Monthly Archives: August 2014

Love, the Purpose of Life

Posted on August 31, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

At church this morning, the pastor said that the purpose of life is not to get rich, but to learn how to love. I do not always know how I, as an introvert, can love other people.  One thing I … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Movies, Television | 2 Comments

I Chronicles 25

Posted on August 30, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

Heman’s sons sang and prophesied with musical instruments at the sanctuary.  Psalm 88 is attributed to Heman. What catches a number of scholars’ attention is I Chronicles 24:4, which lists the sons of Heman: “Of Heman: the sons of Heman; … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, I Chronicles, Religion, Weekly Quiet Time | 1 Comment

Book Write-Up: The Forgotten Man, by Amity Shlaes

Posted on August 29, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

Amity Shlaes.  The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression.  HarperCollins, 2007. I enjoyed Amity Shlaes’ The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression.  Whereas her biography of Calvin Coolidge was rather heavy, her prose in … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Political Philosophy, Politics, Regulation | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Write-Up: From Paradise to the Promised Land

Posted on August 28, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

T. Desmond Alexander.  From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Pentateuch, Third Edition.  Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012.    See here for Baker’s page about this book. In From Paradise to the Promised Land, T. Desmond Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Religion | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Matching Labels

Posted on August 27, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

A while back, I started following someone’s posts.  She used to work for an abortion clinic, then she quit that line of work as she concluded that abortion was murder.  What especially got on my nerves were her posts that … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Religion | 2 Comments

Faith Without Apologetics

Posted on August 26, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

The defense of the faith (apologetics) along evidentiary or rational lines is not entirely without merit. It can serve a certain negative role, as in the way historical Jesus research can rule-out patently false postulates. To use Sarah Coakley’s examples, Thus,…

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Pagan Sailors’ Religious Beliefs in Jonah 1

Posted on August 26, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

I am going through the Book of Jonah for my daily quiet time.  In my reading this morning, something puzzled me, but I was unable to articulate why it was puzzling me.  I had a hard time formulating my question, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Daily Quiet Time, Jonah, Religion | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Book Write-Up: Illusion, by Frank Peretti

Posted on August 25, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

Frank Peretti writes Christian fiction.  Some have called him the Christian Stephen King because he has written Christian horror, plots that have demons or monsters.  There are times when his work does not have those things, though.  I think of … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Praying about Current Events, “God’s Not Dead” Bible Study, Getting Out of the Way

Posted on August 24, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

I have three items for my write-up on this morning’s church service. 1. During the children’s part of the service, the pastor and his puppet, Jake, were addressing what Christians can do in response to the problems in the world. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Church, Current Events, Prayer, Radio | 1 Comment

I Chronicles 24

Posted on August 23, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

I Chronicles 24 is about the twenty-four courses of priests who would officiate in the Temple.  They were descended either from Aaron’s son Eleazar or Aaron’s son Ithamar.  These twenty-four courses would rotate their service, with each officiating at specific … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, I Chronicles, Religion, Weekly Quiet Time | 1 Comment