Have you ever read the “Apology of Patriarch Timothy of Baghdad before Caliph Mahdi?” If not, prepare thyself for some incredible if not mind-numbing dialogue!
Scene: In 780 the missionary-minded bishop Timothy joined the King of Baghdad (the new Islamic capital) in a two-day interreligious dialogue. The topic, of course, was Trinity. The following is an especially exciting excerpt from this discourse: Read More
1Me: What are we talking about, God?
God: The topic is Favorite Bible Verse.
1Me: My favorite Bible verse is Matthew 18:11.
God: What makes it your favorite?
1Me: It’s very deep. I like deep. Do you like it?
God: Bible verse is Matthew 18:11 seems okay to me.
1Me: Why? Why do you like Matthew 18:11?
God: Bible verse is Matthew 18:11 seems okay to me? Why?
1Me: Yes, why do you like it? Tell me what you like about it.
God: I have a lot of good experience with it.
1Me: Really. Explain. What sort of experiences?
God: For real. There is no more information to clarify.
1Me: I don’t believe you. There is much more to clarify.
God: You are not the boss of me.
1Me: You seem very childish.
God: Thanks for telling me that I am childish.
1Me: Why do you like Matthew 18:11?
God: I have a lot of good experience with Matthew 18:11.
1Me: Why don’t you actually look up Matthew 18:11?
4.3.1. Is it a relationship in which we have to fear being abandoned suddenly? NO!
4.3.2. Is it a relationship in which we have to worry about being taken for granted? NO!
4.3.3. Is it a relationship in which we will be offered or given everything we want? NO!
4.3.4. Is it a relationship that will cost us more than it should? NO!
4.3.5. Is it a relationship characterized by static immutability? In other words, is it a relationship that never changes? No!
4.3.5. Is it a relationship that we will have to invest some hard work? YES!
4.3.6. Is it a relationship with a price? In other words, does this relationship cost us anything? Yes!
4.3.7. Is it a relationship built upon promise? YES!
4.3.8. Is it a relationship built upon trust? YES!
4.3.9. Is it a relationship that is more important than anything else in our lives? YES!
2:17 PM Halden: I like the new look very pleasing.
2:17 PM me: Hey, bro! how are you? Thank you!
2:18 PM Halden: I am very good. An hour or so away from a long weekend.
2:18 PM me: Good to hear. Long weekends are good.
2:18 PM Halden: indeed, time enough to relax and get stuff done around the house.
2:18 PM me: Right on! The new look was a wench to get to look the way it does.
2:19 PM Halden: Have you read Francis Collins book?
2:19 PM me: nope. What’s the title?
2:19 PM Halden: Language of God.
2:19 PM me: Interesting. What’s the premise? … Looking at Amazon.
2:20 PM Halden: He is the head biologist behind the human genome project.
2:20 PM me: Cool. I love that human genome stuff.
2:20 PM Halden: The book is basically how he reconciles his Born again Christianity and DNA/Evolutionary science … very interesting stuff.
2:20 PM me: Ah! It sounds like it! I had an undergraduate Prof. who lived and breathed this stuff (Science and Faith). It’s deep.
2:21 PM Halden: Yup, endlessly fascinating.
2:21 PM me: It’s a departure from Dawkins, I bet.
2:22 PM Halden: The secret to an open mind is listening to both sides.
2:22 PM me: Right on. I appreciate and respect science … it keeps me alive. Science is very true … but so is story. Ya’ know? … listening to both sides.
2:23 PM Halden: Yeah, I am a strong proponent of basing your reasoning on all possible arguments.
10:11 AM me: Hey bro.
10:12 AM wes1981: Hey I was just replying to you. Tom and I decided not to write it because he didn’t hand anything out.
10:12 AM me: LOL! Are you sure he didn’t hand something out? I thought we were to pick from the sheet we used for the 1st assignment?
10:13 AM wes1981: I didn’t receive anything, and Tom didn’t, so I don’t think the odds are great that he did hand something out. I didn’t hear that we were supposed to use the first sheet.
10:13 AM me: There were a bunch of choices on the first sheet. I thought I heard we would use that first sheet for all assignments.
10:14 AM wes1981: I have no clue … if I’m wrong I’ll just turn it in late.
10:14 AM me: ok.