This Blog is Down

My new blog is over at wordpress: mwhitenton.wordpress.com

It is decidedly academic in focus, what the kids call a “biblioblog.” Enjoy!

Lazer Pointer Not Just for Pets

Wow. Evidently you can also drive kids crazy with lazer pointers...

Ministry Update

Hey everyone. It's been quite a while since I last checked in. Quite a bit has transpired since my last entry in my "journal." At the church, we decided that the social justice/benevolence ministry fits better under the oversight of the deacons. This is big plus for me as I see this type of ministry being the bread and butter of the responsibilities of the deaconate. So we've begun the transfer process.

In other news, I'm fading out of involving co-teaching a class on Luke in order to move forward with another class covering issues involved with the study of the Historical Jesus, the gospels, and claims about Christ from the media (i.e. the Discovery Channel and National Geographic). It will be underway by the Fall, continuing to the Spring.

Over the course of my internship, I've learned a lot about the practical side of church ministry. Things like conflict resolution and dealing with people with whom you have disagreements (theological and/or social) can be challenging, but they are the very stuff of serving the church. The church can be a beautiful place; she can be a terrible bride too. But as one of my friends sometimes says, Jesus digs ugly chicks.

What is the gospel?

Darrell Bock over at Bible.org has just posted a podcast on his blog that he did for Christianity Today on the topic of the Gospel (i.e. What is it? What is it not?). I've heard him speak on this topic in other venues, and I've really enjoyed what he has had to say.

For those of you into the whole Lordship vs. No Lordship debate, Bock categorizes himself as 'soft Lordship'.

Check out the podcast here.

Turtle Man

Quote of the Day: From Diognetus

I was working in the Apostolic Fathers today, and I came across these lines from the Epistle to Diognetus. We don't know who penned these words, but listen in as he or she describes our kind and merciful God's plan revealed in his Son, Jesus:

“For God, the Master and Creator of the universe, who made all things and arranged them in order, was not only tender-hearted but also very patient. Indeed, so he always was and is and will be, kind, good, without anger, and true, and he alone is good. And after conceiving a great and marvellous plan, he communicated it to his child alone. Now as long as he kept it a secret and guarded his wise design, he seemed to neglect and be unconcerned about us, but when he revealed it through his beloved child and made known the things prepared from the beginning, he gave us everything at once, both to share in his benefits and to see and understand things which none of us ever would have expected.” (Diognetus 8:7-11)

It's Friday! Quote of the Day

Today's top quote comes from none other than the author of the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 13:45-46):

“The kingdom of the heavens is like a merchant who went for good margaritas; when he found a margarita of great value, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.”*

*Margarita (μαργαρίτα) is the Greek word for pearl!

Behold the true value of Greek! 

Well, it's Friday... and that means it's time to do some “kingdom work”!