What is the “Backfire Effect”?

A Quote from the post, "The Backfire Effect." To read the full article, please Click HERE. The last time you got into, or sat on the sidelines of, an argument online with someone who thought they knew all there was to know about health care reform, gun control, gay marriage, climate change, sex education, the …

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Modified Engel Scale and TGMX

Nice article from the work of Paul and Sue Hazelden. Rather than regurgitating it here, I am hoping you will take the time to click and read their article HERE. Of course, it must be noted that the Engel Scale is cognitive... so it does not really include the affective aspect. If you want to …

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That Bad Stuff Good People Question

"What is 'I Don't Know'?" That is the best Jeopardy answer I can give to the statement to the answer "Why does bad stuff happens to good people." Some feel this is a "cop-out," or taking the easy way out. Frankly, I have heard a lot of easy-way-out answers to that question: "God's ways are …

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“greatness” rather than “Greatness”

Hoping you will take the time to see the Article on "Clearing Customs" entitled "Your little "g' greatness is Still Worth Finding." You can find it by clicking HERE. That article, as well as associated videos, is a nice look at the Nike ad campaign in 2012 seeking to redefine greatness... away from an elitist …

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The Power of Contempt

The world is full of "love songs" that suggest that the greatest power on earth is LOVE. In the Bible we are told that "God is Love," not suggesting that the Creator of the Universe is an abstraction--- but that the single-most important thing that God wants us to know about Himself is His love …

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Views on Interreligious Dialogue and Salvation

Blessing to be a Blessing

I guess I have a temperament for being task-oriented. In missions, that shows itself in trying to squeeze the last bit of ministry out of the money, and being as efficient with ministry time as possible. In teaching, I like to pump out as much information as I can, and not do too much in …

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Interfaith Dialogue Posts

For those students of mine who are taking Dialogue with Asian Religions, here is a list of my posts that relate  to this topic: What View Should Christians Take of Non-Christian Religions How Do We Dialogue Among Faiths Dialogue and Different Faiths Dialogue With Other Faiths Seven Rules of Dialoguing Problem With Debating Quote from …

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Salty Language and Landmines

I was looking up the etymology of the term "salty language." According to one source, the terms salt and salacious (stimulating lustful thoughts or behavior) share a common Latin source (won't bother on the related theories as to why that is). I had always assumed it had a maritime source. Sailors  are often known for …

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How Do We Dialogue Among Faiths?

I will be teaching Inter-religious Dialogue this next semester at seminary. First time I have ever taught such a course. I look forward to it. But it is challenging to find good sources within the Evangelical Realm as far as how to do Interfaith Dialogue. I think some of this is because there is a …

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