tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117232412011-11-17T15:48:28.518-06:00musings on Christian spirituality, philosophy and theologyChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.comBlogger3631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-27164872992021850142009-08-18T22:49:00.001-05:002009-08-18T22:51:41.580-05:00

"I wouldn't give a fig for the simplicity on this side of complexity; I would give my right arm for the simplicity on the far side of complexity."Oliver Wendell Holmes

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-51513667395027281732009-08-10T10:41:00.001-05:002009-08-10T10:41:06.720-05:00

Great video on what life is and isn't about. Simply and powerfully presented. Enjoy!

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-50586265221000185652009-08-02T19:47:00.004-05:002009-08-02T22:54:42.239-05:00

So there's this thing called a "dissertation" that I'm supposed to write for my PhD. If topics were geographical regions, then you could say that I've located the country in which I wish to write: the ethics of religious belief. So now where am I going? I thought I would simply spit out a few thoughts--things I have strong intuitions about--that might help me pinpoint the city in which I will

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-36897161017973215192009-07-24T12:16:00.003-05:002009-07-24T12:31:47.156-05:00

Tim Keller really has a way of putting things. Yesterday was a prime example.Have you ever talked to someone about the gospel only to hear them say (something like), "I don't have a problem with you believing in Jesus if it gives you peace and comfort. But you shouldn't go around trying to convert people!" In giving this sort of response, people think that they are being very tolerant and

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-19083333393443874622009-07-14T11:29:00.002-05:002009-07-14T11:52:21.348-05:00

Richard Feldman, in his essay, "Reasonable Religious Disagreement," comments that it is sheer nonsense to think that an atheist could not be a decent person or a good candidate for public office. He cites columnist Cal Thomas as an example of this kind of thinking, though he believes it is widespread throughout our culture.So if it is nonsense to doubt the moral fiber of a man simply because he

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-63998916416590149562009-03-16T21:13:00.003-05:002009-03-16T21:21:08.158-05:00

When is a person ready for Proverbs?According to the authors of Proverbs, you're ready as a young'n. That's the time to start steeping in them, even if you don't know what in the world they're talking about.But when are you really ready? For me, it's age 39. I'm finally at the point where I have to admit: I don't know what the #@*& I'm doing. That's when you cry out "Lord, I need wisdom!" So,

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-91939668516223219692008-11-11T22:48:00.001-06:002008-11-11T22:48:00.521-06:00

Hat Tip to Mike at Morality and the Good Life (http://arunningabout.blogspot.com/)

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-27894234782624647402008-11-08T14:44:00.004-06:002008-11-08T15:55:38.662-06:00

My son Will, a tornado of a four-year-old, frequently finds himself frustrated to the point of foot-stomping. He has trouble, let us say, "playing nicely with others." Now don't get me wrong -- Will is simultaneously the most adorable of our four children, which gets him a pass more often than he deserves.As a corrective, Kristin and I repeat our mantra to him in the midst of his rising tantrums:

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-8153752116342096362008-10-16T14:10:00.001-05:002008-10-16T14:11:35.066-05:00

A helpful set of links from my friend and fellow Christian philosopher Mike Austin.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-38954655376988318142008-10-15T19:28:00.003-05:002008-10-15T21:36:31.838-05:00

Momentarily feared I would choke because of intense laughter. Crying, no sound laughter.Why? Failblog.org. Here's a sample: failblog.org

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-53745672845173006632008-09-20T11:55:00.003-05:002008-09-20T12:08:56.157-05:00

I've often taken comfort, and sometimes guilt, from 1 Cor. 10:13. It's the "(for any temptation) God will provide a way of escape" passage. As a future-oriented promise, it gives me hope. But when I consider past failures in light of it, I think "you idiot! you could have escaped!" So, is this true? For the Christian, is it true that, for all past temptations, if I had simply availed myself

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-36926048445736165622008-09-11T10:06:00.002-05:002008-09-11T10:12:08.962-05:00

I read something recently about a practice called 'micro-blogging.' I thought I'd give it a try. Instead of explaining it, I'll just do it.I walked through campus this morning and was struck with the beauty of the flora and with God's hand in it all. I even tried my hand at a poem -- my first in quite a few years.After the taste of rainHas settled on petalsIn pink and yellowThere is

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-53311619637300032702008-08-26T10:01:00.002-05:002008-08-26T10:07:13.376-05:00

Having read Lewis' autobiography some years ago, I realized why I would never become the kind of scholar he was. (Shouldn't it have been obvious already?) This post by Fred Sanders, which includes a description by Lewis of his studies as a teenager, was like a nail in the coffin. So read no further unless you are looking for (1) an excuse for your own shotty intellect, (2) a good reason to be

