Skip to content

Tag Archives for youtube

The Ehrman Project

A number of well-known theologians, including folks such as D.A. Carson, Ben Witherington, Craig Evans, and Alvin Plantinga, have contributed video responses to many issues raised by Bart Ehrman (who I have mentioned before), to The Ehrman Project, a website whose sole purpose is to address these issues.

The site is well put-together, with specific responses to each of Ehrman’s books. There is also a resource page with links to numerous articles addressing these issues.

On one hand, I’m not sure Ehrman is worth the trouble. However, his books have proven fairly popular, and most people do not have the background or understanding with which to judge Ehrman’s claims. So, this site should prove to be a very helpful resource, especially as—as Erhman himself states—none of these thoughts are new or unique to Erhman.

Here’s a short intro video from the site (it appears the videos are also available on YouTube):

Written on 19 January 2011 by me under Faith, Science & Doubt with No Comments
Tagged with , , , ,

Take off the blinders

A New Law

Don’t teach me about politics and Government
Just tell me who to vote for
Don’t teach me about truth and beauty
Just label my music

Don’t teach me how to live like a free man
Just give me a new law

I don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
So just bring it down from the mountain to me

I want a new law
I want a new law
Gimme that new law

Don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
I prefer a shot of grape juice

Don’t teach me about loving my enemies

Don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
Just give me a new law

I don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
So just bring it down from the mountain to me

I want a new law
I want a new law
Gimme that new law

What’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
For one you can that cannot get you anything

Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid

© Derek Webb Music

Written on 03 December 2010 by me under The Gospel Uncensored with No Comments
Tagged with , , , , ,

The Blessings

There’s one thing I need to clear up before I actually post what I’m about to post.  Although I currently use a drawing of Martin Luther as my Facebook photo and tend to quote Luther on occasion, I am not a Missouri Synod Lutheran (a more conservative Lutheran branch, which some have even called fundamentalist), or currently a Lutheran of any stripe.  This is not that Lutherans are bad, by any means. I was one (Lutheran Church in America) for my first 20 or so years.

For several years I have referred to myself as a Lutheran expatriate, and more recently as Episco-Lutheran.  I am not obsessed with Lutheran theology, but I do read it at times, because I really like to understand what different churches believe.  There are some things about Lutheran theology (Missouri Synod, at least) that I question, and a lot about the liberal Lutheran church that I question. Still, I think traditional Lutherans have a lot of things right; more than not right, actually.

So, Without Further Ado…

Occasionally I will watch short videos by a Missouri Synod Luther pastor, Jonathan Fisk, who is teaching through the Gospel texts used by the LCMS (some churches actually plan these things out many years in advance… go figure).  He’s entertaining, and pretty smart.

This week he goes off schedule to teach on the Beatitudes (you know, “blessed are the meek,” etc.).  He makes the point that these are not meant to be curses (“be poor, so I can bless you”) but actually blessings.  Furthermore, he introduces a concept that I think makes a lot of sense, based on a Hebrew poetic style, which would infer that Jesus was either really good, or that he actually thought out what he was saying ahead of time (again, go figure).

If you don’t actually want to watch 14 minutes of good Bible teaching, you can simply read what John H posts at the Confessing Evangelical blog. He summarize the content well.

Written on 04 November 2010 by me under Theological Musings with 1 Comment
Tagged with , , , , , ,

Early Jewish history (more or less)

I don’t usually post YouTube things here, but this one is worth it.  And he is my brother-in-law.

Written on 09 August 2010 by me under Humor and/or Sarcasm with 2 Comments
Tagged with , , , ,

Church History in 4 minutes

In keeping with my current look at church history, here’s an interesting overview, with a collection of cool images (especially like the John Locke photo):

Thanks to zoecarnate.

Written on 25 November 2009 by me under Church, Exploring the Twain with 2 Comments
Tagged with , , ,

Regina Spektor, “Laugh With”

I just love this song; I heard it on the radio a day or 2 ago:

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God when it’s gotten real late and their kid’s not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they’re mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say “We’ve got some bad new, sir,”
No one’s laughing at God when there’s a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they’re about to choke

God can be funny
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’ve lost all they got and they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they’re about to choke

God can be funny
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one’s laughing at God in a hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war

No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God

Written on 16 June 2009 by me under Faith, Science & Doubt, Random Thoughts with No Comments
Tagged with , , , ,

Behind the scenes of Emergent Village

Once upon a time, in a place far, far away, I thought I had a lot in common with those cool guys and gals who call themselves “emergent.”  We both, at least, saw some of the same issues with the current state of the evangelical church, and as I mentioned in my last post, I was talking about similar ideas. Some of “them” were linking to my site, and even saying nice things about me. Brian McLaren’s publisher started sending me pre-release copies of a number of “emerging” titles and promotional materials. However, I soon grew tired of the whole emergent thing. (When I began criticizing McLaren’s theology, they stopped sending me books to review.)

Some of you who are aware of the whole emergent thing and the organization calling itself Emergent Village know that Tony Jones (also in the news for his newly announced stand that gay marriage is ok, saying, “gay persons are fully human persons and should be afforded all of the cultural and ecclesial benefits that I am.”) is no longer the National Coordinator (a decision apparently not related to his stand on gay marriage).  Scot McNight and some other folks are forming some new emerging group that is apparently more emerging than Emergent. Tony Jones and Scot McNight have both moved their blogs over to Beliefnet.  Some are emerging but not Emergent.  Some may be heretics, but not all. It’s hard to keep track without a scorecard.

So, all that to lead in to this very funny video that explains it all:

Written on 04 December 2008 by me under Random Thoughts with 1 Comment
Tagged with , , , ,