tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339753672011-10-06T10:59:42.416-05:00LUTHERAN MINISTER UNPLUGGEDDoug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.comBlogger3111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-28869280066826322012010-06-10T10:26:00.003-05:002010-06-10T10:28:09.912-05:00

The guy in the Dos Equis commercials has nothing on Jesus. Jesus led a profoundly interesting life and helped others do the same. He broke the neck of traditional and conventional thinking at every turn, serving as a window into a reality that transcends the terribly obvious. I believe Jesus called this “the Kingdom of God”. We are invited to enter. Most of us have been taught to picture this

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-69699214520983121532010-05-14T10:38:00.001-05:002010-05-14T10:52:13.529-05:00

I'm struck by the Gospel accounts of the Passion of the Christ.  They are very matter of fact: "Pilate had him flogged";  "they spit upon him and mocked him"; "they crucified him".  There is no screaming, no cries of agony and pain, no descriptions of how badly Jesus bled, no gore.  Except for one account while Jesus was on the way to Golgatha, there is no weeping and wailing. I'm not saying

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-42914561548264292382010-03-12T14:13:00.005-06:002010-03-12T14:34:26.538-06:00

I was up quite early this morning and decided to turn on the TV and channel surf for a bit.  I got to the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which was airing a show called "Creation in the 21st Century".  I caught the tail end of this show, and it made my brain hurt.  To me it demonstrated once again how the Theory of Evolution is mischaracterized by some outspoken Christians under the guise of "

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-11028405322932409632010-03-11T14:42:00.001-06:002010-03-11T14:43:26.745-06:00

I've been toying with new designs for a blog template and finally found one that I really like.  So if you think you're on the wrong page because you're not used to seeing my blog looking like this, relax.  You've arrived just fine. Thanks for reading!! Doug

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-88322491845647068792010-03-11T09:54:00.000-06:002010-03-11T09:54:27.402-06:00

One of the things I've noticed in my own preaching is I tend to talk about Jesus in past tense.  It's an easy trap to fall into, and I'm sure I'm not the only preacher who does this.  We talk about what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross, which is a good thing to do.  But then we leave Jesus in the tomb, as if he came to do what he had to do, and that's the end of it.  But Jesus is alive,

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-69629979670103034302010-03-05T15:17:00.002-06:002010-03-05T16:57:30.916-06:00

So, I find interpretations and applied meanings of the natural sciences to be inspiring. Facts can be transformed into meaning. Consider this quote from the late Carl Sagan, "The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but in the way those atoms are all arranged." The atoms of your body are arranged to make you, well, you! But notice that Sagan used the word "beauty". That

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-58640010684551584772010-03-04T15:26:00.002-06:002010-03-04T17:40:14.054-06:00

It's been awhile since my last entry, and there have been way too many earthquakes going on-- literally and metaphorically. Haiti, Japan, Chile, and Taiwan experienced great shifts of techtonic plates that left them shaken, dazed, and confused. The tremendous loss of life saddens me profoundly. If I had my way, these things would not happen at all. But life demonstrates over and over that my

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-8686168332190520562010-01-14T09:13:00.003-06:002010-01-14T11:36:54.387-06:00

Earthquakes are not caused by 200-year-old pacts made with the devil. For those who actually believe that such pacts cause natural catastrophes, I would kindly request that you keep your superstitions to yourself.This is what causes earthquakes.Please direct any funds or donations you might be giving to The 700 Club (this link mentions NOTHING about the earthquake in Haiti) or the Christian

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-65755241851768638052010-01-07T08:51:00.003-06:002010-01-07T09:16:49.177-06:00

A Cross in a Potato? Big deal. Yesterday my family and I had pulled pork on hamburger buns for dinner, and the wrinkles on the crown of my son's hamburger bun spelled the word "Hi". It was very distinguishable, and... such a cordial little bun taking the time to greet my son like that! We aren't going to sell it on eBay because my son ate the sandwich.The funniest part of the cross in the

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-83630114840463331032009-12-16T15:59:00.003-06:002009-12-16T16:18:30.567-06:00

I don't know why so many people use the occasion of the celebration of the birth of Jesus to advance their own petty political agendas. Perhaps people enjoy being petty.People like me, who want to enjoy the beauty and sacredness of the celebration, and who want to give mindful attention to the Word Become Flesh, get tired of listening to complains about how KMart doesn't do this, and City Hall

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-58588380674604685272009-12-16T14:03:00.002-06:002009-12-16T14:16:42.297-06:00

I can't see how this can be done in this day and age. It hasn't really been done well by anyone I know. We usually associate a person with what they do, good or bad. Such associations cubby hole the human race into "good" people and "bad" people. And we build more prisons.The sentiment of "hate the sin, love the sinner" has become so cliched that it has been rendered useless. And having

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-68289283981008869652009-12-16T13:29:00.004-06:002009-12-17T08:53:32.844-06:00

