3/31/10

Heading To Ethiopia...Soon


In just 3 months, I'll be heading back overseas to Ethiopia. I will be staying there for an entire month and am looking forward to it, though, I know it will be very tough being away from my wife and children for that length of time. As you may or may not know, I have two objectives with this trip: 1) To work with Christian leaders in some of the world's most destitute slums, and 2) To educate Christian laypersons and pastors at the Evangelical Theological Seminary. Currently, I desperately need supporters and sponsors. Can you help? Can your church? Below, I have provided my support letter. If you or your church can help, leave a comment or email me and I will send you the second portion of this letter, which will provide you with mailing info. regarding where you can send your tax-deductible donation. Or, in the meantime, you can also donate via PayPal. here's the button. Thanks and please, feel free to share this letter with anyone you think might be interested in helping.




ethiopia support letter

3/30/10

Open Theists Mourn

I accidentally stumbled upon this today but on his website last week, Dr. Thomas Jay Oord shared a letter from the ever-influential Dr. Clark Pinnock. I saw and met Pinnock a couple of years ago in Cincinnati at the Stone-Campbell Journal Conference and have read many of his books. I remember him saying near the end of the conference, during a Q&A session: "Well, my time is almost up. Besides, the young scholars need their 10 minutes of fame, too." As a young scholar, Pinnock has been theologically influential in my life and has challenged my thinking and spirituality on many fronts. I am indebted to him in a number of ways. I mourn with the Open Theists at the words and results of this email shared with Dr. Oord by Pinnock.

+ + + + +

Dear Tom and John:

I want to inform you that I am now middle stage Alzheimer’s. I will not be able to do my writing etc. I am 73 years now, and I've enjoyed my biblical three score and ten. I am not bitter. I have had a good life. I'll meet you over Jordan if not before.

You are free to make this news known.

With love,
Clark


+ + + + +


This is SAD news indeed. For a nice write-up about Pinnock, see Oord's site HERE.

3/28/10

Paper Accepted!!!

In addition to a number of papers & presentations set for my 2010 speaking schedule, another recent paper was accepted for the 5th Annual Western Fellowship of Professors & Scholars at Manhattan Christian College. The title of my paper is "An Exploration into the Aramaisms of Mark's 'Strange' Gospel". I'm looking forward to the conference and my first trip to Kansas! You can see other speaking engagements by clicking the "Speaking Schedule" link above.

3/23/10

Learn Aramaic: Screencasted Readings of Gen. 1-4

To engage the Aramaic screencasts which contain readings of Ge. 1-4, click the image-link below:

3/21/10

Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 28

In the 28th installment of my "Aramaic Annotations" series, I offer a very nice table that lays out the "strong" "Perfect" forms of the Pael, Haphel & Aphel verb paradigms. For other installations of these notes, see the table at the foot of this post. Click the play button to the left to watch the screen cast. Also, visit my GettingAramaic website!!! Enjoy!






+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 1"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 3"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 5"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 7"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 9"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 11"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 13"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 15"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 17"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 19"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 21"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 23"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 25"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 27"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 2"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 4"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 6"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 8"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 10"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 12"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 14"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 16"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 18"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 20"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 22"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 24"
+ Link "Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 26"

3/18/10

My NCAA Bracket (2010)

Here are my picks (not that I'm going to be able to watch any of the games because of my studies) but whatever. Who'd you pick to be in the Final Four?

3/17/10

Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 27

In the 27th installment of my "Aramaic Annotations" series, I offer a very nice diagram that helps you see the connection between the Aramaic vowel patterns and its Hebrew counterparts. For other installations of these notes, see the table at the foot of this post. In addition, I have a screencast here that may aid you in familiarizing yourself with the patterns. Click the play button to the left to watch the screen cast. Also, visit my GettingAramaic website!!! Enjoy!






+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 1"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 3"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 5"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 7"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 9"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 11"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 13"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 15"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 17"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 19"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 21"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 23"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 25"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 2"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 4"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 6"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 8"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 10"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 12"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 14"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 16"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 18"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 20"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 22"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 24"
+ Link "Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 26"

3/15/10

Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 26 + Screencast

In the In the 26th installment of my "Aramaic Annotations" series, I offer a very nice table that helps you see all of the Aramaic vowel pointing patterns from each of the paradigms. I have pointings for the Babylonian (supralinear) and Tiberian (sublinear) as standalone tables. For other installations of these notes, see the table at the foot of this post. In addition, I have a screencast here that may aid you in familiarizing yourself with the patterns. Click the play button to the left to watch the screen cast. Also, visit my GettingAramaic website!!! Enjoy!






+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 1"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 3"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 5"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 7"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 9"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 11"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 13"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 15"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 17"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 19"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 21"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 23"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 25"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 2"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 4"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 6"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 8"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 10"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 12"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 14"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 16"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 18"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 20"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 22"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 24"

3/14/10

Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 25

In the 25th installation of my "Aramaic Annotations" series, I offer a very nice table that helps you see all of the Aramaic vowel pointing patterns from each of the paradigms. I have pointings for both sublinear (Tiberian) supralinear (Babylonian). For other installations of these notes, see the table at the foot of this post. Also, visit my GettingAramaic website!!! Enjoy!





