Monthly Archives: November 2011

Black Friday, John Ruskin, and God

Posted on November 30, 2011 by theoutwardquest

So on Black Friday people broke out their credit cards to buy things that stores were selling below cost. Now people are deeper in debt. The stores may not have made money. But we are supposed see this as hopeful … Continue reading →

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Advent–Isaiah 40:1-11

Posted on November 28, 2011 by theoutwardquest

Many churches use a schedule of scripture readings called a lectionary.  Every Sunday and holiday has its set readings from the Hebrew Bible and Psalms, and from the New Testament’s gospels and epistles.  For clergy, the value is in being … Continue reading →

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Soulen–Hallowed Be Thy Name

Posted on November 23, 2011 by theoutwardquest

Jesus followed the Jewish practice of never pronouncing the divine name. Thus the Lord’s Prayer has as its first prayer: “Hallowed be thy name.” Jesus did not pray: “Hallowed be YHWH.” Kendall Soulen, in The Divine Name(s) and the Holy … Continue reading →

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Soulen–the Trinity in the New Testament

Posted on November 21, 2011 by theoutwardquest

I have made a little progress in Kendall Soulen’s The Divine Name(s) and the Holy Trinity. I appreciate his chapters on the New Testament testimony to the Trinity because it answers some questions raised in my own church. My denomination … Continue reading →

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Blue Bloods and a Personal Note

Posted on November 21, 2011 by theoutwardquest

My read through Kendall Soulen’s The Divine Name(s) and the Holy Trinity has been slower than I expected. I think I mentioned in one post that since I started this blog my wife was diagnosed with cancer. We went through major surgery … Continue reading →

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The Spiritual Plight of the Introverted

Posted on November 18, 2011 by theoutwardquest

I am adding a new link, Introverted Church.  Adam S. McHugh is one of the few people talking about this.  I test as an INTP on the Myers/Briggs spectrum of personality types.  Extraversion often gets more highly valued in the church.  Introverted … Continue reading →

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Topography of Religion

Posted on November 18, 2011 by theoutwardquest

USA Today has this interactive map of the US.  It shows the religious affiliation of people in each state (actually only the lower 48).  I have been playing around with it.  Just put your cursor over a state. I notice … Continue reading →

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Soulen-Uniqueness, Presence, Blessing

Posted on November 15, 2011 by theoutwardquest

Kendall Soulen, in The Divine Name(s) and the Holy Trinity, surveys the Hebrew Scriptures in regard to the self naming of God. He has a long chapter on Exodus. He covers the three naming theophanies there. A theophany is an … Continue reading →

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Soulen-God’s Real Name

Posted on November 10, 2011 by theoutwardquest

I continue reading Kendall Soulen’s book on The Divine Name(s) and the Holy Trinity. Soulen discusses two theologians who sharpen the issues about the Trinity as a way of naming God, Robert Jenson and Elizabeth Johnson. They both wrote books … Continue reading →

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The Issue Driven Church

Posted on November 9, 2011 by theoutwardquest

Frederick Schmidt, a professor of Christian Spirituality at SMU, raises questions about churches that focus on religious and social issues.  This is what I have also been saying about red and blue, religious left and religious right churches: “The problem, … Continue reading →

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