Author Archives: Karyn

BioLogos: In Search of a Theology of Celebration (Workshop on Science, Evolution & Theology)

Science and the Sacred blog
The BioLogos blog (Science and the Sacred) has a post with a summary of some of the discussion from the BioLogos workshop last week that sought to look at issues of science, evolution, and theology. A very necessary conversation!

In the history of North American evangelicalism, there has never been a meeting like this. Gathered together at the Harvard Club in New York City were about 55 leading evangelical pastors, theologians, scientists, and other scholars. We were also privileged to have a small number of lay observers, who were especially important in our informal reflections. We spent two days in worship, study, prayer, and fellowship.

The scientists likely all held the position that God has created life in a manner that is consistent with the findings of mainstream science. Many of the others in attendance were not sure what to think, but amazingly–given the schedules of people in leadership positions–they were willing to come from all over the country (and beyond) to spend two days helping us understand the theological and pastoral ramifications of the science which we are so convinced is true. They were so gracious, not just in how they helped to inform us about theology and pastoral care, but especially as they listened to us talk about science. We, the scientists, described the evidence for evolution and attempted to show why it is so important for the Church hear what mainstream biology has to say about creation. They listened, and we were deeply moved by the spirit with which they listened.

Read the entire post here.

Notes from the road: Day 1

I hit the road this morning for two weeks of travels. Today I set out for Grand Rapids (I’ll be here until Thursday, when I depart for New Orleans and the SBL Annual Meeting). Here are a few highlights of my journey so far.

Most ridiculous attempts to check items for air travel:
One person was called back to security for trying to check a Gasoline (!) powered leaf blower. The other person was actually perplexed about why they could not check “safe” firecrackers in their luggage.

Greeting upon arrival in Chicago as we entered the terminal from the plane:
“Welcome to Chicago. We want you to be healthy….” This was followed by 2 minutes of telling people how to blow their noses and wash their hands. Yup. This was our welcome to the Windy City.

Different areas of the country have various regulations about requirements for automobiles. For example, California has tough emissions control requirements. Apparently in Chicago, turn signals are optional equipment.

Chicago locals are very generous. If you ask 3 people for directions, you will be given 4 sets of instructions. And even these will require asking another two people for clarification. Likely, this is their form of the Welcome Wagon.

Once actually on the road, the drive from Chicago, through a small part of Indiana (who knew?) and on to Michigan was quite pleasant. I have never been in any of these states (save to change planes in O’Hare). I am definitely feeling it is more “northern” here. The trees have no leaves left at all. The sun sets REALLY early. While not really freezing cold, the nip in the air is enjoyable.

Why listen to an iPod as you travel when you can listen to the local flavor on radio? Most surprising was Smile FM, which plays “Michigan’s positive hits.” Only a few minutes into the playlist and I realized that this is the area’s Christian radio station. Of course, they never actually said that. Other than the music, the dead give-away was the Blessing for the Hunt that was done on the air!! This blessing/prayer for the hunter, his fellowship, his solitude, his safety, etc. just seemed a bit surreal.

Of course, there was wildlife to be seen. You know you are near water when a great blue heron swoops across the highway just over the tops of the cars. And of course there was roadkill (not only deer, but raccoons and a few unidentifiable mammals). After I had turned north and headed up toward Grand Rapids, the terrain became a little more hilly. In fact, it even started to look like Maine. Just as I had that thought, I came upon a sign for the next town: Bangor. I kid you not.

Local businesses often have funky names. I don’t this one was a good choice though: Olde Strange Inn.

I forgot that I would be coming into Dutch country. Hurrah! I hope to find a Dutch bakery at some point.

There seem to be a lot of billboards here. One advertiser must plunk down quite a bit of change. Their ads were ubiquitous (and I could do without them): the Lion’s Den. I didn’t realize you could spell the word “ADULT” with such large letters. I was, however, almost persuaded to detour off my path to track down the Chocolate Garden (which was featuring a new truffle that had coffee in it). In fact, there was yet another billboard tempting chocoholics: the Chocolate Cafe. I like this state.

