The library at the University of St. Andrews notified me today that my dissertation is now online.  I reworked it for popular publication as The Drama of Ephesians, but here you can find the exegetical work that funds the (far more readable) published work.

One of the more interesting aspects of this year’s U. S. Open is that Casey Martin will be playing. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, Martin, a college teammate of Tiger Woods at Stanford, sued the PGA Tour in the late 1990’s for the right to ride in a cart during tournaments.  He has a […]

The 112th U. S. Open Championship begins this Thursday at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, making this one of the most exciting weeks of the year for followers of golf. The USGA prides itself on its championship and its stern test of golf.  They make Open courses difficult by narrowing fairways and growing the rough thick […]

We had our car in the shop a few weeks ago to fix a defective part.  When I returned to pay for it, I was told that I could save about $600 by having the manufacturer pay for the part.  It was under warranty and I would only need to pay cost of labor.  The […]

Summary & Conclusions This discussion of divine election aimed to demonstrate that there is no tension between this notion in Scripture and the love of God. Israel was God’s chosen people, elect for the purpose of showing God’s love to the world.  The church, made up of Jews and gentiles in Christ, is God’s chosen […]

“Vessels of Wrath” I’ve been treating Romans 9 in an effort to support my larger argument regarding divine election.  Election in Scripture has the purpose of shaping the identity of God’s people.  They are the people who have been on God’s heart and mind from eternity past.  They are those to whom God has committed […]

I kicked off this blog a year ago.  I had thought about doing this for quite some time, but finally jumped in last summer.  I must say that I’ve really enjoyed thinking out loud and reflecting along with others.  It’s been nice to re-connect with some old friends and to make some new ones. To […]

Election and Hardening As I noted yesterday, any discussion of divine election must account for Romans 9.  In this section of Romans Paul is not necessarily dealing with the questions we might have regarding divine election.  He isn’t addressing why I have received mercy but my friend hasn’t. He’s addressing specific issues related to Israel’s […]

I have argued that Scripture uses the language of divine election to speak of God’s unique relationship to his people.  They were on his heart and mind from eternity past and he has sought them out and saved them by his power.  The language of election and God’s choice stresses God’s initiative in salvation. This […]

*Originally given at Midtown Christian Community, June 10, 2006 Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and […]