Radically Happy

  • Types of Prayer by Philip John

    The Greek word temptato itself means ‘trials’ or ‘trying circumstances’ and the only time God tries us is when there is something in our heart that needs to be revealed – a wrong motive, lust, love of money etc. In the Lord’s Prayer we are asking God to help us…

  • From Arche to Agape, with Bob Mumford

    in goodness and truth (KJV)Intriguingly, he defined these seven attributes — Forgiving Slow to Anger Faithful Compassionate Gracious Merciful Truth — as not merely the “glory of God”, but also as “the face of Christ”, and “agape”.

  • DiaBlogue Finale: Return to Love (redux)

    It is a follow-up to my own initial reaction to our decision to call things off, as well as Alan’s own reaction and closing thoughts, and may well be our final word on this topic.Dear Alan,There’s many things I could say to you at this time, but after much wrestling…

  • The Kingdom of Love, Take 1

    We had the immense privilege of hearing from Bob Mumford, who actually founded our church many years ago. He is a deeply insightful speaker — and has been to hell and back since then — so it was a deep privilege to have him share directly from his heart.In trying…

  • Philemon Slave-ish Obedience

    What if Paul really did know Phil’s heart? In that case, rather than feeling shamed into doing what he did not want, Phil would actually be encouraged at Paul’s faith in him — and delighted at the chance to demonstrate his love for Paul in his treatment of Onesimus. The…

  • DiaBlogue: A Time To Grieve

    It is probably the sin of Pride — not wanting to admit there’s problems I can’t solve; or, worse, problems that I’m not supposed to solve.Regret also plays a role, though; as long as things continue, there’s always the hope (vain though it may be) that past mistakes may yet…

  • Diablogue[Chat]: End Game

    E: So, we should wrap up. A: yepE: Do you want to take a stab at defining secular humanism for next time, and how it obviates the need for a consensus around my Deistic Hypothesis?A: I’m not really sure I’m interested in continuing, actually. E: Sorry to hear that. E:…

  • Titus 3 Fruitless

    The key, I suppose, is to set the bar for humility and unity by our own example, so that we have the moral authority to judge those who are truly divisive (vs. merely inquisitive).Perhaps that is why Paul values Titus so highly, and commends other such men to him:

  • Titus 2 Discrete Advice

    The bar for female elders is even higher, since they need to be his proxies to teach younger women:That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that…

  • Titus 1 Cretins!

    Titus’ primary duty would actually appear to be leadership development, not evangelism:For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:Then follows a list of criteria, quite similar to those…

  • DiaBlogue[Chat]: Agree Locally, Disagree Globally

    Medieval Western Christianity (MWC) — while far from perfect — has proven to be the most fertile ground for succesful moral innovation of any system yet attempted.A: How are you determining that?E: Well, can we go back to the metric of “greatest good for the greatest number?”E: If you buy…

  • 2 Timothy 4 Well Seasoned

    But, based on the previous chapters, I think it applies equally to those who “dispute about words”, and obsess about “myths and genealogies” instead of pursuing godliness with their whole hearts.For Paul seems less concerned about Timothy’s notional beliefs than his practical behavior:But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions,…

  • 2 Timothy 3 Be Wise

    It is more encouraging to reflect on Paul’s positive example:But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,And we can trust him not just because of the power of God made manifest in his virtues, but also in his sufferings:Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto…

  • 2 Timothy 2 Trouble and Strife

    As we see in the athletic metaphor:And if a man also strive for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.And (cf. other translations) also in an agricultural metaphor:The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.Clearly, the triple repetition implies Paul wants Timothy to take…

  • 2 Timothy 1 Hold On!

    At any rate, Timothy has not merely inherited his maternal faith, but also a spiritual anointing:Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.Paul seems particularly concerned that Timothy use that gift to combat…

  • 1 Timothy 6 Trust: Me

    Rather, it gets back to the desire to be our own god, to be in control of our circumstances by accumulating the power to control the world around us.Rather than submitting to the God-given circumstances in order to develop godly character:But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and…

  • DiaBlogue: For the Love of G/NOD

    E’s “Love” for G/NOD is only “Rational” if G/NOD also “Loves” E.That is, if the Global Network of Desires includes a set of desires that maximize the most and strongest of E’s desires.I don’t know if I’ve actually proved anything of significance, but I do think the argument above is…

  • DiaBlogue[Chat]: True Good

    So in that case, the appropriate network is a global one.E: So, in the general case, is morality defined relative to the global network of all humans who are currently living?A: Yes.E: (even if the coupling of certain actions is quite weak)E: And might live in the future?E: Or only…

  • DiaBlogue to Chatalogue

    Hey, it works!Howdy!Are you still at work, then?Yeah.Though, it is a quiet afternoon.You almost missed me.

  • 1 Timothy 5 Family Matters

    Really, it sounds as if the widows are actually enrolling in some sort of religious order, not merely receiving some free handouts.Which might be Rule 3: only enroll widows are willing to devote the rest of their lives to ministry, instead of seeking a family.And lest this seem too severe,…