Safe Haven

There's something I need to say. I know what it's like to get some theologically inclined fellows in a room who like to get provincial about doctrine. I really don't know who started the game of exegetical "Can You Top This?" but someone decided that Jesus was not going to return. I know how it starts: you want to take the time texts seriously, and you don't want to be premillenial. And then all of a sudden, you're embracing a stance that may place you outside the faith. I would encourage anyone who's embraced "realized eschatology" to give it up.

My boss Kendall sits here next to me. He's a huge Royals fan. 9-0, about to be 10. What the heck!

Hey! Hold on! If you were a hot dog, would ya eat yourself? I know I would. I’d be delicious…Oh, sorry. I forget sometimes that I’m not Harry or Will. Regardless, I love hot dogs. I’ll probably get 100 e-mails about how unhealthy, bad for the environment, and un-American they are. They’re the next target after some people succeed in convincing us that SUVs are from Satan. Or at least they know Jesus wouldn’t drive one. I forgot that there’s no Satan in that worldview, because there’s no Hell. “Too many bad vibes, man.”

Hello to the three people who read this blog. I can't figure out what I'll write for my second Religious Studies paper. Those smart-alecs out there who said, "Jesus?" are positively brilliant. We know that part. But which aspects of Him shall I write about? I was thinking of sheep. Sheep are mean, and gross. Not to mention stupid. And that context sheds a different light on John 10. People have this mental image maybe of these cute, happy, well-mannered sheep. Oh, no friends. You'd have to say it's an apt discription of Jesus' followers, if A) you know anything about the apostles, and B) If you're a Christian, and you know yourself.

John Kerry's comments were ill-founded. In a time of war, the President should expect some measure of support from other political leaders simply as the Commander-In-Chief. As the article says, there is plenty of time for election shenangans after the war is over.

JK is dead. I regret to inform all his loyal and loving readers that he has accidentally choked on a combination of coke and belligerent comments. The two evidently do not mix well. Unfortunately, he still hasn't learned his lesson. As I write this, he sits here trying to dissuade me from making this post, nursing coke all the while. He even contends that I can't figure out what to say next. "Blathering randomly" as he puts it. He should know.

Good grief, I stink at this! Sorry, Nate. Let's talk about some of the problems one encounters if one says that "your truth is not my truth." Subjectifying religious experience in this way excludes the person who says, "Eureka! I have found it! I found the Truth!" We don't struggle with this quite so much in other areas of life, like science. But hellfire and brimstone will be poured on the one who dares suggest that there's one way to God. And that is amusingly ironic, don't you think?

Bible Study Boys: Read Ephesians 3:1-13.

I find my studies amazingly relevant to the task of ministry, meeting people, and communicating the gospel of Christ. In my literature class, I meet the postmodern storytelling of Borges. In Spirituality, we confront the mystical as intensely personal, and therefore ineffable, presented by William James. We also wrestle with the postmodern feminist critique of James by Grace Jantzen called "Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism." This should be good. Let me express myself concerning postmodernism: It is absolutely foolish, and naturally counter-intuitive to seek truth or openness by casting everything into doubt. Silly Borges.

Nate! Do you still have that phone number? Bah!

Scripture of the day: 1 Corinthians 11. Yes, the whole chapter. C'mon, it won't hurt! This is why we get throttled all day long: we don't know the Scripture like we should. I'm just as guilty.

Annie Dillard: I can't figure her out. She has so much natural imagery. She so self-reflective, it's almost vain. Will I shred the Christian mystics the same way? I hope not. But really. WHAT IS HER DEAL?

My inherent tension: I find myself a member of a really self-reflective, open-ended, open-minded spirituality class. As one discusses the purpose of human existence as a Christian, one is confronted with the boldness (some might say arrogance) of claiming One and Only Truth. I should say that I do so with not a little compassion for those who seek and have not yet found. Yet, I find myself guilty of that very thing, and joyously so. Praise be to the LORD Almighty, the true and only God!

Hey Nate, who's Rachel Lucas? Sweet, Kettinger, don't check your own links.

Anybody like hockey? Let's go Blues! Is it just me, or is Al Macinnis making a bid for Greatest Defenseman Ever? I like him, anyway.

Oh, and Institutes of the Christian Religion is good, but very difficult. And quite frankly, I don't think I would invite John Calvin over for dinner if he were still here. Seems like a jerk to me.

We'll be permalinking to some really sweet theological documents like the Westminster Confession of Faith and 39 Articles of Faith (Anglican). Both of these in particular articulate the core theological positions of the Reformation. That whole "second wave" thing, not quite as good. As for those people who say, "I don't read anything except the Bible," "No Creed but the Christ, yadda yadda blah blah", etc, it has been my experience that these documents show us how good some of our brothers are at interpreting Scripture (no small talent, to be sure) but also serve to highlight that we as individuals don't read Scripture that closely. There's more than meets the eye. In any case, Scripture, as always, remains the only infallible rule of faith and life.

Wow. A long time away! Sorry. But noone reads this anyway. Hi, Nate. Hi, other Nate. Welcome back. I've been trying to keep this blog relatively apolitical, but it's really difficult. In that spirit then, I may start another.

We all need Colossians chapter 3. How about 1 Corinthians 15? Celebrate the truth of a risen Lord!

Great site. Neal Rules!