Nov 16
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The Bibliobloggers Desktop Challenge

Here’s my response to Dr Jim West’s idea.  Simple and purdy. It’s nowhere near as freakin’ cool as Scotteriology, though. Maybe I should slip in a pic of of Charlie the Unicorn behind one of those trees.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Nov 14
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Imprinted on the Universe | Irenaeus

While reading God’s Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions?, I came across a breathtaking quote about Christ by Irenaeus (Proof of the Apostolic Preaching). You’ll want to read this one slowly. He is Himself the Word of God Almighty, Who in His invisible form pervades us universally in the whole world, and encompasses both [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley
Nov 12
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1 John 2:26-27 | Remedy for Deception

There are two verses in the New Testament that just drive me crazy when people misinterpret them. The second one is part our text today. Here they are: Do not worry about . . . what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley
Nov 10
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God’s Rivals | Gerald R. McDermott

God’s Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? Insights from the Bible and the Early Church © 2007 InterVarsity Press 181 pages This book promised more than it delivered. McDermott never gets around to suggesting an answer to the question of why God allowed different religions. He starts with a chapter on “The Scandal of [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley
Nov 07
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Fear of Inactivity | Klyne R. Snodgrass

Here’s another gem from Stories With Intent regarding the Good Samaritan: The fear of works righteousness is far too exaggerated in most churches. Would that there were an equal fear of being found inactive!

Author: Stephen Barkley
Nov 05
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1 John 2:22-25 | Scandalous Incarnation

We’re approaching Christmas. Picture Jesus, the newborn infant, lying in a manger. Now answer these questions: Did the newborn Jesus cry like any other newborn or was he supernaturally peaceful? Would the newborn Jesus be recognizable as something different from the rest of humanity by a stranger, or would he look just like any other [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley
Nov 03
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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo | Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo © 2005 Translation by Reg Keeland © 2008 Knopf 465 pages I bought this because I felt like reading something different. I don’t often read murder mysteries, but Barnes & Noble had a stack of these books at the front of the store alongside a very persuasive write-up. The [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley
Oct 31
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Love is Unity | Rudolf Bultmann

Here’s another beautiful line from my Bultmann Commentary on the Letters of John: For to love God and to be loved by him are a unity: the former is grounded in the latter.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Oct 29
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1 John 2:20-21 | Already Anointed

I don’t understand why people pray that other Christians would be anointed. I’ve led worship quite consistently for the last decade, and for some reason, “the anointing” people pray for is more important for musicians—at least that’s what I’ve been able to figure out. Everyone knows that while preachers need to be anointed, it’s the [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley
Oct 27
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The Burial of Jesus | James F. McGrath

The Burial of Jesus: History and Faith © 2008 James F. McGrath (Exploring Our Matrix) 142 pages You can’t use the right tools for the wrong job. You can’t open a paint can with a Phillips screwdriver, you can’t cut a steak with a butter knife, you can’t pull a shot of espresso in a [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley