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.

Diversity: An old, old wooden ship from the Civil-War era?

Posted on 28 April 2011 by Benj

Can diversity be taken too far? I’ve recently felt myself becoming more comfortable with diversity in my study of the Old Testament. In the theological realm, for example, I’ve been appreciating the tension between different perspectives on evil and the … Continue reading →

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Travelogue II: Escape to the Dark Continent

Posted on 27 April 2011 by Benj

On Thursday, March 31, I departed around 8am from Philadelphia, bound for Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. I flew Delta to their hub in Minneapolis; then KLM overnight to Amsterdam; and finally, the 12-hour, 6,000-mile flight the length of Africa … Continue reading →

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Travelogue I: Winsome, Wooded Wisconsin

Posted on 19 April 2011 by Benj

I realize that my bloggage output has been somewhat lethargic lately. Travels have kept me quite busy in the last month, and I hope to reward your attention with some mildly interesting accounts of my excursions to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Amsterdam … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible-Theology, Travels | 1 Comment

Why (and what) medical insurance should be required?

Posted on 4 April 2011 by Benj

Amidst all the controversy surrounding the budget confrontation between the Democrats in the Senate and Republicans in the House of Representatives, the Cato Institute hosted an event a few weeks ago to mark the first anniversary of the passage of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture-Economics-Society | 1 Comment

Via Amsterdam

Posted on 2 April 2011 by Benj

After 34 hours of travel, I have arrived safely in South Africa. I waas in the Netherlands for a total of foour hours yesterday (thus the straange doouble vowels). I have three observations about my experience in Schiphol Airport. First, … Continue reading →

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Strange Inconsistencies, Left and Right

Posted on 30 March 2011 by Benj

During spring of my senior year in high-school, the US and a few allies invaded Iraq in response to Saddam Hussein’s repeated defiance of the UN resolutions requiring him to submit his weapons programs to inspection (so you don’t have … Continue reading →

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Big News

Posted on 21 March 2011 by Benj

Again, my fraternal pride balloons to imperial proportions. My sister, Rebekah Devine, has been informed that her paper, tentatively titled, “Made With Hands: The Gods of the Nations in Paul’s Letter to the Galatians,” has been accepted to be read … Continue reading →

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But can you ever be just “whelmed”?

Posted on 18 March 2011 by Benj

Name that film: “I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed–but can you ever be just whelmed?” “I think you can in Europe.” According to the dictionary, ‘whelmed’ is pretty much the same thing as ‘overwhelmed.’ Either … Continue reading →

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Between Redemption and the Pain

Posted on 14 March 2011 by Benj

Last night I had the privilege of playing in a concert celebrating the release of an album by one of my best friends, Gordon Gregory. Given how busy I’ve been lately, I had told Gordon several months ago that I … Continue reading →

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What Would Jesus Cut?

Posted on 7 March 2011 by Benj

In the Boston Globe, Jeff Jacoby–a self-described "believing Jew"–summarizes my own feelings toward the Christian left.

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