Don't Forget!

Readers and bloggers: Don't forget about my Historical Theology blog! I invite your comments!

Giving Honor

This week I've been involved in honoring someone who has been a major influence in my life, Dr. Hollis Gause. Many of you who read my blog (and there aren't that many!) have also been a student in Dr. Gause's classes. How blessed we've all been to have 'sat at his feet'! The faculty at the seminary have been presenting papers in his honor this week. These papers will be collected and published in a fetschrift
in his honor, titled 'Passover, Pentecost and Parousia'. I presented a paper which re-evaluated spirit baptism in light of the early testimonies of the experience. I was asked to write a bibliographic essay on his writings, which I presented last night. It was an overwhelming experience for me. Dr. Gause seemed gratified by what I'd written and by entire week. Of course, he also blessed us with Gausian humor. He told us if he were to write an autobiography he would title it A Funny Thing Happened On The Way From Genesis to Revelation. This was followed by humorous interpretations of several biblical narratives. Great stuff.

Honoring Dr. Gause was, in Wesleyan fashion, a means of grace (albeit prudential) for me and for all of the faculty. The assignment "forced us" to do what we are gifted to do! So many times we are distracted, doing good things, needful things, but not necessarily the best thing, which is where we find the grace of God. I think grace is in the other events as well, but it's not necessarily an impartation of grace...just grace to go through.

For those of you who are interested in the scholarship of it all, here are the hi-lites: JCT on the mark of the beast, RDM on Ezekiel, LRM on Judges (of course), SJL on 'Holiness or Hell', AA on 'Cruicifixion in Galatians', KA on Gause's hermeneutic, CJ on women in ministry ('Spirited Vestments'), Bowers on Pentecostal practices, Han on atonement, JJ on polity, DR on centralized govt in COG, TJohns on Pent. Ethics, OMc on suffering in the Spirit, RW on Trinitarian Mission, DS on marriage etc., etc.

Newsweek Religion Quiz

Take this quiz! (this is the link) I made a B+ (missed two questions: one on Buddhism, one on the Sunni/Shiite distinction). The link is

Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson (1939-2007)

Scariest Thing I've Seen in a Long Time

Follow this link if you dare!

ORU-Jetson's Campus

Corky's picture of the spaceship house on Signal Mtn. reminded me of the ORU campus. Thought I'd share a few pictures so those of you who've never been there can see what I mean by the Jetson's reference on the 'Pop Pop Culture' blog.

Writing For the Academy

Society for Pentecostal Studies Meeting

It's Sunday following the annual meeting of the
Society for Pentecostal Studies. This meeting is always exhausting but this year, because we met at Lee University in Cleveland, I commuted back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth! Breakfast at 7 am with the Wesleyan-Pentecostal Consultation group, sessions beginning at 8:30 and ending at 9 pm, "breaks" which are really mini-meetings with scholars from around the world!! All wonderful and enriching but tiring. And it was a time-change week-end! This is appropriate, however, because it meant Corky and I were spending the Saturday night of a Spring "losing one hour" time-change with Chris Thomas, something that has happened numerous times in the past! This year, I began my term as History Interest Group Chair, which increased the workload for me but also widened my circle of acquaintances. Professor Allan Anderson, my external examiner for my PhD attended the meeting (he usually does) and presented a plenary on early Pentecostal missions. It was great to see and hear from him again. I also enjoy visiting with the veterans who've done so much to pave the way for my work: Cecil "Mel" Robeck, Frank Macchia, Bill Faupel, to name a few. So...lots of input, lots of people, lots of new insights. But very tired feet!

I'm an excellent cook!

You Are an Excellent Cook

You're a top cook, but you weren't born that way. It's taken a lot of practice, a lot of experimenting, and a lot of learning. It's likely that you have what it takes to be a top chef, should you have the desire...

Are You A Good Cook?

A Consuming Passion

Yesterday we went to see the movie "Amazing Grace". It was Corky's birthday and my parents were in for the week-end. Hope, Josh, and Lex came as well. And Leslie, of course. Emma was working. I had been eagerly anticipating seeing the movie, having read a lot about it and Wilberforce of late. It did not disappoint. Wilberforce struggles between activism and working for the Lord and is advised that he can do both. As Steve Land would say, "It's a false choice."

What most impressed me, or provoked me, was how all-consuming his long fight became, eventually making him ill. To be consumed with a cause of justice, haunted by it is a "gift" which is not to be envied. But it is these people who change the world. And Wilberforce did. I was also stirred by the parallels between the politicizing of issues then and recent events, the challenges that those who engaged in the fight for abolition faced with regard to their loyalty to their country.

I won't spoil it one but the most moving portions involve John Newton (possibly my uncle...my Mom was a Newton!) and his recollection of being a slave-trader.

It is rare that a movie which has historical value, a wonderful story, and important values but is also so timely makes it to the bigscreen.