As I note regularly in my posts, my wife and I are part of a counseling center. One thing we like to tell our trainees (and I would like to think we practice) is "We have have to earn the right to be heard." A similar way of looking at it is "We need to …
Continue reading Permission to be Heard, and the Risk of Anti-Evangelizing
In the previous post, I suggested that while Evangelical Christian Missions is often guided by Eschatology (the theological study of last things), it is often guided poorly. In fact, I would suggest that often it is guided by personal preferences and then justified (poorly) using poor eschatology. One of the most egregious, in my mind, …
Continue reading Eschatology and Christian Missions. Is it a Healthy Relationship? Part 2
I feel like I should dust off one of my Missiology books before writing this one… but I won’t. The thing is that Christian Missions as it is commonly identified today (at least the Evangelical Protestant flavor that predominates) sees Christian missions driven by Eschatology. Estchatology is the study of future or last things. In …
Continue reading Eschatology and Christian Missions. Is it a Healthy Relationship? Part 1
A few days ago, I was asked by one of my students here at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary what my view regarding "Mano Po" is. Now among the many things I am not an expert in is the Filipino cultural practice of "Mano po." However, since he, a Filipino pastor, was asking me, a foreigner …
Back years ago when I was attending Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary (ABGTS), I wasn't sure what my specialization would be. Actually, I originally thought about going with a Doctor of Missiology. Later, however, I decided to switch to Doctor of Theology (ThD) with a focus on Missions. Topically, I originally wanted to do my …
Continue reading When Your Dissertation Cannot Be Your Specialization
I have heard it said that "genius" can be seen as the ability to see connections between things that others do not or have not. This can exist by digging deeper in an area that others haven't. (I will be using digging in the earth for precious metals or gems as a metaphor in this …
Continue reading Genius: Generalists, Specialists, and “Overlappers”