I wonder what would happen to Biblical interpretation if theologians were to view eschatology (the study of end times) in a covenantal sense rather than a spatial-temporal-materialistic sense. It appears to me that current millennial theologies leave much fear and much doubt in their wake (especially fear). I haven't seen the movie "2012", and I don't plan on seeing it, but it looks pretty

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-43533004567044986952009-10-05T20:33:00.003-05:002009-10-06T07:33:16.396-05:00

Today I went to see the latest production by filmmaker Michael Moore called "Capitalism: A Love Story" This is the first Moore film I have seen in its entirety. Honestly, I've never been interested in his movies because he struck me as just some slob who complains too much. Notice I refrained from using the word "fat" because, being overweight myself, I'm not one to cast stones. But for some

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-30854265521711118432009-10-01T09:17:00.002-05:002009-10-01T10:04:18.840-05:00

You need to know that I haven't disappeared, or moved to Patagonia, or anything like that. I apologize if you have missed my entries or have been concerned of my whereabouts. I'm still here, and hopefully I'll get to blogging on a more regular basis. Don't hold your breath, though.So, how are you? I truly hope that life is treating you the best it can and that you aren't bogged down too much

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-59332083234127648152009-07-22T16:37:00.002-05:002009-07-22T16:45:49.035-05:00

The temple in Jerusalem was a gift from God to Israel. In its destruction in AD 70 the gift was opened for all of humanity. Its contents poured out like streams in the Negev, much like tons of flowing water bursting from a broken dam. The water never runs out; God is all in all. This was the thrust of Jesus' message to Israel.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-25242886170423120972009-07-14T11:48:00.002-05:002009-07-14T11:57:39.080-05:00

"Scientific evidence for the existence of God" is not listed among the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22-23. The things that are listed cannot be measured and examined with state-of-the-art technology.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-82914089555074887182009-07-08T10:29:00.002-05:002009-07-08T10:33:51.129-05:00

The events of yesterday, originating from the Staples Center in L.A., then simulcasted all over the world, demonstrated to me that there a lot of desperate, lonely people out there.What can be done about this?

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-77545868471569188212009-07-05T06:22:00.003-05:002009-07-05T06:32:26.243-05:00

Remember "WWJD?" Well, forget it!I'm starting a new movement called "WIJDRN?"! It stands for "What Is Jesus Doing Right Now?".It's an attempt to restore an awareness of the Real Presence. Feel free to market this idea if you want. I have no desire to make millions of dollars. I'm just going to talk about it in my sermon.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-15240984668810192632009-07-03T09:40:00.001-05:002009-07-03T09:42:10.951-05:00

I think Jesus is like a man at a New Year's Eve party wishing everyone a Happy Birthday.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-65197359664700498002009-06-17T10:11:00.002-05:002009-06-17T10:17:41.431-05:00

What if Adam and Eve decided not to eat from any of the trees in the garden? Would they have starved to death?The question is not as dumb as you think.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-20369780134825966322009-06-12T15:56:00.002-05:002009-06-12T16:12:57.235-05:00

God's culture is like an urban housing developer working along the Gold Coast. He makes plans to build a low rent housing project as the prominent feature of the neighborhood. And as the project became a reality using hard-earned tax dollars, it overshadowed the multi-million dollar condos and attracted gangsters, drug dealers, and prostitutes as tenants.Mark 4:30-32

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-35296664892257790372009-06-07T17:26:00.002-05:002009-06-07T17:53:35.580-05:00

I've taught for years that Jesus blew away his contemporaries with what he taught and did. His Kingdom is certainly an upside-down one and it rocked the world of those who were within earshot of Jesus' activities. I still think this is true, and even as recently as today I preached that Jesus shocked and amazed the people with whom he came into contact. Today's example was Nicodemus.After

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-129173154596374872009-05-29T14:14:00.002-05:002009-05-29T15:27:39.050-05:00

--I'm not a Pentecostal by affiliation, although I can certainly understand why someone would gladly welcome such affiliation. Personal experiences of Spirit, in its many manifestations, can really rock your world. After all, according to Scripture, you're dealing with fire and wind!--A simple puff of air can extinguish a match; wind can quickly spread a forest fire. God's Spirit is not a

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-18386788496067679452009-05-22T13:43:00.003-05:002009-05-22T19:59:24.756-05:00

Mancow Muller being waterboarded. He could only stand it for 6 seconds. He now knows that it IS torture.It doesn't matter if you believe terror suspects should have been waterboarded or not. It must be admitted that waterboarding is, in fact, torture. Mr. Mancow used to think it wasn't, along with the likes of Sean Hannity and Hugh Hewitt, the latter I myself have heard say explicitly on his

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-35183901931116881862009-05-14T09:22:00.002-05:002009-05-14T09:48:00.837-05:00

If I have to watch the daily lives of other people on my TV screen, then I know that my life is over. You might not feel that way, and that's fine. I just have trouble figuring out why people are so fascinated with the lives of other people. I wonder if these viewers are missing something in their own lives that they have to watch someone else live life in front of a camera.Take, for instance,