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-63533921779646704432008-08-20T21:03:00.004-05:002008-08-20T22:12:04.749-05:00

Yes, I confess to holding back The Dark Knight from reaching it's full potential as a block-buster. But I finally joined rank and coughed up $6 (matinee price) today to see the arresting and adumbral flick (thanks Thesaurus.com).So many ideas, so, so many thoughts. Here's the question that struck me most: Why do we love dark heroes? There's been no shortage of them -- Dirty Harry, Lieutenant

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-64583499705665421682008-08-13T10:41:00.004-05:002008-08-13T11:10:57.366-05:00

Maybe this was obvious to everyone but me, but I think most of the talk about John 15:1-5 ignores God. Sound crazy? Here's the sort of thing I usually hear in discussion of John 15: our job (as branches) is to abide in the vine (Jesus), and he will produce fruit (love, justice, impact on people, etc.) through us; Jesus wants us to be fruitful and not useless branches. Then there is a good bit of

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-86785733515288234462008-08-01T11:21:00.000-05:002008-08-01T11:22:19.219-05:00

Just had to post this. I have no idea what they're saying. Someone let me know if the "lyrics" are not PG.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-16102559993347145192008-07-09T15:56:00.001-05:002008-07-09T15:56:03.752-05:00

This summer we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando during a "Star Wars Weekend." Phoebe and Clark participated in the "Jedi training academy" and even battled with Darth Vader. Unfortunately, my memory card announced that it was full just before Clark fought DV. I quickly switched cards and managed to get Phoebe's encounter on video. By the way, it was like 300 degrees out there.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-79631161294917397592008-07-08T00:19:00.003-05:002008-07-08T01:29:39.308-05:00

I've been musing on a simple way to characterize the three main views of how a person is "saved," where by 'saved' I mean saved from eternal damnation, as opposed to some temporal malady.First, let me talk briefly about necessary and sufficient conditions. A necessary condition for something (like an event) is a condition that is essential for that event to occur. Put another way, if the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-34548936333184120032008-05-25T23:53:00.003-05:002008-05-26T00:07:04.639-05:00

I don't quite know what causes inspiration. Whatever it is, I'm lacking it. I could talk about what I'm working on in philosophy, but I can't figure out how to translate it to a blog post yet. I'll be doing some traveling soon -- perhaps that's just what I need. For now, here's a thought from a recent meditation on John 15. . .I've wondered how many kinds of branches there are here. It seems

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-45481886943981271252008-05-19T17:52:00.003-05:002008-05-19T17:57:06.286-05:00

Try this survey/quiz to see how you do. I got 13/20 correct. I don't know if that's average or what. If the study is correct about the reasons why we can't always tell, I think it is very interesting. Takes about 5 min. Come back and let me know how you did!(Hat Tip: Evangelical Outpost)

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-12010381629946473352008-05-12T20:32:00.001-05:002008-05-12T20:32:39.580-05:00

Ever wondered what Ian McKellen's secret was in playing such a brillian Gandalf?

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-58701265840043248782008-05-09T18:27:00.004-05:002008-05-09T18:42:55.734-05:00

The semester will be over in a week. Grades will be in, papers will be complete. Then I hope to blog a little more.For now, here's a little zample (that's what my kids say) of what may come . . .Goodness and the Ability to Do OtherwiseSuppose Smith pops into existence as a full-grown adult. Smith is good. Really good. So, when Smith sees the homeless man (Jones) on the street, he can't help but

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-89824457987418932292008-05-08T23:34:00.001-05:002008-05-08T23:34:34.738-05:00

This is a legit awareness test! Try it out.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-33599308822795272702008-05-04T15:40:00.000-05:002008-05-04T15:59:06.856-05:00

"People who eat nuts in theaters do this most when the actors are bad."~ Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics, Book X, Chapter 5)

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-58524136611322881582008-05-01T09:18:00.003-05:002008-05-21T13:35:02.054-05:00

What is the Imago Dei? Perhaps one of my readers has done some good reading on the subject. Here are some candidates I can recall from past reading:(1) Reason(2) The ability to commune with God(3) Relationality (the ability to form meaningful relationships with others)(4) CreativityWhatever the imago is, does it follow that the goal for a human life ought to be the realization of it? That is, if

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-76704508831225655432008-04-27T17:54:00.005-05:002008-04-27T22:50:06.500-05:00

