human freedom and Christian faith and took a strongly anti-political stance. A leader of the French Resistance during World War II, he was awarded the title Righteous among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1981. He wrote 58 books and over 1000 articles.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Book Comment: Choosing a Bible ...
"Father of-us who in the heavens, be holy the name of-you; come the kingdom of-you; become the will of-you in heaven and upon earth; the bread of-us the necessary give to-us today; and remit to-us the debts of-us, as also we remit the indebted-ones of-us; and notbring-in us into trial, but deliver us from the evil." Matthew 6:9-13.
This literal word-for-word translation of the text made perfect sense and sounded normal in ancient Greek. The task of translation is to make sense of it to modern readers. It's not as simple as it sounds. Does the translator stress the meaning or the actual words? The way it should sound to modern readers or the way it sounded to its original audience? The original word order or something that reads easier to modern ears? Difficult or obscure ancient idioms or a modern paraphrase? Should a translation ever be made from a specific denominational point of view?
Choosing a Bible For Worship, Teaching, Study, Preaching, and Prayer, by Donald Kraus, examines all these issues and many others. One person saw me reading this book and, screwing up their nose, asked, "Why?????????" Kraus answers that chefs use different knives for different purposes; the Bible translation you use is a tool which depends on the specific aim of your study: understanding, devotion, as a teaching tool, for historical research, preaching, etc.
The Bible translations discussed are The Five Books of Moses by Robert Alter, the Five Books of Moses by Everett Fox, the American Standard Version, the Contemporary English Version, the Douay-Rheims Bible, the English Standard Version, Good News for Modern Man, the Holman Christian Standard Bible, the Jerusalem Bible, the New Jerusalem Bible, the King James Version, the Holy Bible by Ronald Knox, The Message, the Bible by James Moffatt, the New American Bible, the New American Standard Bible, the New Century Version, the New English Bible, the Revised English Bible, the New English Translation, the New International Version, the New Jewish Publication Society Translation "Tanakh," the New King James Version, the New Lliving Translation, the New Revised Standard Version, the New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, Today's English Version, and Today's New International Version.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Not True
"Baptists are only funny under water." Neil Simon.
We do, in some quarters have a reputation for being dour. When I was a child many Baptists I knew didn't watch television or movies, didn't smoke or drink, didn't dance, didn't play cards, didn't gamble. It was a long list. Some of these proscriptions are gone, some need to come back. It's not true that we're only funny under water. See below.
Why don't Baptists have sex standing up?
Someone might think we were dancing.
We do, in some quarters have a reputation for being dour. When I was a child many Baptists I knew didn't watch television or movies, didn't smoke or drink, didn't dance, didn't play cards, didn't gamble. It was a long list. Some of these proscriptions are gone, some need to come back. It's not true that we're only funny under water. See below.
Why don't Baptists have sex standing up?
Someone might think we were dancing.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sermons
"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. " George Burns
Monday, April 5, 2010
At Least Enjoy It
Leo Rosten (b. 1908, Poland - d. 1997, NY) said, "If you are going to do something wrong, at least enjoy it."
Now, Leo's dead, so we can't ask him, but I suspect that he was talking about taking ownership of your actions, ie: personal responsibility. Too many people today want to always blame someone or something else for everything that happens to them. I'm this way because he did or didn't do that. I couldn't do that because of racism. My life is ruined because they wouldn't let me do what I wanted. I had to shoot him because he disrespected me.
There are, sadly, some situations (war, disasters, dysfunctional families where others don't wish to change, etc) which truly are out of our control, but some situations and activities (ie: gambling, smoking, egoism, recreational drug use, pornography, alcohol consumption, excessive flirting, compulsive behaviors, alcohol consumption, overeating, obsessive volunteerism, obsession with a hobby or one's career to the point of neglecting family, etc) must be avoided because of their ability to ensnare us in unexpected ways which can escalate out of our control and from which it is difficult to extricate ourselves.
Now, Leo's dead, so we can't ask him, but I suspect that he was talking about taking ownership of your actions, ie: personal responsibility. Too many people today want to always blame someone or something else for everything that happens to them. I'm this way because he did or didn't do that. I couldn't do that because of racism. My life is ruined because they wouldn't let me do what I wanted. I had to shoot him because he disrespected me.
There are, sadly, some situations (war, disasters, dysfunctional families where others don't wish to change, etc) which truly are out of our control, but some situations and activities (ie: gambling, smoking, egoism, recreational drug use, pornography, alcohol consumption, excessive flirting, compulsive behaviors, alcohol consumption, overeating, obsessive volunteerism, obsession with a hobby or one's career to the point of neglecting family, etc) must be avoided because of their ability to ensnare us in unexpected ways which can escalate out of our control and from which it is difficult to extricate ourselves.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
He is Risen
The embalmed, unchanged, undecaying body of Vladimir Lenin (Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, b. 1870, Russia -d. 1924) has lain on display in the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow since his death in 1924. He has achieved a sort of immortality, but he's been dead since 1924 and he's still dead.
Anti-Anglican Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) wrote, in Auto-Icon: or, Farther uses of the dead to the living, a set of detailed instructions for the care and upkeep of his corpse and how it should be presented (seated in a chair). His presentation is a protest against the use of icons in religious ceremonies; an irreligious use of an icon ( a dead body) usually treated with respect and deference. His head did not respond well to the preservation process and was replaced with a wax one. His real, decaying head was placed on the floor between his feet. Jeremy's irreverence was rewarded when his head was frequently stolen, sometimes held for ransom, and once, was used at a soccer practice. His body is on display at University College London, the first college in England not affiliated with the Anglican Church.
Doubters to the contrary, it's a very old lie, Jesus does not lie in a grave. He rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. The Resurrection is the pivotal event in history. Old Vlad is just a footnote and old headless Jeremy sits in his chair..
