http://www.theocentric.com/ ravings of an amateur pastor, hack theologian, and wannabe mystic en Copyright 2008 Thu, 08 May 2008 16:03:47 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sheol - the netherworld - holds no comforts or prospects of future life. This effectively cuts short any possibility of a hopeful end to one's life. Does the Old Testament offer any hope beyond the grave? Does the Hebrew Bible have a theology of resurrection? Or, is resurrection in conflict with the dominant message of the Old Testament?]]> http://www.theocentric.com/theology/eschatology/to_life_death_and_the_afterlif.html http://www.theocentric.com/theology/eschatology/to_life_death_and_the_afterlif.html Eschatology Featured Death Israel Resurrection Second Temple Judaism Thu, 08 May 2008 16:03:47 -0600 [Mp3] | [Manuscript]
Acts 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying* with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 'This', he said, 'is what you have heard from me; 5f or John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with* the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?' 7 He replied, 'It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.']]> http://www.theocentric.com/podcasts/wheres_jesus_the_significance_1.html http://www.theocentric.com/podcasts/wheres_jesus_the_significance_1.html Podcasts Ascension Podcast Wed, 07 May 2008 14:51:43 -0600 ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_whisper_of_spirit.html http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_whisper_of_spirit.html Reading Agnosticism Atheism Faith Wed, 07 May 2008 14:33:06 -0600 ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_fall_of_the_evangelical_na.html http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_fall_of_the_evangelical_na.html Reading Evangelicalism Religion Religious Right Wed, 07 May 2008 14:30:15 -0600 ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/making_wise_the_simple.html http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/making_wise_the_simple.html Reading Covenant Israel Obedience Torah Wed, 07 May 2008 14:27:57 -0600 Where is Jesus? The short answer: Heaven. Unfortunately, our preconceptions of heaven get in the way of understanding what the early church meant in its confession of Jesus' ascension to heaven. Too often, we focus on the question: Where is heaven? A better question is: What is heaven? Jesus is not "somewhere in a galaxy, far, far away."]]> http://www.theocentric.com/theology/christology/wheres_jesus_the_significance.html http://www.theocentric.com/theology/christology/wheres_jesus_the_significance.html Christology Featured Ascension Church Heaven Jesus Christ Kingdom of God Witness Mon, 05 May 2008 11:13:16 -0600 [Mp3]
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 21 For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; 22 for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For 'God has put all things in subjection under his feet.' But when it says, 'All things are put in subjection', it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.]]> http://www.theocentric.com/podcasts/the_gospel_from_beginning_to_e.html http://www.theocentric.com/podcasts/the_gospel_from_beginning_to_e.html Podcasts Podcast Resurrection Mon, 05 May 2008 10:39:07 -0600 [Mp3]
John 14:15-27 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 25 I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/podcasts/no_orphans_in_gods_house_the_p.html http://www.theocentric.com/podcasts/no_orphans_in_gods_house_the_p.html Podcasts Holy Spirit Podcast Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:29:20 -0600 ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/bound_and_free.html http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/bound_and_free.html Reading Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:39:38 -0600 Hall calls us to a thinking faith that voraciously desires to understand, yet embraces the importance of doubt and uncertainty in the life of faith. We can understand the longing for certitude, but biblical religion does not offer certitude. Any kind of finality is nothing but a lie. "God offers us an alternative to certitude. It is called trust." ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/ecclesiology/leadership/sage_wisdom_from_a_seasoned_th.html http://www.theocentric.com/ecclesiology/leadership/sage_wisdom_from_a_seasoned_th.html Featured Leadership Christendom Cross Ecumenism Faith Hospitality Ignorance Inclusivism Scandal Theology Tolerance Tradition Trust Truth Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:25:03 -0600 ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_source_of_life.html http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_source_of_life.html Reading Holy Spirit Incarnational Senses Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:46:16 -0600 ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_heavenly_good_of_earthly_w.html http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_heavenly_good_of_earthly_w.html Reading New Creation Work Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:42:25 -0600 ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/you_dont_have_to_be_wrong_for.html http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/you_dont_have_to_be_wrong_for.html Reading Church Life Religion Tolerance Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:39:20 -0600 ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_resurrection.html http://www.theocentric.com/personal/reading/the_resurrection.html Reading Resurrection Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:36:55 -0600 [Mp3]
1 Corinthians 15:13-19 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ--whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. ]]> http://www.theocentric.com/podcasts/the_logic_of_the_resurrection.html http://www.theocentric.com/podcasts/the_logic_of_the_resurrection.html Podcasts Podcast Resurrection Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:49:28 -0600