Latest Posts
-
Contemplating Joy
Read more: Contemplating JoyI’ve decided that joy is a strange thing. We can experience joy apart from happiness. Sometimes joy leaks into our lives in the midst of sufferings and sometimes in erupts in the most mundane moments of our day. For such a short word, the meaning of joy seems vast enough to contain the simultaneous contraries…
-
3 Simple Ways to Respond to this past Easter Weekend
Read more: 3 Simple Ways to Respond to this past Easter WeekendFor most followers of Jesus, our observance of Easter this past weekend marked a significant point in our yearly calendar that has been specifically set aside to celebrate the pinnacle of our faith, Jesus’ resurrection and life giving ministry. It’s meant to be a significant pause built into our busy schedules cementing a spiritual rhythm…
-
Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
Read more: Jesus Prays in the Garden of GethsemaneThey went to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” And going a little farther,…
-
Do Complementarians Rejoice When A Woman Preaches?
Read more: Do Complementarians Rejoice When A Woman Preaches?I have a simple question for my Complimentarian friends. The debate about women in ministry is well-worn and most of us know the key texts to discuss, the key theological paradigms that are debated, etc. The two camps are not entirely monolithic however, and there is plenty of room for nuanced positions and even some differing…
-
Theological Ethics and Self-Help Books
Read more: Theological Ethics and Self-Help BooksIf I have learned anything from my four years at university, it would be that most things which are written and published are merely variations on pure BS. I use a scale of BS in cultural criticism that ranges from Pure BS (10) to Moderate BS (5) to Tactful BS (1). The higher something falls on…
-
My Dear Wormwood
Read more: My Dear WormwoodDear Wormwood, Seeing as your Uncle Screwtape is busy after being promoted to a particular world leader, he has handed you over to me. Now, my dear Wormwood, I see that the possibility of a human war, and all that leads up to it, has enticed you. It is of vital importance to your mission…
-
Evangelicals, Ex-vangelicals, Christians: A Lenten Reflection on the Politics of the Cross
Read more: Evangelicals, Ex-vangelicals, Christians: A Lenten Reflection on the Politics of the CrossI follow Paul, I follow Peter, I follow Apollos, I follow Christ. So Paul famously describes the leader-based factions developing in the Corinthian church. Like many of you, I like to think that if I were there, I would be in that Group 4 that says, “I follow Christ.” Maybe Group 4 was earnest, maybe…
-
Fruit of Lips
Read more: Fruit of LipsEugen Rosenstock-Huessy’s Fruit of Lips is biblical theology done in the mode of T.S. Eliot. The Four Quartets is the only thing like it that I have read. The title comes from the promise in Isaiah 57.19, “I create the fruit of lips,” and its fulfillment in ecclesial life in Hebrews 13.15, “Through Jesus, let us continually…
-
Manchester Honours Alan Turing
Read more: Manchester Honours Alan TuringAlan Turing (1912–1954) is kind of a big deal around Manchester, especially at the University. Whenever I have guests visiting me here, I always make it a point to tell them about Alan Turing and to show them some his old office on campus. I’ll give a (very) brief bio about Alan Turing before mentioning…
-
When the Bad Guy Gets It Right: Reflections on ‘Black Panther’
Read more: When the Bad Guy Gets It Right: Reflections on ‘Black Panther’(Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t seen Black Panther, this post definitely has some spoilers.) In most movies, bad guys aren’t usually right. Especially in superhero movies, the hero always prevails against the very evil villain. The theme of good vs. evil is one that resonates with us, because we want to see the good guy…