Gain additional insight, information, and interaction for topics engaged through blog posts and presentations.
Bible Resources
Resources for reading the Bible, listening to the Bible, following Bible reading guides and plans, and recommendations for research and more information about the Bible.
Conferences & Presentations
Resources to help with planning for a live presentation, making the most of conference sessions, and recommendations for online conferences.
Language Resources
Resources that help and encourage the linguistic study of the Bible. Resources include word studies, linguistic and literary comparisons, and other tools for understanding the ancient languages of the Bible and related literature from the ancient Near East.
Religion & Pop Culture Resources
Resources to encourage discussion and conversation about religious and theological influences in popular culture. Resources include a curated list of movies, films, and series, organized by divine figures, and a music playlist. This is a working project.
Recent Blog Posts
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The O’s Have It Part II: God’s Omnipresence in the Bible
Part II — Where Is God? Rethinking Omnipresence Christianity taught me to say, “God is everywhere.” Scripture taught me to ask, “Then why do some places feel empty?” What is omnipresence? Omnipresence is the idea that God is all present everywhere. Like Santa Claus in the song, who “knows when you are sleeping, knows when…
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The O’s Have It Part I: God’s Omniscience in the Bible
If God knows everything, why does Genesis show a God who asks questions? One of the first things I learned in Seminary was that the gap between biblical and theological studies grew wider as scholars specialized. Even the vocabulary and basic assumptions about belief, faith, and the nature of God differed between the two camps. I was…
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Barbie and the Easy Man
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, conversations about gender, power, and representation take center stage. While history often focuses on real-world trailblazers, fictional storytelling has long been a powerful tool for examining societal norms and challenging assumptions. Two summers ago, one film, Barbie (2023), explored gender norms and societal expectations by portraying an encounter with…
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Ethical Reflections from the Book of Ruth
The Book of Ruth, often seen as a simple love story, holds profound insights into immigrant relationships, philanthropy, and social justice within the Hebrew Bible. Through a closer examination, we can uncover the ethical dimensions of the narrative, especially as they pertain to migration and community responsibility. Here are three key takeaways from this exploration:…
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Exploring Liberation and Justice in Exodus and the Asaph Psalms
The Book of Exodus and the Asaph Psalms are profound texts that delve into themes of liberation, justice, and divine intervention, offering timeless insights that resonate with faith communities today.
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‘Though He Were Dead, Yet Shall He Live’: Permanency and Impermanency of Death in Video Games
Video games have advanced to extreme realism in the past few decades. Forty years ago, players could only place themselves in a video game with great imaginative power. Then, animation improved, so a player manipulated a humanoid in a cartoon, like Mario or Link. The character moved at the command of the player—one button for…
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Embracing Lectio Divina: The Art Reading the Divine in Scripture
In exploring the depths of biblical passages, scholars often turn to rigorous analytical methods to unearth the text’s historical, cultural, and theological contexts. Yet, Lectio Divina, or Divine Reading, presents an enriching alternative or complementary practice to traditional scholarly exegesis. This ancient technique invites us into a reflective and meditative engagement with scripture, blending intellectual…
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Applying Biblical Passages to Contemporary Contexts: The Final Step in Exegesis
This post is part of a series on illuminating Scripture through personal study that follows biblical exegesis methods. Read the Introduction article: Illuminating the Scriptures: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical Exegesis. Having meticulously navigated through annotating your passage, understanding its historical-cultural backdrop, structuring your analysis, and engaging with past scholarship, we now arrive at the…
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Crafting a Structural Outline and Developing a Working Thesis for Your Exegesis Commentary
This post is part of a series on illuminating Scripture through personal study that follows biblical exegesis methods. Read the Introduction article: Illuminating the Scriptures: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical Exegesis. In our journey through biblical exegesis, having explored both the “World in Front of the Text” and the “World Behind the Text,” we now…
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Integrating Past Scholarship and Commentary into Your Biblical Exegesis
This post is part of a series on illuminating Scripture through personal study that follows biblical exegesis methods. Read the Introduction article: Illuminating the Scriptures: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical Exegesis. After establishing a solid foundation through a structured outline and a clear working thesis for your exegesis paper, the next critical step is to…