This post is a "musing" that is not so much a finely-crafted essay as it is an online journal entry. (Edited 10:47pm)I've sometimes bemoaned the fact that we evangelicals tend to over-emphasize externals when it comes to evaluating "ministry effectiveness." We want to know how many people have actually "prayed to receive Christ," how many attended the service/meeting, or how many have

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-6906865186315688972008-04-24T21:14:00.001-05:002008-04-24T22:29:29.352-05:00

Heard of "Sweding?" First go here to see a "sweded" version of Star Wars, then go here to find out about the origins of "sweding" in the movie Be Kind Rewind.To see some kung-fu soccer, go here.To see all the Oscar-nominated animated shorts, go here.Timewaster of the Week: Doeo (HT: Neatorama & Evangelical Outpost)

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-76029904322876376712008-04-22T01:18:00.005-05:002008-04-22T01:42:56.395-05:00

I went to see Ben Stein's film "Expelled" this past Friday night. I was surprised by the production quality and rhetorical power of the movie. I learned a bit, but came away a little disappointed and a little confused.I was confused because I just don't know what to make of "he said, she said" blabber that so typically permeates these debates. For instance, Richard Von Sternberg claims he lost

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-48535770585927094172008-04-19T15:07:00.003-05:002008-04-19T15:16:04.135-05:00

I used to love poetry. Then I became a Christian, and I somehow got the idea that poetry was a waste of time. I suppose it was the subtext in all those sermons that fuzzy thinking and oblique talk was devilish. Christians should talk in propositions, like an freshly-starched epistle. Poetry was for people who didn't know what the #&!! they believed.Coming full-circle never felt so good. I'm

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-2946484446657699072008-04-17T17:47:00.013-05:002008-04-17T20:23:11.102-05:00

Consider the following propositions:(1) We should always treat others justly.(2) We should always forgive others for their wrong-doings.(3) If we forgive someone, we do not treat them justly. Each of these propositions seems intuitively correct, but they also seem to form an inconsistent set. (1) and (3) entail the denial of (2); (2) and (3) entail the denial of (1). It seems we can only accept

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-50694323570920098522008-04-15T23:39:00.003-05:002008-04-16T00:01:36.495-05:00

A commonly held idea about moral responsibility is the Principle of Alternate Possibilities, which says that if an agent cannot do otherwise than X, then he is not morally responsible for doing X. An example might be a case where Smith is involuntarily pushed out of a helicopter and lands on Jones, killing him. Smith could not do anything to prevent his landing on Jones, and it seems clear that

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-10250613443788652862008-04-12T12:58:00.007-05:002008-04-12T21:49:12.660-05:00

Consider the following two statements:(A) All friendships are fueled solely by self-interest.(B) There are some frienships, virtuous friendships, which are motivated by a mutual desire to promote the interests of the other.(A) and (B) cannot both be true, can they?I think that (A) certainly has some intuitive pull. Let me give two reasons we might accept it. First, it seems true that all our

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-1157257517124194892008-04-10T23:18:00.002-05:002008-04-12T12:57:57.232-05:00

A great poem by Wendell Berry that should be read at least once a year.Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation FrontLove the quick profit, the annual raise,vacation with pay. Want moreof everything ready-made. Be afraidto know your neighbors and to die.And you will have a window in your head.Not even your future will be a mysteryany more. Your mind will be punched in a cardand shut away in a little

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-26531700947591416582008-04-04T21:06:00.005-05:002008-04-04T21:26:12.374-05:00

One of my favorite songs by U2 -- in part a tribute to MLK, Jr. To see the video, go here.One man come in the name of loveOne man come and goOne come he to justifyOne man to overthrow IIn the name of loveWhat more in the name of loveIn the name of loveWhat more in the name of loveOne man caught on a barbed wire fenceOne man he resistOne man washed on an empty beach.One man betrayed with a

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-42472746843826015752008-03-28T19:43:00.004-05:002008-03-28T19:52:01.987-05:00

In consideration of this prickly question, Bill Vallicella at Maverick Philosopher poses two preliminary questions:Q1. Given some agreed-upon moral code, are people who profess some version of theism more 'moral,' i.e., more likely to live in accordance with the agreed-upon code, than those who profess some version of atheism? Q2. Given some agreed-upon moral code, are atheists justified in

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-21897834799878332052008-03-26T10:20:00.002-05:002008-03-26T10:31:07.439-05:00

Here's my first ever attempt at a screen play. Inspired by the earlier post on the "worst sermon ever."[Scene 1: Small, store-front church; preacher railing on and on about the evils of something or other, saliva flying; citing crazy number theory as proof of his view, intermittently wiping brow with dingy hankerchief. *Camera work reminscent of a comedic, documentary-style like "The Office."]