+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 1"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 3"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 5"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 7"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 9"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 11"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 13"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 15"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 17"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 19"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 21"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 23"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 2"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 4"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 6"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 8"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 10"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 12"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 14"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 16"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 18"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 20"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 22"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 24"

3/13/10

Aramaic Vowel Pointings Screencast

Check this out:




You can also see it here: Getting Aramaic

Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 24

In the 24th installation of my "Aramaic Annotations" series, I offer a nice table that helps you learn the Aramaic vowel pointing patterns. I have pointings for both sublinear (Tiberian) supralinear (Babyloniain). For other installations of these notes, see the table at the foot of this post. Also, visit my GettingAramaic website!!! Enjoy!





+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 1"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 3"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 5"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 7"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 9"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 11"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 13"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 15"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 17"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 19"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 21"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 23"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 2"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 4"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 6"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 8"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 10"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 12"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 14"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 16"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 18"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 20"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 22"

3/10/10

FREE BOOK: Easter: Exploring the Resurrection of Jesus

As is customary with BAR (Biblical Archeology Review), during the most sacred days of the Christian religious calendar, a free e-book is given away. This year, for Easter, BAR is giving away the free book titled Easter: Exploring the Resurrection of Jesus. Here are the chapters in the book, with their authors:

* Emmaus Where Christ Appeared - Hershel Shanks
* The Resurrection of Resurrection - N.T. Wright
* Thinking About Easter - Marcus J. Borg
* To Be Continued - Michael W. Holmes
* Conclusion: The Resurrection

To download the book, click the image-link below:

3/8/10

Glenn Beck - A Theologically Inept Idiot

In a recent bit by Glenn Beck, he argued two things that proved his theological ineptitude and logical ignorance: 1) That the term used in Christian circles known as "social justice" is nothing more than a code word for communism, and 2) That if your church talks about "social justice", you should leave it.

Clearly, Beck doesn't know what the heck he is talking about and most certainly, he has no idea how to make sense of the life of Jesus nor anything else the Bible says. From a logical standpoint, in my opinion, it is "almost" always dangerous to lump one group of people under one banner to try to explain them and/or what they are about. To use the term Christian, automatically requires some qualifications. To use the term Kentuckian or seminarian or engineer or nurse or author...all of these require some qualification to know exactly what we are talking about. So, to lump all churches who use the term "social justice" together is just fallacious.

Are there some liberation theologians who may use this phrase to mean a sort of socialism or perhaps even communism, perhaps. Does that mean that every time someone uses it within a church or religious setting that's what it means? No! This is just logical ignorance on Beck's part. And to urge people to leave their church because the term "social justice" is used there is ignorant. Unless your church is cooking up some kind of conspiracy, don't let fear-mongering idiots like Beck influence you to leave your church. If anything, Beck is the one who has a conspiracy going on here!

Just as well, when we read of Jesus' life and ministry, we cannot help but see that He was a man of social justice. He fed the poor, which is one aspect of what we call social justice. He tended to the sick, clothed the needy, congregated with outcasts, cared for children, loved the widow, etc...all things we call social justice. He spoke for the voiceless, taught the uneducated, challenged the corrupt socio-religious powers of his day, etc...again, all forms of social justice. Beck in his multi-splintered idiocy would be rebuked by Jesus for the statements he has recently made! Faith without works is dead...it is no faith at all.

So, the real conspiracy here is that Beck is promoting theological ignorance and biblical illiteracy and a lifestyle that, well, in terms of faith, is dead. So, stay at your church, stop listening to and watching Beck, do social justice and follow the ways of Jesus. This, friends, is what a living, biblical faith looks like.

3/7/10

Targum Onkelos Vocab Module


Here's a vocabulary module, created by myself with the help of one of my classmates, Caleb Wang. To use the module, click the image-link and go to the GettingAramaic page.

3/1/10

Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 23

In the 23rd installation of my "Aramaic Annotations" series, I offer a nice table that helps you learn the verbal paradigm of the Peal Imperative. For other installations of these notes, see the table at the foot of this post. Also, visit my GettingAramaic website!!! Enjoy!





+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 1"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 3"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 5"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 7"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 9"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 11"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 13"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 15"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 17"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 19"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 21"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 2"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 4"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 6"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 8"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 10"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 12"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 14"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 16"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 18"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 20"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 22"

Aramaic Annotations, Pt. 22

In the 22nd installation of my "Aramaic Annotations" series, I offer a nice table that helps you learn the verbal paradigm of the Peal Imperfect. For other installations of these notes, see the table at the foot of this post. Also, visit my GettingAramaic website!!! Enjoy!





+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 1"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 3"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 5"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 7"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 9"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 11"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 13"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 15"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 17"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 19"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 21"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 2"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 4"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 6"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 8"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 10"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 12"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 14"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 16"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 18"
+ Link: "Aramaic Annoations, Pt. 20"