‘Tis the season to throw the word “miracle” around. There are many notions of what constitutes a miracle, and to be honest I’m not entirely certain I have a good working definition. God’s power is certainly involved, but if God is the author of the universe, when is his power not on display in the workings of the world? Given that perspective, I am not overly troubled when I read treatments of miraculous events such as this analysis offering a possible mechanistic explanation for the crossing of the Red Sea. Obviously the intention of the piece is to retell a Bible story without God and replace him with science. Yet how successful can that be if science is just another way of talking about God? [Read more…] about Science Corner: At the Turn of the Tide
Exodus
Why Should You Celebrate This King?
A point often overlooked when we talk about Lent is its celebratory nature. Throughout the week we remember our complete need for healing, but doing so makes our rejoicing all the more honest.  During the week we are reminded that without the Light we’re lost, but we remember that “Sunday’s a-comin’!â€Â On Sunday we celebrate the resurrection. We celebrate the God who brings the dead to life and calls nonexistent things into existence.
But what might a celebration for partakers in the ‘kingdom of God’ look like today? What would it look like if, from the world over, members of the kingdom—the kingdom belonging to the Just and Holy, the Faithful and True—gathered under the same roof and celebrated their King? I’m reminded of worship at Urbana ’09. I’m reminded of the jubilant throng of men and women leaving the St. Louis stadium just after midnight on New Year’s Eve. Walking through the halls we celebrated in Kiswahili, singing “Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe†(“There’s no God like youâ€).  See videos of this here and here.
The stadium’s janitors and security looked on with curiosity. People exiting this stadium after a game or a show, no matter how magnificent, usually hurry to their cars and out of the CBD to escape the gridlock. But not these. Not the people who’ve just gathered 17,000 strong to celebrate this King.
That is how I imagine a celebration in the kingdom of God.
Sundays during Lent are for that kind of joy. [Read more…] about Why Should You Celebrate This King?
Don’t miss “God in America”
First impressions of PBS’ God in America, with some filling out by dialog with the series executive producer Mike Sullivan in today’s open chat on Patheos. Maybe I should have divided the material into more than one post, but some friends have been dropping emails to post it all ASAP ;-) So here you are …
- What is PBS’ God in America?
- Positives points
- What didn’t sit well, including some recommendations …
Don’t worry more is coming, including a tie back into the Elizabethtown College and Peacemaking series. But I so much want to hear from you, scholars and the academically minded (from across the disciplines, not just history) and human beings (who may or may not be “Americans,” who may or may not be followers of Christ). Note: If you haven’t seen the series or missed some segments of the series, you can watch the whole series here (on-line, free)!
What is PBS’ God in America?
For the first time on television, God in America explores the tumultuous 400-year history of the intersection of religion and public life in America, from the first European settlements to the 2008 presidential election. A co-production of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and FRONTLINE, this six-hour series examines how religious dissidents helped shape the American concept of religious liberty and the controversial evolution of that ideal in the nation’s courts and political arena; how religious freedom and waves of new immigrants and religious revivals fueled competition in the religious marketplace; how movements for social reform — from abolition to civil rights — galvanized men and women to put their faith into political action; and how religious faith influenced conflicts from the American Revolution to the Cold War. — http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/etc/introduction.html (10/14/2010, 9:49 am)