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-65605829814116654452009-05-13T13:56:00.002-05:002009-05-13T14:00:05.986-05:00

"We have little or no trust that a child's knowledge is real knowledge, that their play is important work, or that the animated world they inhabit is as true as the Newtonian world we prefer. We believe firmly that we have to teach them and that we have nothing to learn from them. In an enchanted world, it would make sense to let children do some of the teaching and to give lessons in what they

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-27164583907857599872009-05-06T13:15:00.004-05:002009-05-06T20:33:10.044-05:00

Are we not men? We are Devo!Well, actually we are men (and women). How silly of me to think otherwise!!It has been said that oftentimes myth is truer than truth. This has resonance for me because I have obtained truth primarily through logic and linear thinking; lists and bullet points. That is the bane and blessing of my western heritage.There really isn't anything logical about myth. It's full

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-73306738057834284712009-04-19T22:04:00.004-05:002009-04-20T10:11:21.237-05:00

Sometimes I wonder if there are people who are bothered by my presence in their general vicinity. For instance, when I go to celebrations or parties, people clam up. They either stop their conversations or they significantly muffle them. And then the person throwing the party offers me something to drink, and it's usually a soft drink. This, while the beer and booze is freely flowing.And then I

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-25080363112343137692009-04-19T21:54:00.004-05:002009-04-19T22:02:09.998-05:00

I was going to change the title and subtitle of this blog, but I changed my mind after I typed them out and looked at them. We do have the prerogative to change our minds, don't we?

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-77831513060615506952009-04-16T08:10:00.004-05:002009-04-16T08:48:45.238-05:00

I'm not against people gathering and protesting what they see as great wrongs that need to be righted. I'm just one of those people who believe that such gatherings are colossal wastes of time. They're merely adventures in buffoonery and character assassination, and they accomplish nothing except raise ire. And the media thrives on Us vs. Them scenarios!!Look, if you don't like bloated

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-87704090638547733642009-04-12T12:29:00.002-05:002009-04-12T13:01:17.492-05:00

I would be amiss if I didn't have a post about Easter. Besides, what else would I post about today except for what I know?Modern people have a problem with resurrection. Many people I know have adopted a very scientistic worldview and consider scientific discovery as the omnicompetent institution of our time. Celebrating the resurrection for them amounts to no more than going through the

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-38487298940342566152009-04-01T11:29:00.002-05:002009-04-01T12:21:21.533-05:00

And God said, "Let there be light," And there was light. (Genesis 1:3)I caused quite a stir this morning after suggesting that this passage is not talking about physical light. I know we've been accustomed to interpreting Genesis 1 in that way, but I think there's much more going on here than meets the eye.It's interesting to me that light is not used in the physical sense through the rest of

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-84360532585424707472009-03-20T11:05:00.002-05:002009-03-20T11:43:05.175-05:00

I've just completed reading a book called ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. It has my highest recommendation for others to read.The first Christians were imitators of Jesus. They had a dream and a vision that compelled them to be missional people. They had been with Jesus and had him captured in their hearts and minds by means of the Holy Spirit.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-61622969969659006112009-03-18T10:43:00.003-05:002009-03-18T10:55:21.178-05:00

If anyone ever attempts to explain to you the Trinitarian revelation of God ontologically, buzz them immediately as if you are on a game show, because their explanation will be incomplete at best, wrong at worst.A "Christian" comedian once tried to convince people that he had the Trinity all figured out, likening it to a cherry pie. A cherry pie can be divided into three pieces, but they all

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-16729523630172862042009-03-05T08:38:00.003-06:002009-03-05T09:30:27.076-06:00

These are questions that have been bugging me to no end for about 2 weeks or so. I invite any answers or keen insights that you may have.Why is it that, in order to fully understand the Scriptures, we must study ancient history, archaeology, antiquities, relics, and ancient Middle Eastern culture and religion-- things that most Americans are neither equipped for nor remotely interested in?How is

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-12809150926209622302009-02-26T10:56:00.003-06:002009-02-26T11:32:42.721-06:00

I didn't think I would say this publicly, but I now have a new-found respect and admiration for the television useless crap salesman Billy Mays. I have had a difficult time liking that high-pitched screetch of a voice that can be heard all the way to Patagonia. But he seems to be a likeable person. I would assume that there are some people who love him dearly.I sat with laughter and amazement

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-87797335102686203222009-02-19T09:33:00.003-06:002009-02-19T10:43:43.577-06:00

This video features a neo-progressive band from England called IQ. I'm a fan of progressive rock because the musicians actually play their instruments. The drummer doesn't merely keep a beat, the guitarist isn't reduced to three chords, the bassist doesn't engage in chord-hopping, the keyboardist varies the sounds, and the lyrics are deep and meaningful. It's a sound that we don't hear much,

