"A proud prayer is...

...a self-contradictory endeavor." Peter Rhea Jones, Studying the Parables of Jesus (Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 1999), p. 254, cited by Klyne Snodgrass, Stories With Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus . Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. Kindle Edition. 

Spoiled Rotten - MUST reading for parents

I saw a link to this article from a friend on FB, and cannot encourage parents strongly enough to read it!

The "Sinner's Prayer"

Scot McKnight had some interesting comments regarding a mini-controversy at the Southern Baptist Convention. I think McKnight is on target.

Ben Witherington interview with Bart Ehrman

Conservative NT scholar Ben Witherington recently interviewed not-so-conservative NT scholar Bart Ehrman on the issue of whether Jesus actually existed. You may know that in the last few years a small group of skeptics has challenged the very existence of Jesus of Nazareth. I think you will enjoy these interviews (there are seven posts in all), not because you will agree with everything Ehrman says - you won't. But I think you will enjoy them because because you will see how strong the historical testimony is about Jesus, even as understood by a scholar as hostile to traditional Christianity as Ehrman.

Religiously Unaffiliated in MIddle Tennessee

This week the Tennessean ran a story about religious affiliation in Middle Tennessee. While the Nashville area is the "buckle of the Bible belt," even in this very religious part of the country many people do not profess a particular religious affiliation. For example, 41.7% of Davidson Co residents are not affiliated with any religious group, and that figure climbs to 61.6% in Rutherford Co and 66.6% in Cheatham Co. There is lots of work to do. (Thanks to Jerry Mitchell for letting me know about this article)

Ferrell Jenkins's Bible Lands Blog

My friend and former boss Ferrell Jenkins has a wonderful blog that focuses on the lands of the Bible. Today he just clicked over a million visits! Ferrell will be presenting a special series on Bible History and Archaeology here at Woodland Hills this fall (September 30-October 3).

Family Feuds

I am distantly related to the McCoy clan of the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud. The Scotts intermarried with the McCoys very early in the 1800s, so my shared connections with the McCoys go way back. In view of the History Channel's recent mini-series on the feud, I started thinking about the passages in the New Testament that address conflicts that occur between members of God's family. Maybe you can think of some more relevant passages, but here are three points that emerged for me as I looked at these verses. Feuds are caused by:

• Jealousy and selfish ambition – James 3:13-4:3; 1 John 3:11-15
• Loyalty to earthly ties taking precedence over loyalty to God - 1 Cor. 3:1-4; 1:11-13
• Taking vengeance into one's own hand – Matt. 26:51-53; Rom. 12:17-21; 1 Cor. 6:1-11

Incidentally, if you would like to listen to this sermon, click this link.