I was watching one of only a few Religious YouTube channels I peruse--- Gospel Simplicity. In this one, the creator was communicating about what he liked about the Catholic church. It should be noted that the creator is not Roman Catholic. He is actually Anglican. He likes to bring together dialogue between Roman Catholics, Protestants, …
Continue reading Challenge of “Being Nice” in Religious Conversations
Years ago I lived out in the country, on a hill. It was known as "Woodchuck Hill," and that may indicate how disconnected it was from cities and towns. Light pollution was not a thing there. If I walked outside of my house on a clear moonless night, the only artificial light was from a …
Barry Phillips, a long-time friend of mine, interviewed me for his YouTube channel, "Not Finished Yet." Apparently, it will also be made available on his Podcast (of the same name) in a few days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVofodX7ay8
10 years ago, my wife and I co-wrote The Art of Pastoral Care. 17 years ago we had set up Bukal Life Ministries, which became Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center. We were training clinical chaplains and pastoral counselors in Baguio City, Philippines. Up to that point, our training materials tended to be a mishmash …
I was teaching a class in a small Bible School. This school is in a small country in Africa where Christianity is a minority religion. A couple of students brought up interesting questions that I did not realize were related. One of the questions was about doing missionary work in reaching out to Mormons (or …
Continue reading Using Other “Spiritual Writings” than the Holy Bible in Ministry
<Full disclosure first of all. I had absolutely no involvement in the production of this book. HOWEVER, I am the "editor-in-chief" of PBTS-Press, and Samdao's work is the first book published under this imprint. As such, I am reviewing a book that I have some indirect involvement in.> Francis Samdao's book "Drinking Coffee with Some …
While I am SLOWLY working on my new book "Slow Missions" (obviously I am practicing what I preach), there are a couple of other books that I had a MUCH SMALLER role in that I would like to promote: DRINKING COFFEE WITH SOME CONTEMPORARY EVANGELICAL FILIPINO THEOLOGIANS. by Francis Jr. S. Samdao. This book is …
I was watching a video on the Youtube Channel, "Gospel Simplicity," where the question "Is ChatGPT a Theologian?" was addressed. There was some good talk about that with two major points. Real theology comes from a place of (1) faith, and (2) faith community. Theological reflection without faith is simply Biblical Studies or Religious Studies. …
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. -Ephesians 4:11-13 This …
Continue reading Were There Evangelists in the Early Church?
I know some are into New Years Resolutions. As far as I can recall, I have never done this. I think I am more open to the idea of year "theming." I have done this before and found it had some merit. This year, my focus is more on Missions writing. As a missions professor, …