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-31032115010059852872009-02-05T09:14:00.003-06:002009-02-05T10:58:54.372-06:00

Actor Christian Bale recently went on an expletive-filled tirade that was recorded and played over and over. Olympic swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps was caught taking some hits on a bong. A picture of the incident has been plastered and fixed on our TV screens.Many have said that they are completely disgusted with the antics of these guys. They won't go to see any movie with Bale in it

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-30607077535756636752009-01-09T15:41:00.003-06:002009-01-09T16:06:47.990-06:00

When will the Israelis and Palestinians realize that the way they've been living since the Zionist Occupation of Palestine is just completely insane? How many more corpses will it take? When will they learn that violence begets violence and leaves everyone miserable?The only way there will be peace in the region is a complete rejection of colonialistic Zionism, which only seeks to displace the

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-58513939532687823962009-01-09T09:07:00.004-06:002009-01-09T15:34:43.465-06:00

Kevin Beck begins Chapter One of his book with a bang:I'm tired of people reading the Bible like a crystal ball.Boy, me too! It's amazing how many people approach theology with a Bible in one hand and today's newspaper in the other, as if the headlines confirm for us that what the Bible says is true. The assumptions behind this approach are ones that the average person can easily fall prey to,

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-88057143643486379532008-12-12T09:53:00.000-06:002008-12-12T09:54:16.917-06:00

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-48350037031286405182008-12-11T10:47:00.004-06:002008-12-11T15:31:48.752-06:00

Here's the book review as promised. I've decided to review this book one chapter at a time because of the weighty issues that author Kevin Beck addresses as far as Biblical interpretation and praxis is concerned. Part 0 of the review will deal with the book's introduction.I’m writing this from my local café. Besides me, three tables are occupied—all of them with people doing Bible studies. The

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-75785691383052736712008-12-09T10:38:00.004-06:002008-12-09T12:26:24.119-06:00

This blog entry is a precursor to the book review I promised in my previous post. I thought it would be fitting and appropriate to first write about how I got to know the book's author. It's a long story, so if you're willing to wade through it I'll try to make it as short as possible.A few years ago I was involved in a Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark. In this study we made a cursory

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-31650656709506514242008-12-04T14:53:00.003-06:002008-12-04T14:56:17.036-06:00

I apologize for not posting in quite a while. I'm in the middle of reading a book written by a friend, and I promised I would write a review on this blog. So sit tight! I'll finish reading the book soon, think about it, and then write about my reactions to the book.In case anyone is interested, the book is called This Book Will Change Your World by Kevin Beck. I'm enjoying the book so far,

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-50993128318902738762008-11-20T10:07:00.003-06:002008-11-20T10:52:58.193-06:00

The recent Obama appointees don't reflect the so-called "change" Mr. Obama promised. As I wrote in a previous entry, change does not come to Washington; people go to Washington and are changed by the Washington culture. Our President-elect will be no exception to this.Appointing Clintonistas is not change, statements by Lanny Davis notwithstanding. Davis claims that real change is in policy,

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-20614354716344786442008-11-18T10:38:00.006-06:002008-11-18T15:23:14.683-06:00

The headline of the recent edition of Christian News poses a question that I would like to answer.[What] if Walther was the president of the LCMS today?My answer: If C.F.W. Walther was the president of the LCMS today, I would be a little bit more than surprised!

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-63693192974070818182008-11-16T08:03:00.004-06:002008-11-16T14:10:33.628-06:00

This will just be a simple list of things I've observed about people and church from being a pastor for 15 years.1) People are going to believe anything they want, no matter how much you preach, teach, cajole, counsel, summon, etc.2) People don't accept you as you are; people accept you as they are. You do the same thing, don't you?3) Money talks. Period.4) People exaggerate. Things are either

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-46046305058156151292008-11-11T07:13:00.003-06:002008-11-11T07:21:15.810-06:00

This past Sunday's Gospel lesson was the Parable of the Ten Virgins. I'm not going to retell the parable here, but the point of the parable was to keep watch "for you don't know the day or the hour" of the return of the Bridegroom. I have some very basic questions about this text.1) Assuming that Jesus didn't tell this parable in a vacuum and was in fact speaking to a live audience, we can safely

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-33130363856366390502008-11-06T08:52:00.002-06:002008-11-06T09:52:03.105-06:00

A big congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden! I pray for their success and that the Lord will uphold them in their offices with wisdom and guidance. Also a big thank you to Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin for their hard work and determination in a well-fought campaign! I pray that the Lord of all consolation and strength will give them

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-12159997941261618892008-11-04T07:55:00.002-06:002008-11-04T08:45:44.302-06:00

I'm not exactly what you would call "qualified" to give advice on this election day. But hopefully the things that I write here you already know in the depths of your bones. If you have already voted, good for you! Voting is one of the hallmarks of this experiment in democracy.Obama or McCain? Whomever you choose, please remember:a) Your candidate of choice is not a superstar or a deity.b)