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-57989227050983082382008-03-22T13:00:00.003-05:002008-03-22T13:09:42.348-05:00

Okay, I'm finally going to put this on my blog. It is an extremely well-produced animation/live video presentaion dealing with the effects of consumerism on the creation*. The propaganda is a little thick at times -- I wish they could have written this in an objective, scientific, and properly boring manner. But then again, who likes boring? I don't endorse the overall view of economics, but I

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-51646192186861453652008-03-21T10:51:00.003-05:002008-03-21T11:02:10.793-05:00

One of the most striking paintings we saw in the Vatican Museum a few years ago. A fitting image for contemplation today. The Entombment of Christ, Caravaggio (c. 1602)

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-3640036494498050812008-03-20T23:37:00.004-05:002008-03-21T09:40:13.906-05:00

Philosophers sometimes worry about the difference between intentional and unintentional actions. This matters because we don't want to hold people morally responsible for things they didn't intentionally do. For instance, when I bump the table causing my gun to fall to the floor, and it goes off and shoots you in the arse, I'm not (usually) morally responsible for that action. Why? Because it

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-66149040982266718692008-03-19T21:09:00.001-05:002008-03-20T23:33:54.263-05:00

Would you believe that Garfield (the comic strip) is funnier (that's not saying much) without the fat feline? Check it out here. I laughed out loud.HT: Evangelical Outpost

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-1142611529485117092008-03-17T09:59:00.001-05:002008-03-20T23:34:20.617-05:00

Most people know that Patrick brought the gospel to Ireland, but he is indirectly responsible for the preservation of western civilization, as well. When Rome fell, the monasteries he built in Ireland were the only repositories of the history, theology, and philosophy of the ancient world. The Dark Ages would have been permanent, had it not been for the diligent and persevering scholarship of

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-44764862107437787042008-03-13T21:10:00.001-05:002008-03-20T23:36:28.346-05:00

Here's a short, insightful post by theologian Fred Sanders that gives ol' Bill some much-needed theological vindication. I think what Sanders shows is what Bill and Augustine already knew: 'simple' is not always 'simplistic.'

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-30752833154853247952008-03-10T22:00:00.002-05:002008-03-20T23:36:08.308-05:00

"Who am I when no one's looking?" That question has haunted me for years, because I am often not at my best when beyond the gaze or knowledge of others. Can you relate?I'm starting to wonder, though, if this sentiment is just wrong-headed. When Bill Hybels penned this phrase in his book of the same name, he was obviously imagining a situation where no human is looking. But I am beginning to

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-37842444303256291322008-03-07T21:03:00.005-06:002008-03-20T23:36:46.056-05:00

This is why we need a bar exam for ministers. I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry or cuss. Forget the problem of evil -- how about the problem of bad sermons? To be fair, this is just the last few minutes of the message. I'm sure the first 20 minutes were rife with coherency, reason and displays of hermeneutical acumen.HT: A Thinker's Progress

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-54538779957980154852008-03-05T07:54:00.003-06:002008-03-05T08:04:48.349-06:00

I think the long version was a little overwhelming, so here's a shorter version.My view is that God does speak to us today. Here are a few ways that He does this:1. First, we see in the Bible cases where it appears that God spoke in an audible voice with human language. For instance, the prophen Habakkuk writes that "the LORD answered me and said, 'Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets .

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-81457638234473395122008-03-05T07:02:00.002-06:002008-03-20T23:37:06.924-05:00

We frequently hear Christians say things like, "God spoke to me" or "I sensed God saying to me . . ." or "I'm learning to hear God's voice" or "We need to listen to God." We often pray for an answer to a specific question, expecting that God will, in some way, give us a specific answer. Are these ways of talking based on bad theology?What would it mean for God to speak to me? In cases of human

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-79037130605352904512008-02-29T17:20:00.002-06:002008-02-29T17:23:17.955-06:00

I took the Scott McKnight hermeneutics quiz, and they told me I'm a progressive. I scored a 67 out of 100, and progressives fall between 66-100. Hmmm. Shoot me now.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-63841751502155660452008-02-26T14:28:00.002-06:002008-02-26T14:30:07.163-06:00

A well-written and educational post from J.P. Moreland.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-70437182049622222172008-02-19T18:23:00.011-06:002008-03-20T23:37:29.622-05:00

