The Joys of Seminary
Classes began today for the Spring semester. Well, I actually only had one class (Church History: Reformation-Present), but it’s going to be a doozy. We will have to read almost 3000 pages of books (not counting all the other books we will read to write two 10-page research papers), including a lovely 700-page tome called [...]
One Baptism
This morning at a church I was visiting, I witnessed for the first time an infant baptism. When I realized mid-service that one was coming, I actually became really nervous and excited for what was about to take place. I had been anticipating my first infant baptism for a long time, and I was not [...]
Did you know…?
Two items of great interest that I happened upon in the past twenty-four hours: Did you know that Covenant Theological Seminary (the denominational seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America) offers entire sets of lectures for several of their classes for free in mp3 format? With everything from Ancient & Medieval Church History to Youth [...]
Living by Hearsay
At the end of Part 2 of Pilgrim’s Progress, when Mr. Stand-fast is summoned by his Master, who “was not willing that [Stand-fast] should be so far from him any longer.” As Stand-fast readies himself to die by crossing the River, so that he might enter the Celestial City, he says: This River has been [...]
I Love Nebraska Update
For those who were interested, I received the following e-mail today from Sen. Burling about what I had sent him concerning his bill to change the state song: Dear Jacob, Thank you for contacting me with your opinions on Legislative Bill 345 to change the Nebraska State Song. I introduced this legislation to provide a [...]
Denarii and Denial of Self
Last semester, I wrote a paper for my biblical hermeneutics class that analyzed Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the vineyard laborers. Many people (notably Craig Blomberg, who wrote the New American Commentary on Matthew) understand the parable as teaching that there are no levels of rewards in heaven–all are treated equally, despite how they have [...]
I Love Nebraska (But Not Like This)
I had heard in the news that Nebraska Legislative Senator Carroll Burling (my senator, representing the 33rd District) had introduced a bill (LB 345) that proposes to change the state song from “Beautiful Nebraska” to some country song performed by a woman in our district. I hadn’t heard the song until today, when I read [...]
Not Just for the Birds
Over Christmas break, I accidentally subscribed to a month of Blockbuster’s movie delivery service–basically, I didn’t cancel my free trial subscription in time to keep it a free trial. I hate doing stuff like that, but I decided to make the best use of it I could. This summer, I saw movies like It’s a [...]
Slander, Thy Name is Doyle
Thanks to a great Christmas gift from my girlfriend’s parents, I have begun reading The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Vol. I (I also have Vol. II for when I finish the first book). I didn’t quite know what to expect, but I have been very pleased with the book so far. Still, I do have one [...]
Without Rival
Jesus brooks no rivals. There have been, there are, many religious leaders. In an age of postmodern sensibilities and a deep cultural commitment to philosophical pluralism, it is desperately easy to relativize Jesus in countless ways. But there is only one Person of whom it can be said that he made us, and then became [...]
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