Category: Church

  • Children's Hospital Christmas Party a Huge Success

    Had a great time today at the Children’s Hospital Christmas Party in Baton Rouge! We helped Santa hand out presents and helped serve food donated by the LA State Police. A lot of people worked very hard to put the event on, but I am especially greatful to Sandra Corley for inviting us. Our group…

  • Betting Most Churches Go with Zephaniah

    Interesting … today there is a choice of Old Testament lectionary readings between Song of Songs 2.8-14 or Zephaniah 3.14-18.  If most parishes are in any way like mine, I’m guessing they will probably go with Zephaniah.  I think the priests in my parish know enough about Biblical Studies to recognize we do not so…

  • My Favorite Event of the Year

    Today I will be a part of my favorite event of the year. Our youth group from Holy Ghost Catholic Church will be helping out with a Christmas party for a Children’s Hospital clinic in Baton Rouge. I’ll try to post some pics later. But, I won’t be blogging much today.

  • Doug Chaplin on Theology

    I checked out a post by Doug Chaplin today on problems with the idea of canon formation.  That post has the potential for sparking an interesting discussion;  however, it also reminded me of something I have forgotten to do, though I have been meaning to do it for a while.  I wanted to point my…

  • An "Orthodox Catholic"? What's That?

    Michael Bird has written what I think is a mostly helpful post about, among other matters, diversity of theological opinion among both Catholics and Protestants alike.  The post is in reaction to those who would pit theological disagreements as Rome (i.e. the Roman Catholic Church) against Geneva (i.e. the Reformers), as if these two were…

  • Catholic Reasoning about the Canon becomes Circular too

    I recently posted a comment (HERE) to a question about how we know which books belong in the canon (HERE).  This is why I really am not a big fan of traditional apologetics.  Issues are almost always oversimplified. I’ll give the gist of how the Catholic apologist thinks the discussion should go: Catholic asks Protestant:…

  • Anglicans becoming Catholic – We'll Have to Wait and See

    Thanks to John Hobbins for pointing out this article from the New York Times on the recent invitation for Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church.  I think the author, Rachel Donadio, hits the nail on the head.  The effects of this move are going to be long lasting and it is far too early…

  • Name Changes in the Bible

    Going to be teaching on Genesis 32 tonight where Jacob’s name is changed to Israel.  And, I just started trying to recall some significant name changes in the Bible off the top of my head for illustration purposes.  Here goes: Abram -> Abraham Sarai -> Sarah Jacob -> Israel Joseph -> Zaphenath-paneah Ben-Oni -> Benjamin…

  • Chris Heard on Atheism and the Legitimacy of Change in Religion

    I could not have said this better myself.  Chris Heard points out one of the problems with recent atheist critiques of religion, namely that they disallow for any type of change or development in a religious belief system.  Here is his conclusion: Change is normal in religions, including Judaism and Christianity. To admit that “we”…

  • Lectionary Insertions of "Thus Says the Lord"

    I know that I have noticed this before today, but the lectionary inserts “Thus says the Lord” in places where it is not really there.  For instance, the Old Testament lectionary reading for yesterday begins: Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God,… (Is.…