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-86531007656502528472008-10-30T09:51:00.003-05:002008-10-30T10:57:57.127-05:00

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.-- Romans 3:23I'm not a huge fan of John Shelby Spong, but I think he was onto something when he wrote that "sin is ontological, not moral." (This Hebrew Lord, p.65). I say he was onto something because he brought out a dimension of sin that we normally don't think about. Of course, his statement isn't completely correct. Sin is both

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-46258593442592323052008-10-21T08:09:00.004-05:002008-10-21T14:23:56.261-05:00

As you know from a previous post, I had surgery on both feet to remove bunions. The surgery went very well, as expected, and the recovery isn't all that bad either. I was expecting to be in immense pain and agony, but the pain has been minor. I keep on top of it by taking an Aleve in the morning. I originally used Vicodin for pain relief but it made me loopy, and there's a risk of becoming

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-83946326561237010352008-10-12T06:56:00.004-05:002008-10-12T07:30:31.386-05:00

Jesus' parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14) has a curious character who isn't wearing wedding garments and is bound hand and foot, thrown out, and designated to the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Apparently the feast has a dress code.I've been one to buck the system when it came to dress codes, and to some extent I still am. I'm not much into uniforms.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-25085355696541931772008-10-09T10:40:00.002-05:002008-10-09T11:00:19.178-05:00

I have bunions on my feet-- a huge honking one on my right foot and two little ones on my left. And, yes, they are painful.I'm having surgery on the 16th to be de-bunionified. It's an outpatient procedure and I'll be home that afternoon. I'm not really concerned because the surgeon made it sound like a trip to Nassau. He convinced me thoroughly, so I'm looking forward to the array of

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-8686404864344886492008-10-08T10:32:00.005-05:002008-10-08T21:02:07.184-05:00

So, the other day I ate a meal that was fit for a king."Here King, here King!"(Thanks to the late Henny Youngman for that one.)Why do we call dead people "late", as in "the late Henny Youngman"? What are they late for? A staff meeting?"Where's Henny?""He's late.""What, is he caught in traffic?""No. He's dead."What about if you really are late for a staff meeting? Can you use the word "dead" in

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-9328550933282557672008-10-03T13:56:00.003-05:002008-10-03T14:06:03.456-05:00

My youngest son, Cameron, read a Carl Sandburg poem about a man who sees another man, and this other man does everything that he does-- smiles, frowns, laughs, walks, etc. My wife asked Cameron if he knew how the man could see another man doing the same thing he's doing.Cameron said, "He's looking in a mirror." When asked how he knew that, Cameron answered, "I dunno."A mirror-- brilliant!

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-53442780161437492262008-10-01T18:35:00.002-05:002008-10-01T18:37:42.403-05:00

One day I was eating a piece of chocolate cake when my friend asked if he could have a bite.So I bit him.It was quite disturbing to the other people sitting in church.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-84341591438263455082008-09-26T09:41:00.002-05:002008-09-26T10:07:27.371-05:00

Did you hear about this?I love Ben and Jerry's ice cream, especially New York Super Fudge Chunk. Having it made with breastmilk seems creepy to me. Breastmilk is better kept for babies. Does PETA really want to treat women like cows? Apparently. Are we going to have factories that milk nursing mothers? Who's going to volunteer (or even get paid) to go through the embarrassing process of

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-13010517737792258942008-09-25T08:29:00.006-05:002008-09-25T14:01:47.834-05:00

Most of us are very concerned about the financial crisis looming before our eyes. We keep hearing about a government bailout that will hopefully save us from losing all assets and zeroing out our stock portfolios. I personally believe that our country will come out of this and that plenty of safeguards will be put into place in an attempt to make sure it doesn't happen again. But safeguards won't

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-32788922472682273642008-09-19T09:56:00.008-05:002008-09-19T13:39:34.440-05:00

Another made-up trialogue with me, Barack Obama and Joe BidenMe: I would like to see all of us work for peace.Barack: Me too! But we have to get bin Laden in Afghanistan.Joe: Yes, and be patriotic once again.Barack: Yeah, patriotism would be great for all Americans.Joe: It's especially patriotic when rich people give up more in taxes.Barack: And then we can have a national peace rally in D.C.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-75561842798896626902008-09-19T09:56:00.004-05:002008-09-19T10:04:19.466-05:00

Yeah, I made it up.Me: I'd like to see all of us work for peace.John: Well, that would be nice, Doug. But we have some unfinished business in the Middle East.Sarah: Yeah, let's kill those bastards!!!John: Very good, Sarah. Then I was thinking we could have a national cookout.Sarah: I love it!! I'll bring the moose meat and all the trimmings!Me: *sigh*My next installment: Trialogue with Barack

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-1449436218421785122008-09-18T13:56:00.004-05:002008-09-18T14:40:27.637-05:00

Jesus' parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) demonstrates that the last shall be first and the first shall be last-- another way of saying that God's Kingdom is a level field of play and is not conducive to favoritism. The lowly are elevated and the high and mighty are cast down. There is no division between haves and have-nots or between peoples of different ethnicity.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-14999383247764948442008-09-16T16:27:00.000-05:002008-09-16T16:28:18.519-05:00

Knock, knock!Come in!!

