Dumber!

I am pretty convinced that I am getting dumber. I have now been out of the academic world (aka college) for seven months. I feel that my brain has quickly been turning to mush without the rigors of an academic course load to keep my mind in shape. I can not wait till September arrives and I begin my course work at Fuller. I am pretty convinced I will be a little bit behind the curve at first, but hopefully I can get myself whipped into shape in time to do well in my first quarter. Hopefully, reading and blogging through Barth's Epistle to the Romans will help start getting my mind back in shape.

Blogs

Here is the link for Philip Baker's blog.

Here are some links to other theological blogs which I frequent:

Faith and Theology
Inhabitatio Dei
Tony Jones
Jesus Creed
Euangelion
The Fire and the Rose
Christians in Context

Let me know if what you think about these blogs if you check them out. Maybe hit me up with some blogs you like to frequent so I can check them out.

A New Venture!

Today begins my official foray into Karl Barth's Epistle to the Romans. This text is often referred to as a theological atom bomb dropped right into the midst of early 20th century protestant liberal theology. I have dabbled with this book before, but this will be a sustained effort to engage with this most significant theological work. Please be sure to check back regularly, because I plan to be blogging my way through the book. Also, be sure to check out my friend Philip Baker’s blog (link to follow soon), as he will be reading through Epistle to the Romans along with me this summer.

July 4th

Today, the United States will celebrate its declaration of independence from its mother country, England. This holiday always puts me in tension. (Well at least the last couple of years it has.) The question that comes to my mind (and this is one amongst many) is this: What independence did we really gain? The right to govern ourselves? Maybe. But how hollow a definition of independence this is from the standpoint of the Christian tradition. As Christians when we speak of independence or freedom we must necessarily speak of it in terms of relationship with God. In no way am I saying that we need to wed this holiday with Christian practice, but instead I think that Christian practice should stand as a constant critique to the utter emptiness of the power politics on which this nation was founded. This nation was built upon the imposition of our will over the other by means of violence. This is not the way of the cross. This is not freedom. The church must always say NO to this nation as its first word. Nonetheless, I will be out at a bbq tonight and enjoy the all the festivities and fireworks. So, in the tension between theology and praxis I will live. (Probably in sin.)