Anti-Anglican Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) wrote, in Auto-Icon: or, Farther uses of the dead to the living, a set of detailed instructions for the care and upkeep of his corpse and how it should be presented (seated in a chair). His presentation is a protest against the use of icons in religious ceremonies; an irreligious use of an icon ( a dead body) usually treated with respect and deference. His head did not respond well to the preservation process and was replaced with a wax one. His real, decaying head was placed on the floor between his feet. Jeremy's irreverence was rewarded when his head was frequently stolen, sometimes held for ransom, and once, was used at a soccer practice. His body is on display at University College London, the first college in England not affiliated with the Anglican Church.
Doubters to the contrary, it's a very old lie, Jesus does not lie in a grave. He rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. The Resurrection is the pivotal event in history. Old Vlad is just a footnote and old headless Jeremy sits in his chair..
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Something to Think About: Render Unto Caesar
As tempers flare in the escalating confrontation between the Tea Party Movement and the Obama Administration, here is something to think about. "The Christian's Responsibility to Government."
http:www.biblebb.com/files/mac/sg45-97.htm
http:www.biblebb.com/files/mac/sg45-97.htm
Friday, April 2, 2010
Film Comment: Kike Like Me
"Kike" is an ethnic slur word directed against Jews. Most dictionaries say it's origin is unknown but Leo Rosten (1908-1997) in The Joys of Yiddish (1968) says that it arose on Ellis Island among the Jewish immigrants who who were registered there. Since many of the immigrants were illiterate, when they were asked to "make their mark" during the registration process they chose to draw a circle (Yiddish "kikel") rather than an "X" because they thought the "X" looked like a cross. The term became an affectionate word among the Yiddish immigrants and only later became a slur. (Much like the evolution of "guapo" into "wop.")
The title of Kike Like Me (2007) is a play on the title of the 1964 film, Black Like Me. Director Jamie Kastner sets out to examine the question, "What does it mean to be perceived as Jewish?"
Kastner travels to a Lubavitcher seminary in Brooklyn, conducts a failed interview with Pat Buchanan, visits an ethnically "tolerant" mixed suburb of Paris, and goes to see Auschwitz. Along the way he talks to Jews and non-Jews about being Jewish.
The documentary is at the same time humorous and uncomfortable, itchy even. Kastner becomes progressively more shocked and sarcastic. He is unable to complete his tour of Auschwitz, stopping before he sees the ovens. He is sickened that it has become a tacky tourist destination. It even has a gift shop.
Kastner becomes prickly about being asked if he is Jewish. He insinuates that to ask "Are you Jewish?" is anti-Semitic. He thinks it influences how people react to and treat others. The events in the film seem to show that it does.
There have been times when being asked if you were a Christian has been a dangerous question to answer. We should all consider what our answer would be if those times were to return for us.
The title of Kike Like Me (2007) is a play on the title of the 1964 film, Black Like Me. Director Jamie Kastner sets out to examine the question, "What does it mean to be perceived as Jewish?"
Kastner travels to a Lubavitcher seminary in Brooklyn, conducts a failed interview with Pat Buchanan, visits an ethnically "tolerant" mixed suburb of Paris, and goes to see Auschwitz. Along the way he talks to Jews and non-Jews about being Jewish.
The documentary is at the same time humorous and uncomfortable, itchy even. Kastner becomes progressively more shocked and sarcastic. He is unable to complete his tour of Auschwitz, stopping before he sees the ovens. He is sickened that it has become a tacky tourist destination. It even has a gift shop.
Kastner becomes prickly about being asked if he is Jewish. He insinuates that to ask "Are you Jewish?" is anti-Semitic. He thinks it influences how people react to and treat others. The events in the film seem to show that it does.
There have been times when being asked if you were a Christian has been a dangerous question to answer. We should all consider what our answer would be if those times were to return for us.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The First Three Words of the Bible
בראשית ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ
Bereishit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Bereishit (בראשית)in Hebrew means "at the head of." Since the first letter bet (ב) is closed on three sides, and since Hebrew is read right to left, the midrash Bereishit Rabbah 1:10 says that interpretation can only go in the open direction, ie. don't worry about what came before. The three middle letters are the same word as in Rosh Hahanah ("the head the year"), the beginning of the year. Bara (ברא) means "filled" or "fattened." Elohim (אלהים) is a name of God.
Some Christians see even more in these first three words of the Bible. The first letter of the sentence, bet ב, is the first letter of ben (son). The second letter of the sentence, resh ר, is the first letter of ruach (spirit, breath). The third letter of the sentence, alef א, is the first letter of abba (father) and of the third word, Elohim (אלהים). Father, Son, and Spirit, with the third word of the sentence being "God." Also, the name. Elohim אלהים, is a plural form and the first letter, א, in its simplest form consists of three strokes.
Bereishit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Bereishit (בראשית)in Hebrew means "at the head of." Since the first letter bet (ב) is closed on three sides, and since Hebrew is read right to left, the midrash Bereishit Rabbah 1:10 says that interpretation can only go in the open direction, ie. don't worry about what came before. The three middle letters are the same word as in Rosh Hahanah ("the head the year"), the beginning of the year. Bara (ברא) means "filled" or "fattened." Elohim (אלהים) is a name of God.
Some Christians see even more in these first three words of the Bible. The first letter of the sentence, bet ב, is the first letter of ben (son). The second letter of the sentence, resh ר, is the first letter of ruach (spirit, breath). The third letter of the sentence, alef א, is the first letter of abba (father) and of the third word, Elohim (אלהים). Father, Son, and Spirit, with the third word of the sentence being "God." Also, the name. Elohim אלהים, is a plural form and the first letter, א, in its simplest form consists of three strokes.
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