Poor Sermon on a Pretty Day
“In general, I weathered even the worst sermons pretty well. They had the great virtue of causing my mind to wander. Some of the best things I have ever thought of I have thought of during bad sermons. Or I would look out the windows. In winter, when the windows were closed, the church seemed…
Continue readingWhy Are We Here?
Today, I want to ask the question, “Why are we here?” That is, why does the universe exist; and why do we humans exist in this universe? As a response, I will list a few interesting quotes from others who have pondered this question. The reader can meditate upon these responses and consider the path…
Continue readingFour Views of the Historical Adam
Denis O. Lamoureux is one of four authors that contributed to the book, Four Views of the Historical Adam (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology). I am thankful to all four authors for their contributions and critique of each other’s work. The four views presented represent a large span of the theological continuum regarding the historicity of…
Continue readingI Can’t Help Myself
Words and Music by Sandra McCracken; from the album “In Feast or Fallow” (Listen while you read) I confess the things I am afraid of: thorns and danger just around the bend I pray for tongues of fire and bands of angels to come and circle ’round me like a fence I lift my eyes…
Continue readingTargum on Psalm 121:2
A targum (see the definition here) continued. Psalm 121:2. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. The Lord, who has the resources The Lord, who is just The Lord, who has the power The Lord, who has the plan The Lord, who has shown His love The Lord, who knows me better…
Continue readingTargum on Psalm 121:1
In the first century AD Jewish Rabbis would give spoken explanations and expansions of the Jewish scriptures known as targumim (singular: “targum“).1 A targum was given in the common language of the day because the Hebrew language was in decline and the people needed an explanation of material that they could no longer understand. There…
Continue readingContributing a Verse
Apple has released a 90 second commercial that features a Walt Whitman poem and narration by Robin Williams. The end of the poem asks the question, “What good . . . [is] me, [is] life?” The answer given is, “That you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you…
Continue readingCreation and Moltmann
Placing a book on your “Amazon Wish List” is not the same as reading it. I wish it were that easy. So, I cannot completely speak about a book called The Spirit in Creation and New Creation, by Jürgen Moltmann. I will read this book after I have read a few other books on my…
Continue readingOld Stars
CBC.ca recently had an article about a discovery made by two astronomers. They have discovered the oldest star seen in our sky. Using the wavelength signature of a star, astronomers can make accurate statements about the chemical content of a given star. Knowing the life-cycle of stars allows them to then give an accurate assessment…
Continue readingAvian Einsteins
You may already know of my interest in crows, jays, and other intelligent bird species. (If not, you can catch up by reading previous blog posts.) Today I want to share with you another interesting study that suggests that crows have the ability to teach other crows to avoid dangerous human individuals. Researchers at the University…
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