What is prayer? Simone Weil's definition is one of the more intriguing ones I've come across. I'll put it in a philosophical format. I'll call her definition the "Attention Thesis" (AT).(AT) A subject S is praying if and only if S's attention is oriented toward God.Is this an adequate definition? First let's get clear on an important term: attention. First, attention refers to an intentional

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-64680117193124990162008-02-17T22:32:00.000-06:002008-02-17T22:33:08.706-06:00

"I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: 'Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden'.'' --Augustine of Hippo

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-5558018081762025342008-02-16T10:18:00.000-06:002008-02-16T12:50:53.450-06:00

Unbelievable? Click the pic.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-55346105853392707252008-02-15T07:11:00.000-06:002008-02-15T14:59:16.709-06:00

Ted Kooser, former Poet Laureate of the United States, shares a sample of his Valentine's verse. I found them delightful and smile-inducing. You know you want to read them -- just look at the guy!

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-24707922619826996202008-02-13T21:54:00.002-06:002008-02-13T21:58:13.392-06:00

Here are a few recycled Valentine's posts, plus one bonus. Gotta stay green!Obsessive-compulsive? Try here.Love The Office? Go here.A Valentine to die for here.Like Google's holiday-themed graphics? Go here for all of them

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-51203952739641345332008-02-09T12:08:00.000-06:002008-02-09T12:59:26.406-06:00

I'm starting to think that my super-power is bringing together ideas that no one has connected before. Usually, if no one has ever brought together two ideas, there's probably a good reason. But at least part of the time I might have an original, and useful, combination. (With a power like this, maybe I could join the Mystery Men. What would my name be?)So, Aristotle makes a keen observation

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-70786810626153814852008-02-05T21:44:00.000-06:002008-02-06T00:09:20.730-06:00

Here's what I want to know: Did the events described in the Bible (such as Jacob wrestling with a "man" all night in Genesis 32) actually take place? In other words, could they have been recorded with a video camera?I've been engaged in some conversations recently that have had the effect of exhuming this troubling question. Is it possible that some narratives, such as the one in Gen. 32, might

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-17800071284881441352008-02-02T15:07:00.001-06:002008-02-02T15:07:18.303-06:00

We're reading Plato's Theatetus in my intro class. I thought this would provide some good historical background on Socrates.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-79621710698973664382008-01-30T22:15:00.000-06:002008-02-02T14:15:57.060-06:00

Fasting. You might as well suggest to people that they jab a sharp stick in their eye. "Here everyone, here's a stick -- now, ready, jab!" This is so unfortunate. In my case, I was pretty green in my Christianity when I first heard of fasting. I had no negative preconceptions, so I dove right in. This has proven to be a rewarding and life-altering practice for me, though I'm embarassed to say

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-11895021007412229682008-01-27T21:53:00.000-06:002008-01-27T22:24:15.225-06:00

Okay gang, I need your help on this one.I'm planning to rename and remodel my blog. I want the blog title to be more in tune with my calling and the way I imagine the blog's purpose.I've come to see my calling in life as a bridge-builder, translator and middleman. I often find myself between two groups who don't understand each other, with one foot in either camp, trying to translate and make

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-74598075752023949362008-01-25T22:30:00.001-06:002008-01-25T22:30:36.280-06:00

Boy, this brings back memories.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-84543160853249360652008-01-25T10:32:00.000-06:002008-02-02T14:16:24.969-06:00

I have no category for Simone Weil. I just don't know what to think of her. But at the same time, her words make my heart swell. We are kindred spirits, even though I wouldn't claim to be in her league.You can read about her life and writings here and here.I became indebted to her in 2002, when I read her essay on the Lord's Prayer. Her insights enabled me to work through what seemed an

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-50841703603345732922008-01-22T17:46:00.000-06:002008-01-22T20:21:34.497-06:00

1. I've been reading Waiting For God by Simone Weil. Quite an interesting character. Christian spiritual writer, philosopher, and activist.2. In case you missed MLK, Jr. day, you can watch the full version of the "I Have A Dream" speech here. If you don't know what comes after "I Have A Dream," then you should watch it.3. For you football fans, here's an interesting commentary on the recent

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-24384821181402335922008-01-20T13:13:00.000-06:002008-01-20T13:59:02.765-06:00

My short experience as a Christian (compared to some) has mostly been with the tight-laced sort. We don't get too excited (like the Charismatics do), and we aren't superstitious (like the Roman Catholics tend to be). Worship is engaging, but you won't see any dancing, tambourine-waving ladies down front. We accept the miraculous, but we don't look for the Blessed Virgin in our spaghetti dinner. I

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-52242766019985068322008-01-16T18:11:00.000-06:002008-01-20T13:58:16.333-06:00