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-25350232440724977622008-09-12T11:36:00.003-05:002008-09-12T11:57:20.301-05:00

There's a radio station in Chicago that dubs itself as "Chicago's Progressive Talk". They are not progressive. They are liberal. Progressive and liberal are not the same thing. Liberalism is the same old "us versus them" mentality held by conservatives. The only difference is that liberals take the opposite position.True progressives take the best and the worst of the warring camps and forge

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-79123062772583967602008-09-11T11:02:00.005-05:002008-09-11T12:04:13.901-05:00

This is absolutely hysterical!! Some guy took a video of Eddie Van Halen and dubbed over it with his own really lousy guitar playing that matches perfectly with the video. He makes it sound like Eddie is just learning to play the guitar.Kudos to my brother, Jeff, for the link!!

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-1456264519093435162008-09-10T08:50:00.003-05:002008-09-10T09:13:19.658-05:00

McCain and Obama are not agents of change. Period. They are both Washington insiders using beltway lingo, such as "lipstick on a pig". Obama just happens to be the one who last used the phrase.Change doesn't come to D.C. no matter what the politicians promise. Politicians go to D.C. and are changed by the beltway culture.A politician next doorSworeHe'd set the Washington arena on fire.Thinks

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-39738769253376036852008-09-09T13:58:00.004-05:002008-09-09T14:36:37.902-05:00

At one of the local hospitals, the cardiac care unit is on the same floor as the behavioral health unit. Who thought of this?Well, I guess heart patients have to be put somewhere!;>)

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-23778998428618155482008-09-09T09:26:00.004-05:002008-09-09T09:42:15.097-05:00

People have told me that they need to get right with God, and it doesn't register with me, in the sense that I can't tell them how to accomplish what they've set out to do. I know what they mean, however. It's an angst that is expressed in a seeming distance from God. And so these poor people pray more, work harder, fret and fear, lose sleep, lose appetite, and have nervous breakdowns.I just

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-13963511070048624592008-09-09T09:09:00.002-05:002008-09-09T09:16:00.721-05:00

I never seem to get invited to bar mitzvahs. I'm gonna try to find out why, but it could be because I don't know any Jewish people. Ya think... maybe?

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-2118897606568221922008-09-08T12:35:00.005-05:002008-09-08T12:48:31.145-05:00

Do death metal audiences sing along with the band? Seems like an easy thing to do. Though it would probably be a good idea to hand out throat lozenges to people as they're leaving.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-76150159037215256732008-09-06T06:59:00.003-05:002008-09-06T07:35:46.731-05:00

I do believe in God. In a day when belief is hard (for some of us) and the road is difficult (for some of us), the end of the day arrives. At the end of the day, when the world is hushed from its feverish pitch of grasping at straws, there comes an ominous silence. And time to reflect.I believe in God, not because I have scientific evidence, nor because I'm a master of puppets, nor because I

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-46716477557311834762008-09-03T13:54:00.005-05:002008-09-03T15:12:47.050-05:00

I'm not against politics. Actually, the root of the word "political" is polis (Greek, meaning "city"). Politics determines public policy and jurisprudence. It's necessary for an orderly and functioning society. We are a nation of laws, and most of us wouldn't have it any other way. So, in my book, politics is necessary.Both Republicans and Democrats are trashing each other in this national

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-16597530553783048642008-08-28T10:55:00.007-05:002008-08-28T11:15:35.783-05:00

I don't know what to say about this. The words just escape me right now. I'm completely beside myself. I'm rendered speechless. My brain is about to explode. I'm afraid to get out of my seat for fear of leaving parts of me behind on the chair. I wonder if they have a Christianized version of Grand Theft Auto. BTW-- The same company markets a Praise DDR set. Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-59703836937234281632008-08-26T09:24:00.002-05:002008-08-26T09:34:02.344-05:00

I meet and hear so many people who think their deceased loved ones are looking down on them and smiling.How and when did this sentiment start? I suppose it helps people feel better and deal with their grief, but it's tinged with Gnosticism. I've always found it to be a bit sappy myself. But I never know how to respond to it.So, when I hear it I just smile and nod, smile and nod, smile and nod.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-71396532728364845732008-08-21T14:29:00.003-05:002008-08-21T14:49:03.265-05:00

"I am convinced that the climate of skepticism, which for the last two hundred years has made it unfashionable and even embarrassing to suggest that Jesus's resurrection really happened, was never and is not now itself a neutral thing, sociologically or politically. The intellectual coup d'etat by which the Enlightenment convinced so many that 'we now know that dead people don't rise,' as though

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-21720643733100322402008-08-19T09:43:00.004-05:002008-08-19T10:52:12.371-05:00

The title of this post, as most of us know, is that endearing line from the bumbling Buzz Lightyear from the movie Toy Story. I know he's just a toy in an animated feature, so he can be made to say anything. Even things that are completely outrageous!Can we actually reach infinity? What is beyond infinity? Isn't it just more infinity? How does one go beyond that?Of course, it's all just

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-2025156937296670692008-08-14T13:34:00.003-05:002008-08-14T13:38:39.651-05:00

As I was driving back to church this afternoon, the sign on the Burger King said,Try a SteakhouseYeah, don't come to eat our cruddy food. Go to a nice steakhouse instead! Sounds like a good idea!! But it might put our Burger King out of business if they continue to send customers somewhere else.Talk about unintended consequences! Sheesh!!

