Author Archives: Benj

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About Benj

I’m a native North Jerseyan, transplanted to Pennsylvania...lived and taught in Eastern Europe for six years…Old Testament professor, author, minister, musician, liturgist…husband to Corrie…father to Daniel and Elizabeth.

Happy Birthday, Paul Ricoeur

Posted on 27 February 2015 by Benj

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ric%C5%93ur

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Upcoming Lecture: “The Chess King of the Sciences?”

Posted on 23 February 2015 by Benj

Academic study of the Bible and theology used to be regarded as “the queen of the sciences.” The area of biblical studies has evolved into a derivative enterprise, relying heavily on insights from other disciplines. Continue reading →

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Links: 20 February 2015

Posted on 20 February 2015 by Benj

Three interesting articles this week on Islam and ISIS (best read in order): Faulted for Avoiding ‘Islamic’ Labels to Describe Terrorism, White House Cites a Strategic Logic – NYTimes.com. What ISIS Really Wants – The Atlantic. ISIS isn’t medieval: Its … Continue reading →

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Links: 13 February 2015

Posted on 13 February 2015 by Benj

ISIS drives displaced refugees to Christ. A Future and a Hope: Mission, Theological Education, and the Transformation of Post-Soviet Society, by Joshua T. Searle, Mykhailo N. Cherenkov. A very intriguing book. My recent post about “heresies” was partly inspired by … Continue reading →

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Choose Your Heresies Carefully

Posted on 11 February 2015 by Benj

What is it that draws an individual to skepticism on the one hand, and yet makes him/her completely susceptible to the conventional wisdom on the other hand? Continue reading →

Posted in Culture-Economics-Society | 2 Comments

Ευτυχισμένη ημέρα Εβδομήκοντα

Posted on 9 February 2015 by Benj

It’s a day late, but it should be said anyway: Ευτυχισμένη ημέρα Εβδομήκοντα! (Happy International Septuagint Day!)

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Links: 8 February 2015

Posted on 8 February 2015 by Benj

This is why I don’t recycle plastic and glass, and refer to recycling as “expensive trash”: Recycling: Can It Be Wrong, When It Feels So Right? Town of Cable is a quirky Wisconsin getaway with a giant race. Cable, WI, was … Continue reading →

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January Update: Greetings from Lithuania!

Posted on 31 January 2015 by Benj

Dear Friends and Family: Below you will find our monthly update for January (right down to the wire!). Be sure to write back and tell us how we can pray for you. Giffone January 2015 Update In Christ, Benj and Corrie … Continue reading →

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Links: 30 January 2015

Posted on 30 January 2015 by Benj

A provocative paper by Stanley Hauerwas, “Sacrificing the Sacrifices of War.” Prof. Johan Fourie at Stellenbosch: “South African xenophobia: We are all immigrants.” Martin Brodeur of New Jersey Devils retires. The first year I paid attention to hockey was 1993-94, … Continue reading →

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TBT: Re-centering and Loin-girding

Posted on 29 January 2015 by Benj

Ebenezers aplenty… Continue reading →

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