John Coe, one of my profs from Talbot, once lectured on this subject in class. I grasped it in a small way then, but it is becoming more real to me now. The pull, the siren call of academics is incredibly powerful. But Coe's words have been for me like the cords that kept Odysseus bound to the mast of his ship.Coe explained that the temptation to find our identity in what we do is a form of

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-22391986343840845182008-01-15T10:47:00.000-06:002008-01-20T14:00:21.304-06:00

"'Let not a wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)In the work of ministry, if we trust in our

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-89276113847837841152008-01-11T09:52:00.000-06:002008-01-11T11:23:31.828-06:00

"I'll give you $100 if you can find a single example in the New Testament of Jesus meeting one-on-one with a disciple." A crisp $100 bill, folded slightly, stood defiantly on the speaker's podium.Needless to say, ol' Ben Franklin had no takers. I guess that settles it, right? The implication is clear: One-to-one discipleship is unbiblical. Wow. That's a big pill for your average Campus Crusader

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-11468733110091453672008-01-11T00:30:00.000-06:002008-01-11T00:36:22.916-06:00

Phoebe Jane (age 8) drew this sketch, simply entitled "Dad," this afternoon while I sat reading. The resemblance is, quite frankly, remarkable. She signed it, "By Phoebe Jane, your eldest or oldest child and daughter."

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-45592685042939876162008-01-08T00:23:00.001-06:002008-01-20T14:01:21.904-06:00

If you ever find yourself frustrated when Christians are criticized simply for believing that Christianity is true* (and by implication, that other religions are ultimately false in some important sense), then you will enjoy this post by J. P. Moreland.* Of course, in many cases, Christians aren't being criticized simply for this belief, but also because they communicate this belief while acting

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-14299142426907440922008-01-03T17:36:00.000-06:002008-01-03T18:19:12.460-06:00

Star Trek meets Monty Python. Where no nerd has gone before.Star Trek meets Star Wars. You've always wanted to know what would happen, haven't you?

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-2087400548588697372008-01-01T16:55:00.001-06:002008-01-01T23:55:43.937-06:00

My first week at Talbot School of Theology (fall 2000), I attended the pre-semester student retreat. All the new students in the philosophy program sat in a circle, introducing themselves one by one. We came around to Sean. "I'm Sean McDowell. Yeah, my dad is Josh McDowell." Next, "I'm Kyle Strobel, and yes, my dad is Lee Strobel." Then there was Matt from Ohio. "I'm Matt Jordan. My dad is

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-35059311540633983092007-12-31T09:51:00.000-06:002008-01-11T20:28:04.753-06:00

Well, as we approach the end of the year, here are some highlights (in no particular order) from 2007 and beyond. They're generally brief and I picked them either because they generated some good discussion, or I just like 'em. Vote for your favorite and make my day!1. JP Moreland's Bombshell -- Are Christians over-committed to the Bible?2. The Spirituality of Nacho Libre -- Nacho shows us how to

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-39150813822233544462007-12-29T18:09:00.001-06:002007-12-29T18:14:39.115-06:00

Alexander Pruss, Assoc. Prof. of Philosophy at Baylor, has an interesting post concerning St. Athanasius' claim that Jesus had to be human in order to accomplish our redemption. (This concerns your question, Joel.)

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-28505109842889697462007-12-25T15:04:00.001-06:002007-12-25T15:05:08.134-06:00

I do have a sense of humor. Merry Christmas!!!

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-63247214795608140632007-12-23T15:22:00.000-06:002007-12-23T16:18:48.754-06:00

"Who's the baby in the manger, William?" my wife asked our four-year-old son."Julia," he replied. Julia is his baby sister, born in September. We knew immediately that drastic pedagogical measures were required. I'm not having one of my kids walking around oblivious of the true meaning of Christmas! (My older son was even more muddled a few years ago.) So my wife scoured the internet for an

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-33985441074550436272007-12-20T23:57:00.000-06:002007-12-21T19:16:10.875-06:00

I'm a recovering JP Moreland lackey. I still love him, bless his heart, but I no longer see eye-to-eye with him on a number of issues. (You know, you can get away with saying just about anything about someone as long as you add "Bless his heart." JP often did this in class.) I should say that I owe him a tremendous debt, however, and still consider him a mentor or sorts. So, I was intrigued by

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-64624632761560043402007-12-18T22:38:00.000-06:002007-12-18T23:24:01.614-06:00