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-23765137909747923432008-08-14T08:41:00.004-05:002008-08-14T10:40:56.427-05:00

I'm back! I was with my family in Fargo, North Dakota for a wedding. The son of the pastor I worked with in my first parish got married. I was flattered to have been invited. We (my family and I) decided to make a vacation out of it and ended up spending a couple of days in Minneapolis. We did a lot of swimming and made a visit to the Mall of America (the Mega Mall). Great time! I wish we

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-85306860891845815732008-08-05T09:03:00.003-05:002008-08-05T09:16:28.100-05:00

Then the Lord God said, "It is not good (a quick aside: isn't it interesting that something is called "not good" before "The Fall"?) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-29318257671362749882008-07-30T17:17:00.002-05:002008-07-30T17:23:32.841-05:00

Seems that Jesus is showing up everywhere these days: cat fur, sink stains, burnt toast. But this one has to top them all. It was even given a name, and you won't find it on eBay.If I discovered this in my bag of Cheetos, I would've thought it to be an odd coincidence and eaten the thing. And I don't give names to snack foods I ingest.It's a Cheeto.I repeat: IT'S A CHEETO!! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-56831501130237407002008-07-29T11:07:00.003-05:002008-07-29T14:25:19.945-05:00

I've been a little bit lax in posting of late. Sorry about that.From the parables of Jesus this past Sunday, it occurred to me that the Kingdom of Heaven doesn't force itself upon us in a romp and stomp kind of way. It doesn't come with storm and fury, but gently, in a way that could only be described as an inside job.In Matthew 13, Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as being like a treasure

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-85085767787939389182008-07-25T09:51:00.001-05:002008-07-25T09:53:28.891-05:00

"Gad, yer hat!"-- Suspected criminal Drew Peterson to TV reporter Joanie Lum as she was asking him about the new incriminating evidence against him.Gotta love that southside Chicago dialect!!

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-77501559901685228142008-07-22T13:29:00.003-05:002008-07-22T14:24:53.293-05:00

God is not something to believe in or not. God is. The issue is one of trust. God is either trusted or not trusted.The Pharisees believed in God. They didn't trust God, as could be seen by their scrupulosity and rigidity. The Sadducees believed in God, but they didn't trust God, as could be seen by their manipulative cultic and ritualistic practices. The Scribes believed in God, but they

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-78200749671396334562008-07-21T08:23:00.007-05:002008-07-21T09:09:56.525-05:00

My parents, older sister Cyndi, and niece Kathryn were in town this past weekend. For the short time we spent with each other we had a very good time.My parental units arrived on Friday via their van. Cyndi and Kathryn arrived at Union Station in Chicago via Amtrak. They walked around downtown Chicago and had lunch at the original Potbelly's. Kathryn works at Potbelly's in Dearborn, MI, and

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-16512442604869257152008-07-20T07:14:00.004-05:002008-07-20T07:23:25.440-05:00

I wanted to get this down on the blog while it's still fresh in my mind.Jesus was someone who couldn't have been invented. If I were a Jewish man living in the first century, and if I wanted to invent a Messiah, it certainly wouldn't have looked like Jesus. I would have invented someone who kicked some Roman butt and told fabulously glorious militaristic stories on just how he accomplished it. I

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-48624923327982626252008-07-19T08:49:00.003-05:002008-07-19T09:31:53.749-05:00

I've been watching some vids of Christians debating Atheists on the existence of God. Christians, of course, offer proof of God's existence; Atheists, of course, offer proof of the non-existence of God.The winners of the debates were already decided before they even aired. Christians are going to side with the Christians no matter what the Atheists say; Atheists are going to side with the

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-8860980984182609112008-07-17T17:50:00.005-05:002008-07-17T18:29:22.072-05:00

For once I would like to see a book entitled, "I'll Change Your Life For The Worst". That would be so refreshing!Really! I'd like someone to write a book about how they went from joyously happy to bottomless pit depressed-- and stayed there. Wouldn't that qualify as a "change in life"?Yeah, I'm just being a wiseguy. I know that kind of book won't sell, which is why next to nobody's writing

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-77658161262885097642008-07-16T08:18:00.002-05:002008-07-16T08:21:54.830-05:00

