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The Wood Between The Worlds
During Lent, I read The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross. by Brian Zahn. Brian explores the theological interpretations of what happened on the cross. Last year, during Lent, I read The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge which also explores the theological interpretations of what happened…
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New Testament Translations
Simultaneously, I recently read through these two newer translations of the New Testament. I believe that both were translated well. The styles of translation are starkly different. The New Testament for Everyone, translated by Tom Wright is similar to the NIV in style. The Second Testament: A New Translation, by Scot McKnight is a different…
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Ashes to Ashes
On Ash Wednesday, one of the Litany of Penitence prayers we prayed together tugged at my heart and drew me into penance. This is a prayer I would like to pray more often to remind me of my sin and my community’s sin. Here is the prayer for reference. Litany of Penitence Most holy and…
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Epiphany
Epiphany is always January 6th in the western church. The season of Epiphany lasts from January 6th until Ash Wednesday. Since Easter determines Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent is always a set number of days and Easter varies, the season of Epiphany varies in length. This year, it is shorter than normal. This…
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Revelation Commentary
Being raised in the milieu of Dispensationalism and going to Dallas Theological Seminary, I had a deep understanding of one view of interpreting Revelation. I had a cursory understanding of the other views. I have read another book where experts in each view defend their view in conversation with experts from the other views. The…
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Christmastide
Yesterday, the 12 days of Christmas in the church’s liturgical calendar ended. Today starts Epiphany in the church’s liturgical calendar. During Christmastide, I read the book, Christmas: The Season of Life and Light, by Emily Hunter McGowin. This is another book from the Fullness of Time Series covering the church’s liturgical year. Advent is a…
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It is Advent, Not Christmas
The church’s liturgical year begins in December. The beginning of the new year is called “Advent (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.” ref: https://www.britannica.com/. In the book,…
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Bad Religion
I finished reading What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion by Todd D. Hunter. I think that the book succeeds at identifying several of the reasons people are running away from Christianity. Some have experienced hurt and abuse in the Church. Some have experienced judgmentalism and hypocrisy. Some have experienced…
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History of Dispensationalism
I grew up adjacent to Brethren congregations and their dispensational teaching deeply integrated into all of the different congregations across various denominations in my hometown. After leaving my hometown, I attended mainly non-denominational “Bible” churches that were steeped in dispensational teaching. When I chose a seminary to attend, I chose the leading dispensational seminary, Dallas…