This post slipped by without comment (back in May), so I'm bringing it back. It's just too fun. But instead of asking all of you to offer your own anagrammed names, I'll do it for you. See if you can find your name below: (I've chosen some of my frequent commentors.)(1) Hold a jingler!(2) Bent on straw.(3) Make red, sir.(4) Oh, Thyn Jar! (Olde English)(5) No sin -- bad over.Maybe you can

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-26239572102577886522007-12-17T14:49:00.000-06:002007-12-17T18:06:25.984-06:00

So, I've been studying Genesis this fall, and I've thorooughly enjoyed it. Recently, I spent some time in the "Jacob wrestles with God" passage (ch. 32). I'll share two thoughts about it, one crazy and one Christmassy.First, could it be that the "man" Jacob wrestles with is not God, or even an angel, but rather Esau? Here are some supporting facts/inferences from the text:Esaus knew Jacob was

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-59854438826977074772007-12-12T21:53:00.001-06:002007-12-12T21:53:17.999-06:00

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-39655304599405858332007-12-10T21:59:00.001-06:002007-12-10T21:59:20.660-06:00

I can't watch The Office. Something about it bothers me, unnerves me. Now, don't get me wrong -- it makes me laugh out loud. So what is the problem? It took me a while to realize what it was. I'm afraid, deep down inside, that I am Dwight. Or worse, Michael.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-21238254612459349372007-12-08T21:59:00.000-06:002007-12-08T22:19:40.162-06:00

I'm in a graduate seminar this semester ominously entitled "Coercion and Consent." While discussion has been mostly limited to human relations, I've thought a good bit about consent as it relates to Christian conversion. (By "conversion" I mean the point in time when we first exercise saving faith, thereby entering into a certain kind of covenant relationship with God.)The standard Calvinist

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-33611556619353897902007-12-05T21:17:00.000-06:002007-12-05T21:18:58.935-06:00

Very intriguing essay about the Chronicles. Dr. Michael Ward reveals Lewis' "secret" unifying theory.http://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=20-10-022-f

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-73519059098804119462007-11-23T21:53:00.000-06:002007-11-23T21:58:27.226-06:00

As my many readers have noticed, I've been on hiatus for a while. I've contemplated re-inventing the blog as more of a journal, rather than trying to be all profound-like in every post. I could flood the blog with philosophy -- the fruits of the recent grad work, but I've been hesitant. The audience is limited, and those who would be really interested are likely to find it wanting. So, I'm

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-81184034176196601542007-09-07T15:51:00.000-05:002007-09-07T15:56:04.592-05:00

With the onset of football season, I thought I'd repost this. It's not just about foootball, but I find it to be a helpful perspective-refresher. Do you think I'm right? Or would C.S.Lewis chide me for being too scared to risk pain for the sake of love?

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-35607391141311881992007-09-04T10:46:00.000-05:002007-09-04T11:50:45.991-05:00

In the film Stranger Than Fiction, IRS agent Harold Crick asks English Professor Jules Hilbert for help. Someone is writing the story of his life, and he wants to know who it is. Prof. Hilbert (played by Dustin Hoffman) instructs him that he must first discover the nature of the story -- is it an epic, a fairy tale, a murder mystery? Together they exhaust all the genres until they discover

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-27336863764553307362007-08-27T23:51:00.000-05:002007-08-28T22:50:20.038-05:00

For the edification of both of my readers, I'm risking a venture into the large and ominous waters of Genesis 1 & 2, and beyond. I've been spending multitudinous minutes in the Bible's salutatory book this summer, and I've gathered a few eggs. And by eggs, I mean good stuff.It will be hit and miss, hither and yon.Here's my first thought (#1):Why would any author choose the particular words and

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-91660734113490946542007-08-21T18:46:00.000-05:002007-08-21T18:50:27.041-05:00

Long blog posts often deter me, but this one was worth the 5 minutes it took to read it. Theologian Fred Sanders contemplates what Christians can learn about communicating the gospel from Bill Watterson, author of Calvin & Hobbes.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-64817234216079040002007-08-13T14:28:00.000-05:002008-01-20T13:59:25.686-06:00

“Girl number twenty unable to define a horse!” says Gradgrind, “Girl number twenty possessed of no facts, in reference to one of the commonest of animals!”[Even though Sissy’s father was a horsebreaker, and she had lived around them all her life, she was a bit perplexed at the demand for a definition and had been speechless. The schoolmaster turns to another student, a boy named Bitzer:]“Bitzer,”

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-1857976359942579552007-08-10T16:01:00.000-05:002007-08-10T16:53:39.062-05:00

