Jesus’ Parables of God’s Reign Jesus’ Parables of God’s Reign is the text of the teachings Dr. Blair presented at the 2013 Evangelicals Concerned Fall Festival in Ocean Grove, NJ, October 11-13, 2013. On the first evening, he presented biographical background on four Christians we honor in this, their bicentennial year: David Livingstone – Soren…
To Reject or Receive God’s Reign Matthew 13:1-30, 36-43 In July, Time magazine published The 100 Most Influential People Who Never Lived. Editors drew up this list of fictional characters with some help from “contributors” such as F. Murray Abraham, Jodie Foster and Chris Colfer. The public then voted for its top choices from…
The Humility of God’s Reign Matthew 18:1-10 One day, Jesus did more than merely tell a parable. He produced a parable. He portrayed a parable. He presented a little child in tableau vivant – a “living picture”. Then, as now, a picture can mean more than mere words. But, still, just as ears must be…
God’s Revolution and Reign Mark 2:16-17, 21-22; Luke 5:36-39 Let’s hear God’s word: “When the scribes of the Pharisees saw Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples: ‘Why is he eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?’ ” “Sinners” was a catchall term for all Jews who didn’t follow…
Exodus shuts down after nearly forty years of failure at trying to change sexual orientation. Nearly four decades of claimed success were wishful thinking and deceit. Exodus president Alan Chambers says: “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.” He apologizes for the…
Paul for Everyone: I Corinthians by N. T. Wright (John Knox Press, 2004) 272 pp. Bible, Gender, Sexuality by James V. Brownson (Eerdmans, 2013) 300 pp. (PDF version available here) A popular Anglican bishop grants that two words in I Corinthians 6:9 “have been much debated” but he claims that “experts have now established [that…
(PDF version available here) John Paulk admits: “I do not believe that reparative therapy changes sexual orientation; in fact, it does great harm to many people.” This former head of Focus on the Family’s “ex-gay” program, former Exodus board president and 1998 Newsweek cover story (with his “ex-lesbian” wife) has, in April, issued an official…
“Marriage and Politics” by Sherif Girgis, Ryan T. Anderson and Robert P. George, National Review, February 11, 2013 Cal Thomas, “When Public Opinion Trumps Eternal Truth”, Washington Examiner, March 27, 2013 (PDF version available here) Sixty years ago, a homophile monthly’s cover read: “HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE?” (ONE, August 1953) In 1963, its cover dropped the question…
EC Connection 2013 Keynote by Ralph Blair (PDF version available here) Here’s how Jesus wrapped up what’s called, “The Sermon on the Mount”. Let’s hear God’s Word. “Don’t sit in judgment on others, unless you want to be judged with the same harshness. For, it will be on the basis of your judging others that…
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien (InterVarsity, 2012), 240 pp; Kent Van Til, “Singleness and Celibacy”, Perspectives, December 2012; “Opposing the Truth-Trashers” by Joel Belz, World, November 17, 2012; “Our Culture of Deceit” by Joel Belz, World, December 15, 2012; “Where ‘little lies’ Lead”, by Joel Belz, World,…