Jake Shimabukuro plays “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Here’s another song by Shimabukuro I posted earlier:
http://wmolenaar.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/shimabukuro/

Art & the Gospels

Fujimura – 4 Holy Gospels on Vimeo, posted with vodpod

 

New Coffee Maker!

Thanks to my good friends Tim and Kelly Hill, we now have a spiffy coffee maker!

Alicia and I were recently in Seattle so we will be drinking our Starbucks Special Reserve blend (only sold at the original store at Pike’s Place) with this new addition to our family

Hip-hip horray for the Hills!

Church Dogmatics by Karl Barth

My wife is the best wife ever!  She got me the entire set of Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics for Christmas!

Theology Christmas Wishlist

 

 

 

 

Experiences in Theology by Jürgen Moltmann

The Drama of Doctrine by Kevin Vanhoozer
Faith Thinking by Trevor Hart

Q & A with Dr. Roger Olson

Thanks to MinistryDirect.com, we have an opportunity to participate in a Q & A discussion with Dr. Roger E. Olson on the topic of Calvinism & Arminianism.  This live event is on at 1:00PM CST, Friday, December 3, 2010 at ministrydirect.com/live.   His book, Arminian Theology, is an excellent resource to check out:

Micah Challenge

A Christian movement of churches, universities, organizations, families, and individuals in 41 countries to end extreme poverty around the world.  Christians from Mozambique to Mongolia are united in prayer and action to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

As Christians, how are we and our churches engaged in the following goals for our world?

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria, and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

Check out how you, your church, or your organization can get involved!

• Micah Challenge USA
• Micah Challenge International

Evangelicalism

Seems like Christianity Today’s cover story on Albert Mohler is stirring the pot:

• Shifting Evangelicalism by Scot Mcknight, Ph.D. : Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University
• Defining “Fundamentalism” by Roger E. Olson, Ph.D. : Professor of Theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University
• Forthcoming Book on Evangelicalism by Roger E. Olson, Ph.D.

November 20th: Annual Day of Prayer for Iran

Did you know that the following resolution was passed at the 3rd Plenary Session of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship held in Seoul, Korea on October 3, 1994?

ANNUAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR IRAN.

Dr. Loren Triplet cited two different fellowship groups, unknown to each other, have chosen November 20, to be an annual Day of Prayer for Iran.  Commenting that Iran is a nation of 300 million people and it is in the center of the “10-40 Window,” Dr. Triplett made a motion we join together on November 20, also, with our congregations to pray for this nation.  It was seconded and passed.

I suggest we intentionally spread the word about this across the Assemblies of God USA and around the world.

Let’s devote ourselves to prayer for the people of Iran on November 20th!

The Teachings of Jesus, Matthew 5:3-12, 43-48:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you….You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Prayer of Jesus, Matthew 6:9-15:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Logos Wishlist

Logos Bible Software is awesome!  I have the Logos 3 version (Original Languages Library) and I’ve been happy with it so far, although being disappointed with the missing textual apparatus of NA27 and UBS 4th (and a free instructional DVD on how to use all the great original language features).

Here is my Logos Software wishlist, from highest to lowest in cost.  As you can see the Logos Software costs are outrageous!  Speaking as a poor student, who can afford this?  Do they expect us to us student loans to buy this stuff? Below, you’ll find the actual price in blue and my suggested retail price in red, which is essentially 50% off!

1. Zondervan Bible Reference Bundle $1800 ($900)
2. The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament $1600 ($800)
3. Calvin 500 Collection $1000 ($500)
4. Barth’s Church Dogmatics (14 Vols.) $700 ($350)
5. Word Biblical Commentary (WBC 59 Vols.) $700 ($350)
6. The New International Greek Testament Commentary (12 Vols.) $533 ($267)
7. Stuttgart Electronic Study Bible (SESB) $325 ($163)
8. Theological Reference Bundle (19 Vols.) $305 ($153)
9. BDAG/HALOT Bundle $275 ($138)
10. Early Church Fathers Protestant Edition (37 Vols.) $250 ($125)
11. Pillar New Testament Commentary (8 Vols.) $250 ($125)
12. Luther’s Works on CD-ROM $230 ($115)
13. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (8 Vols.) $225 ($113)
14. Theology and Doctrine Collection (16 Vols.) $210 ($105)
15. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (18 Vols.) $170 ($85)
16. Socio-Rhetorical Commentary Series (8 Vols.) $150 ($75)
17. Liddell and Scott Greek-English Lexicon $135 ($68)
18. Pannenberg’s Systematic Theology (3 Vols.) $130 ($65)
19. The Apostolic Fathers in Greek and English (3 Editions, with Morphology) $100 ($50)
20. Wesleyan–Arminian Collection (81 Vols.) $100 ($50)
21. Zondervan NIV Bibles Bundle: NIV, TNIV, and NIrV $80 ($40)
22. Trinitarian Theology Collection (3 Vols.) $80 ($40)
23. Christian Origins and the Question of God Series, by N. T. Wright (Vols. 1–3) $70 ($35)

Total: $9418 ($4609)

Also, I have a number of suggestions for products that need to be made available, such as:

• T.F. Torrance Collection
• Alister McGrath Collection
• Stanley Grenz Collection
• Gordon Fee Collection
• more N.T. Wright writings
• Roger Olson Collection
• Pneuma (official journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies)
• Journal of Pentecostal Theology
• basically a more diverse spectrum of Christian literature outside of the Reformed world…. I know, I know, they have such products, but come on, look all their whole product line and tell me there’s no theological bias!

Respectfully and in the Spirit of peace,

William