A Big Easy Lazy Lie
Once “they” convince you that all the suffering in the world is caused by one easily identifiable group of people (Oppressors) with all the advantages and all the power… people…
A Monochromatic Blaze from Multispectral Anguish… Yeah, You Read that Right
Ephesians 4:26: Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Proverbs 15:1: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word…
Why Hassle with a Tassel?
The tassel attached to the Hebrew male’s outer garment is a wonderful example of artifact communication in the Bible. That is, the tassel is an item used in Israel to…
Woe the Implacable Heart
One of the transforming insights I’ve gained over the last few years regards the blindness, deafness, insensibility of the human heart. I sit stupefied at the depth of human evil…
“Inconceivable!” When Old Words and New Meanings Meet in Bible Study
Today is a guest post by Scott A. Woodlee, pastor of Franklin Alliance Church (in Franklin, PA) and a contributor with Biblical Literacy Ministries. In the movie The Princess Bride…
Hey Millennials! Hollywood is a Bunch of Big Fat Liars!
In my post, “Confessions of a Troglodyte,” I attempted to share my frustrations as a biblical scholar trying to teach or dialogue with those who are quintessential Millennials, those who…
Is Prejudice Wrong?
I remember a heated discussion I had in the 90’s with an African American friend of mine over race, culture and prejudice. I often contended genetic innocence for American slavery…
Have You Trip-wired Your Mind?
It seems to me that a phenomena I have been witnessing for years in ever increasing regularity goes well beyond prejudice right into manic meltdown. All that is needed to…
Government Entitlement Programs are Psychologically Dysfunctional
In an earlier post, “Progressives Don’t Want to Help the Poor to escape Poverty—Entitlement Programs aren’t Charity or Charitable ” I began a discussion on the misguided equalizing of Biblical…
Confessions of a Troglodyte
I regard myself, perhaps wrongly, as a decent communicator, even if a bit snarky at times. I’ve dedicated most of my ministry energy to explaining complex ideas in biblical studies…
Safari Guide, Treasure Hunter, Biblical Theologian
As a good Evangelical… just a second, I have to adjust my halo… Okay, it’s got that 20s-gangster-hat tilt I like so much… So, as a good Evangelical who has…
Time Out!—The Kinetic Communication Wars
Today we have a guest Blogger. John Donnelly, Biblical Literacy Ministries Educator, Church Planter, Part-year missionary to India. Several years ago I was in Iguaçu Falls Brazil, planting churches with…
The International Root Beer Incident
If you are ever bored, call any missionary friend who is able to take your call and ask them to tell you some stories about cross-cultural confusion. This, of course,…
Artifact Communication in the Bible
I’d like to draw your attention to artifact communication—the use of things to affect the understanding of another. Things have shared meaning within a community. Like a band of gold…
Bible Reading is Cross-cultural Communication
Communication at its most basic is the use of symbols to affect the understanding of another. The symbols at a communicator’s disposal are both verbal and non-verbal. Verbal tools are…
5 Ways to Avoid Miscommunication
Let’s be honest, when you understand what communication is at its roots, you’ll realize that you cannot avoid miscommunication… not altogether. It takes two to tango (That’s what my betters…
Learning How Communication Works, So You Can Work it Better
A centipede was happy – quite!Until a toad in funSaid, “Pray, which leg moves after which?”This raised her doubts to such a pitch,She fell exhausted in the ditchNot knowing how…
The Meme Wars: What Ought the Role of the Church in Society Be?
If I had to describe my rather short life on social media, I would depict the bulk of it as “THE MEME WARS.” Since you are reading this online, I…
Confessions of a Middle Aged Professor, Part 2
In my last post, I took an honest look at my early years as a biblical studies professor. I considered a handful of things I could have done better as…
Confessions of a Middle Aged Professor, Part 1
In studies of cross-cultural communication, I have never ceased to be amazed at the potential for a disconnect even between those raised together. The unique struggles between nature & nurture,…