I have a surprise hero: Nacho Libre. Yes, I'm talking about the Jack Black-portrayed luchadore. My wife and I watched with that "one eye brow-raised" look on our faces for the better part of the film. But then, it happened. I saw the spirit of the great saints of old flowing through the chubby monk.Nacho faced the same quandary we all face: Am I a monk, or a wrestler? Well, for us, it may be

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-10162123827680711922007-08-05T12:22:00.000-05:002007-08-05T12:32:52.070-05:00

Our first hero of faith and life is a simple man named Giovanni, who gained great fame as a juggler. Traveling through the Italian countryside one summer afternoon, he had a chance encounter with two monks. Giovanni shared his small meal with them, and entertained them with his juggling act. They told him that his juggling brought glory to God, but he just laughed and went on his way.At the end

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-13886457497132437292007-07-24T14:35:00.001-05:002007-07-24T14:39:12.886-05:00

Well, faithful reader (and that is singular), I've been busy with conference stuff all month and haven't spent a drop of virtual ink. I hope to spread my wings in the blogosphere again soon.It's been a summer of emotional turbulence, but I hope to strike a 3-point landing in the next week or so. Right now, I'm still gripping the air-sick bag breathing a little funny.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-45685969803132266882007-07-02T21:57:00.000-05:002007-07-02T22:17:21.560-05:00

Setting: the Library. I'm working fastidiously at my laptop at something or other, when a friend trots in and over to my table for a quick hello. We exchange hushed greetings, and then, from a near-by table, I get "it." The glare. Our chatter has disturbed the sacred concentration of some cloistered scholar. I reckon he don't care to join in our visitation, neither.I guess the library is

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-57329172590369619562007-06-24T23:45:00.000-05:002007-06-25T11:05:29.069-05:00

Did you know that Hobbits are from Kentucky?This post by Fred Sanders has finally confirmed my suspicions that Wendell Berry is part Hobbit. So, the question now is, do I have to move to Kentucky to experience the good life?

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-28012237942644316422007-06-24T23:30:00.001-05:002007-06-24T23:33:31.334-05:00

I've discovered a great Christian philosophy blog, thanks to Derek at A Thinker's Progress. You can check it out via a great post concerning philosophy of time. In this post, Alan Rhoda asks whether the Special Theory of Relativity poses any real problems for the A-theory of time. I know, I know, you're chomping at the bit, right? Whoa there, Sea Biscuit!

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-9249570201722760152007-06-15T23:41:00.001-05:002007-06-15T23:41:27.806-05:00

I wish I had Vader's power.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-28695425510703305312007-06-12T22:00:00.000-05:002007-06-12T22:02:05.300-05:00

Bill Valicella pays an appropriate tribute to "philosopher" Richard Rorty, who passed away on June 10. This is worth a read.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-34795023222549713192007-06-11T10:17:00.000-05:002007-06-11T10:55:40.859-05:00

When I lived in Atlanta, Chick-fil-A was one of my favorite places to go, good book (or Good Book) in hand, and sit in the presence of the Lord. I reclined at a booth, savoring both the sweet fellowship of Jesus, and the sweet tea. I wasn't a coffee drinker in those days, so free refills on tea was as good as it got. Then I moved to Kansas. Needless to say, it was a big disappointment when I

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-83412921595937215262007-06-01T14:11:00.001-05:002007-06-01T14:11:49.322-05:00

Watch this one first! Michel Gondry, a French Academy Award winning screenwriter, film, commercial, and music video director, is one of the most innovative commercial artists of his generation. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was his second feature film and remains one of the most moving comedies of the decade. Hat Tip: Evangelical Outpost

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-19482683373360997752007-06-01T14:02:00.001-05:002007-06-01T14:02:08.908-05:00

Don't watch this until you've watched the first video.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-2520877443658588302007-06-01T14:01:00.000-05:002007-06-01T14:13:46.964-05:00

Watch this one last of all. Prepare to LAUGH!!

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-6143853097046876462007-05-31T20:15:00.000-05:002007-05-31T21:47:03.686-05:00

Guillermo Gonzalez's being denied tenure at Iowa State left many speculating, with good reason, that it was due to his support of Intelligent Design (ID) theory. You can read more about it here.In a well-written article in the prestigious scientific journal Nature*, Geoff Brumfiel offers a balanced account of the story. On behalf of Gonzalez's critics, Brumfiel quotes University of Maryland

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11723241.post-69850103231707090462007-05-30T13:24:00.000-05:002007-05-31T09:42:30.304-05:00

A thought-provoking post by J.P. Moreland at Scriptorium Daily.What do you think? Are atheists far more likely to be neurologically dysfunctional?

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com2