Face to Face Intercultural

The Garden in the Bible and the Qur’an. Part Sixty-Six

mike — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:37:36 +0000

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. The next relevant passage is from Surah 47:12-15 (Yusuf Ali): 12: Verily Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow; while those who reject Allah will enjoy [...]

Practically Jokes

mike — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 05:00:52 +0000

This collection of clean quips and jokes is strictly for desperate people who will laugh at practically anything, even at attempts that are practically, but not quite jokes worthy of the name. Practically Jokes Last updated: October 14, 2012.

Online Resources for Understanding Second Generation Issues and Second Generation Ministry

mike — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 03:06:57 +0000

MINISTRY 2nd Generation Christians: A Conversation with Dan Darling (Aug 2012; Trevin Wax; The Gospel Coalition) Generational Issues in Immigrant Churches + Chart: 2nd Generation Ministry Models (Jonathan Kindberg; Greenhouse; March 7, 2012) The Second Generation Leadership Diaspora (Reforming Church, Culture and our City: Eugene Hor) The Story of the English-Speaking Asian-American Ministries in Greater [...]

Church Models for Ministry Across Cultures

mike — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:41:13 +0000

This is a Powerpoint Presentation which presents a range of possible models churches adopt in dealing with issues of culture and ethnicity. I also present some key propositions which some will find provocative. Church Models for Ministry Across Cultures

Matthew 11:20-30: More Than You Can Bear?

mike — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 02:11:18 +0000

This is my sermon on this passage preached at Hurstville Presbyterian Church on September 3. The outline is: 1. The Reality of Jesus’ Miracles 2. The Reason for Jesus’ Miracles 3. Revelation Through Jesus 4. Rest in Jesus http://www.hurstvillepresbyterian.org/hpcv2/sermons/2012-09-02-AM-More-Than-You-Can-Bear.mp3

Godly Error? A Place for Blind Love

mike — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:19:57 +0000

Proverbs 5:18-19 (ESV) urges husbands to marital fidelity, recognising that foundational to this is the need to take delight in one’s wife: Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in [...]

Darmstadter’s Critique of Singer’s Ethics

mike — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:53:57 +0000

Howard Darmstadter, adjunct professor of philosophy at Barnard College and of law at Cardozo Law School identifies fundamental flaws in the ethics of Peter Singer. Singer’s utilitarian ethics emphasises the principles of (1) maximize pleasure and minimize suffering; and (2) all pleasure or suffering counts equally. Two consequences follow from this, as summarised by Darmstadter: [...]

The Quest for Immortality and Meaning

mike — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:26:01 +0000

Human anti-God arrogance is graphically expressed by one of the leaders of the “new immortalist” movement, Aubrey de Grey: “humans have a right to live as long as they wish.” Mary Midgley (Philosophy Now [Mar/Apr 2012] 10-13) critiques this movement: 1. She recognises that the world being what it is that if immortality was attainable [...]

The Fight Against Ageing and Death

mike — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:07:23 +0000

In an edition of Philosophy Now that especially focuses on philosophy and death (Mar/Apr 2012, pp6-9), Oxford University Professor of Philosophy Nick Bostrom likens ageing and death to a tyrannical dragon which demanded that 10,000 men and women be slaughtered each day to feed its immense appetite. The dragon was seemingly invincible with all efforts [...]

A Fading Beauty

mike — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:02:25 +0000

Roger Scruton, Why Beauty Matters (2009); BBC Scotland (Click image for video) Conservative English philosopher Roger Scruton has much to say about the importance of beauty and its erosion in modern times that resonates with me. Not that I concur with all he has to say. Scruton’s concept of beauty and the sacred, while it [...]