Check this out!What's even more frightening is why they cancelled this giveaway.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-27457644357220675252008-07-15T14:57:00.005-05:002008-07-15T16:49:38.776-05:00

I have no interest in the ongoing Creation vs. Evolution debates. To me, they end up be contests on who can spit the farthest (or arguments on who has the better scientists). I'm not even remotely interested in harmonizing modern scientific discoveries with Scripture. The Bible is not a science text. Unfortunately this seems to be the modus operandi of Biblical apologists, as seen here and here.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-46265572290936374152008-07-15T14:12:00.002-05:002008-07-15T14:22:01.705-05:00

I officiated a funeral today. After the committal service at the cemetery, one of the relatives of the deceased said to me, "God reaches out to us, but we have to reach back."This sounds strangely like the addage, "God helps those who help themselves." This is nowhere found in the Scriptures. It even isn't implied.I'm sure the gentleman meant well. He was probably expressing a deep

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-76210899843136308542008-07-12T10:11:00.002-05:002008-07-12T10:18:19.416-05:00

Do you talk to yourself? We normally judge people who talk to themselves as a bit eccentric, but there may be Biblical precedent for doing this. Read Psalms 42 and 43.Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (42:5)

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-299666487550210702008-07-11T09:30:00.004-05:002008-07-11T10:17:54.024-05:00

In case you were wondering about the man behind the glasses (me) and what makes me tick, please refer to my sidebar on the right. I have a sentence there that tells my Myers-Briggs Temperament Instrument (MBTI) type as ISFP (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving). I won't get into the nitty-gritty details about what it all means, but I can give you a description of the ISFP type from people

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-84284841965255287042008-07-10T08:39:00.004-05:002008-07-10T08:49:16.023-05:00

Be careful who you label as "them", because when it's all said and done, "them" just might turn out to be you.This was the thrust of Jesus' criticism of Israel. If you have ears to hear...

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-35466027213747293412008-07-09T10:18:00.003-05:002008-07-09T10:50:26.596-05:00

Speaking of worldviews, just what exactly is a Biblical worldview and is it possible to have such a worldview? Keeping in mind that the Bible was written at a different time, in a different culture, in different languages, and with a different cosmology, I have my doubts.We've been told that in order to fully understand Scripture one must learn to think like an ancient Jew and obtain a Jewish

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-17198950704837565622008-07-09T08:45:00.003-05:002008-07-09T13:34:34.250-05:00

... I thought I would give some random thoughts on the Gospel reading for Sunday (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23).The Parable of the Sower is a parable about parables and their effect on the people of Jesus' day. Some would hear and hear and hear and just won't buy it. And of course, Jesus' preaching had that effect upon the religious elite and their minions, who sought ways to have Jesus taken out. Some

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-85434746508311412392008-07-08T18:07:00.003-05:002008-07-08T18:12:59.356-05:00

A thought just occured to me and I wanted to get it out before I forgot.What would the Bible say if humanity had its origins on the Moon and not on the Earth? How would it read? I suspect it would be quite different because the Biblical authors would have had the moonscape as their point of reference. How would Genesis 1 read then?Just wondering.

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-54687122831947286612008-07-08T11:38:00.004-05:002008-07-08T18:31:15.271-05:00

A letter.Then alphabetized letters.Letters combine to form words.Words combine to form sentences.Sentences combine to form paragraphs.Paragraphs combine to form pages.Pages combine to form stories.Stories combine to form books.Books combine to form libraries.There would be no libraries, books, stories, pages, paragraphs, sentences, words, or alphabets if it weren't for letters.Reality is series

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-52942461631111188142008-07-07T07:07:00.005-05:002008-07-07T08:21:30.822-05:00

As the saying goes, "There are no atheists in foxholes."In response to this, an atheist once said, "If I'm being bombarded in a foxhole, I'm going to do whatever I can to get out of there. I'm not going to sit around and wait for some God-guy to come and rescue me."Exactly. This is what I call "foxhole faith". It's a faith that's just as valid a belief as any that I've ever heard. Perhaps

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-44863516491688605942008-07-03T17:31:00.002-05:002008-07-03T17:47:46.719-05:00

What would the Christian faith look like if the Spirit hadn't inspired the Biblical authors to write? Almost all scholars agree that almost everything we have in the Bible started out as oral traditions, including the Gospels. According to Dr. Ken Bailey, the Gospels were written primarily out of necessity. The oral traditions and stories about Jesus were kept guarded in the various faith

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975367.post-17685510342224352472008-06-30T07:44:00.003-05:002008-06-30T08:35:17.928-05:00

The Christian Church is not bringing in very many new adherents. Most of the new membership in any given congregation consists of people from other churches. We're not bringing in new cards; we're merely shuffling the deck. The church has an embedded culture that it clings to tenaciously by embellishing it with rigid dogma. According to the recent Pew Survey, most religious people do not wish

Doug Hoaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030777644159310014noreply@blogger.com3