The Calvin College campus is quite lovely. And the folks who helped this lost soul find her way around the campus were truly friendly and kind.

I thought we would be staying in some kind of dorm-like rooms. Ha! The Prince Conference Center is gorgeous! Even a fireplace in the lobby. Maybe I will update later with some photos.

Now, to go find some coffee…

More Mental Math

I know that many of you have been waiting patiently for some more mental math tricks to amaze friends and family (for my previous post go here). With the holidays coming up, I want to be sure that you have some time to practice these new techniques.

Today we’ll look at how to square two-digit numbers that end in “5.” This is actually quite easy. You only need to remember two things:

1. The beginning part of the answer is found by multiplying the first digit by the next higher digit.

2. The answer will end in 25.

Try it!

Mental Math Example                           Mental Math Example

I’ll continue to parcel out mental math morsels, but if you really can’t wait, this is a good resource. My mother taught me most of the mental math tricks that I know and this book covers all of them, plus more.

I also promised to keep feeding you some of the problems from Milne’s Mental Arithmetic (1897). So here are a few more. The category is Addition.

A merchant deposited in a bank $25 more on Tuesday than on Monday. If Monday’s deposit was $65, what was the amount of both deposits?

Twenty-five minutes ago it was a quarter to ten. What time will it be one hour and 10 minutes hence?

A farmer sold 27 sheep, lost 16, and had 84 left. How many had he at first?

And one easy challenge (remember, this is supposed to be mental math…don’t pick up a pen/pencil/crayon/marker/quill). This is actually the first (therefore, easiest) of 123 “miscellaneous problems” at the end of Milne’s Mental Arithmetic.

If 1/2 of A’s money is increased by 2/3 of his money, the sum is $560. How much has he?

Curious about #123? Here it is.

A merchant’s expenses during a certain year were 33 1/3% of the gross gain on his sales. His goods were marked 30% above cost. At the beginning of the next year he advanced the price of his goods 10% of the marked price, and during the year cut down his expenses 10%. What per cent did he gain during the second year?

Pete Enns (Part 2) at Science and the Sacred blog

Pete Enns is the Friday “guest voice” for a second week over at Science and the Sacred (the BioLogos blog).
Science and the Sacred blog

This week he starts to describe in more detail what he means by an Incarnational Model for understanding the Bible.

Models are intellectual constructs that try to account for data. They are ways of putting the pieces together and aim to achieve the greatest degree of explanatory power.

We all have models of reality, whether or not we know it. We all hold to hypotheses and theories (which I will take as roughly synonymous with “model”) to explain what we see.

This is also the case for how we interpret the Bible. All of us–from the most ardent Fundamentalist to the most Liberal Christian–construct models to account for the “data.” The models that are the most coherent (account for the most data) wind up being the most persuasive. No model is pure and objectively correct. They are all working hypotheses, and as such are also always up for revision.

One model that accounts for why the Bible behaves the way it does is an incarnational model. Simply put, an incarnational model of Scripture is one that expects Scripture to have an unapologetically thorough human dimension analogous to Jesus’ complete humanity. Both the human dimension of Scripture and the humanity of Jesus are essential to making them what they are.

Read the rest of this second part in the series here.

SBL tips

Jim West has a great post giving his best tips (actually, 10 commandments) of how to “do” the SBL annual meeting.

UPDATE: Mark Goodacre has also added his sagely advice here.

I’d like to add one very important suggestion: Wear comfortable shoes!! Even if you are staying in the headquarter hotel, you may have signed up for the SBL Fitness Program without knowing it. For example, in San Diego (2007), you had to hike through what seemed like miles of convention hall lobbies to get to the Book Exhibit and Meeting Rooms which were at the extreme opposite end of the convention center from the attached main hotel (we’re talking city blocks here folks).

My maiden name is Murphy, so listen to me about this next Law of SBL Session room assignments. The distance between session rooms is inversely related to the amount of time you have to get to the next session. Check your Program (and map) carefully!