Radically Happy

  • Envisioning a Radical Centrist Orthodoxy

    In a fit of chutzpah, I decided to write the aforementioned Dr. Reno — not merely to express admiration for his work, but (gulp) to suggest a new direction he might want to pursue. I’m not quite sure how he’ll take it, but the letter turned into a reasonably concise…

  • Dr. Russell Reno: Radical Middle Theologian?

    My old Sunday School teacher Peter Wagner used to joke that the First Rule of Christian Debate was to pick the worst example of the other side and use that to justify your own position. Alas, he knew from painful experience that such tactics were no laughing matter, but all…

  • DiaBlogue: Where’s The Love?

    Dear Alan, Since my holiday truce failed to inspire a response, I hope you will forgive me for attempting something more provocative. 🙂 While this is mostly an (oblique) attempt to respond to your latest non-DiaBlogue post — and others like it — I hope it will also serve to…

  • Ecclesiastes 8 Letters of Resignation

    Questions: Is it good to be wise? Does it really matter? To what must we ultimately submit? Does it help to be wicked? Does it hurt? Can we even hope to figure it out? Or should we just enjoy the ride? “Read More” to pursue answers from Ecclesiastes.

  • Ecclesiastes 7 Drear Prudence

    Questions: Is death better than birth? Sorrow superior to rejoicing? Why must the author focus on so many depressing things? Does wisdom eliminate the need for wealth? Or even for folly? Can we ever become wise enough to escape the snares of our common humanity? “Read More” to pursue answers…

  • A New Year’s Shout Out To My Homies

    I suppose I should put this in a blogroll at some point, but for today I just want to compile a list of my friends who have blogs (or is that vice versa?), to celebrate the connectedness (and persistence!) that makes growing older so enjoyable.

  • Ecclesiastes 6 Mid-Libre Crisis

    Questions: Is it good to have it all? Even if we don’t enjoy it? Can we ever know what is good for us? What efforts — if any — will be rewarded? Will what comes after show us to be wise, or fools? “Read More” to pursue answers from Ecclesiastes.

  • Ecclesiastes 5 Don’t Push Your Luck

    Questions: Of what use is religion? What kind of words are pleasing to God? Will we be held accountable? Will they* To what should we give our time and effort? What can we expect in return? Should we expect “evil” — “Read More” to pursue answers from Ecclesiastes.

  • Ecclesiastes 4 To Death; Working, Yourself

    Questions: Is life worth living? Even when crushed by injustice? Is it worth keeping up with the Joneses? Is it worth keeping ourselves up? Is anything more important than love? Isn’t wisdom? Does any of it matter? “Read More” to pursue answers in Ecclesiastes.

  • Ecclesiastes 3 Turn! Turn! Turn!

    Questions: Is there really a purpose in everything that happens? Is there really a good time for war, killing, and hate? Does it really matter what we do? Are we any better off than the beasts? Click “Read More” to pursue answers from Ecclesiastes.

  • Ecclesiastes 2 He-Done-Ism

    Questions: Is it better to play hard or work hard? Is pleasure the ultimate good? Is there anything worth striving for? What is left after everything has been done? Does the one who dies with the most toys win? Will death make fools of us all? “Read More” to pursue…

  • Ecclesiastes 1 So Vain

    Questions: What is worth pursuing? Is anything? Why do we bother? Are we fools? Are the wise any better off? “Read More” to pursue answers from Ecclesiastes.

  • John 21 Fishing for Answers

    Questions: For what are the disciples fishing? For what is Jesus fishing? Do they get what they’re looking for? How? In the end, will it matter? Why? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Gospel of John.

  • John 20 Open [Tombs] and Shut [Doors]

    Questions: What did they see when they went to the tomb? What were they looking for? Did they see Jesus? Why didn’t they (initially) recognize him? How did they (finally) recognize him? Can we trust them? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Gospel of John.

  • DiaBlogue: You Bet!

    it might not be Christianity [as we know it] any more when you are done, but what results may be that thing that you are looking for, a still better way of livingSo, in the spirit of the holiday, I’d like to propose we lay down our arms and focus…

  • John 19B Dead And Buried

    Questions: How important is it to us that Jesus died? How important was it to the Romans and the Jewish leaders? What evidence do we have? How much would we risk for it? Will we? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Gospel of John.

  • John 19A Pilate’s Judicious Exercise of Power

    Questions: What responsibility comes with authority? To what authority are we ultimately accountable? For what? Whom do we acknowledge as king? Whom do we fear? Ourselves? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Gospel of John.

  • John 18 To Tell The Truth

    Questions: What is “truth” — Can we know it? Should we tell it? Even if it isn’t expedient* No matter what the cost? Click “Read More” to pursue answers in the Gospel of John.

  • John 17 One’ More Thing

    And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.Though even that is only a small part of Jesus’ mission of glorification:I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.In…

  • John 16 Told You, So…

    Of course, they’d probably think it even more ironic that I similarly fail to take advantage of the Spirit!Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me:…