My first short novel “Abandon All Hope” is now available!

My first novel, Abandon All Hope, is now available on Amazon and can be ordered here.

Comments welcome!

 

My 2nd edition of “Farewell, Rob Bell” is available!

This edition includes a review of Bell’s newest book What We Talk about When We Talk about God.  I’ve also included some comments on Mark Galli’s (editor at Christianity Today) article on Bell’s book.

My book is available on Amazon by clicking here.

 

DIVORCE! Another student paper . . .

One of the courses I taught this semester is entitled “Theological Methods and Issues.”  This was a weekend course, meaning that it met one weekend a month for four months.  We discussed all kinds of theological topics and the students produced two major research papers.  One was on a cultural issue (such as gun control in North America); the other on a global issue (such as theological factors in global poverty).

Some of the papers were outstanding and I’ve encouraged the students to seek publication.  I will be sharing some of those papers on this blog.

Please take the time to read these papers.  You will be challenged and encouraged in your walk with Christ!

The second paper I’m posting is on the volatile issue of DIVORCE.  [Bear in mind that my posting these papers does not necessarily mean I agree with their conclusions.]  Please click on the underlined word below to read this paper; feel free to post your comments which I will pass on to the student researchers.

DIVORCE –

 

A Call to LAMENT!

One of the courses I taught this semester is entitled “Theological Methods and Issues.”  This was a weekend course, meaning that it met one weekend a month for four months.  We discussed all kinds of theological topics and the students produced two major research papers.  One was on a cultural issue (such as gun control in North America); the other on a global issue (such as theological factors in global poverty).

Some of the papers were outstanding and I’ve encouraged the students to seek publication.  I will be sharing some of those papers on this blog.

Please take the time to read these papers.  You will be challenged and encouraged in your walk with Christ!

The first paper I’m posting is on the biblical topic of LAMENT.  What is the place of mourning, expressing our sense of loss, pleading with the Lord for His intervention, in our culture?  Please feel free to post your comments which I will pass on to the student researchers.

LAMENT!

 

Students’ Translating the Good News of Jesus: Example #3

Friends:

One of my great privileges is teaching theology at Columbia International University Seminary and School of Ministry.  In this semester’s theology class, one of the assignments for my students was to put the Good News about Jesus in their own words, avoiding Christian jargon.  They are then supposed to share that paragraph with one face-to-face friend and also with one online friend.

I’ll be posting some of these paragraphs over the next couple of weeks.

Here’s the third one.  What do you think?

God originally designed a plan that would bring Him great joy; a plan which involved creating a perfect world which He would run in relationship with humans. God created the world as an organic system that would function perfectly if the humans would merely follow God’s leading. Unfortunately, humans disregarded God’s input and tried running the world differently; a way they thought was best. Their foolish and arrogant choice to rebel caused immediate consequences; the breakdown of the system, separation between mankind and God, and pain instead of love. God has to punish disobedience because it hurts Him, it hurts the system and it hurts other humans. The system is still broken today because humans are unable to perfectly follow God and fix the system. This means that our separation to God will continue indefinitely, with each person eventually spending eternity in isolation. God wants to spend eternity with us, though, so He devised a rescue plan. God decided to came to earth as a human, perfectly follow the instructions for right living, and restore the relationship humans can have with Him. Jesus was that person. He lived a perfect life on earth, died on a cross to take our punishment, was raised from the dead three days later, and now teaches us how to follow God so we fix the world that we broke. The world isn’t perfect yet, but Jesus promises that one day it will be. He also promises that God will forgive us if we acknowledge our disobedience, ask Him for forgiveness and to choose Jesus as our boss, savior and God.

Questions:

1.  What evidences do you see of this world’s brokenness?

2.  How does this presentation of the Good News view the after-life?

 

Collins and Coming Out

The recent news of NBA center Jason Collins coming out as a gay is the cover story of the recent Sports Illustrated.

Several issues occur to me:

1.  The first is his statement:  “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”  I’ve asked some of my African-American students about the linking of their ethnicity with the campaign for homosexual rights and they are appalled.

2.  The second concerns the tweets of support from other athletes.  I was particularly intrigued by the tweet from Dwayne Wade of the Lakers when he said Collins is “choosing to live in his truth.”

3.  Not all in the sports industry support Collins in his homosexual lifestyle.  See this article discussing the viewpoint expressed by NBA reporter Chris Broussard.

Here are some of the tweets on this issue:

Questions:

1.  For those who read this blog, what are the primary Bible texts which deal with this issue of homosexual behavior?

2.  How can we who profess to be followers of Jesus lovingly express our disagreement with the homosexual agenda?

 

Students’ Translating the Good News of Jesus! Example #2

Friends:

One of my great privileges is teaching theology at Columbia International University Seminary and School of Ministry.  In this semester’s theology class, one of the assignments for my students was to put the Good News about Jesus in their own words, avoiding Christian jargon.  They are then supposed to share that paragraph with one face-to-face friend and also with one online friend.

I’ll be posting some of these paragraphs over the next couple of weeks.

Here’s the second one.  What do you think?

God sent His Son Jesus to earth to bridge the gap between God and Man.  He died for all of the bad things we have done.  We can have life forever with Him if we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and Savior. 

Questions:

1.  What is the role of REPENTANCE in coming to faith in Christ?  Some seem to think that REPENTANCE is optional.  What Scriptures show you that REPENTANCE is absolutely required for salvation?

2.  How essential is a belief in the DEITY of Jesus?  Can one have God the Father if he or she denies God the SON?