Musings (05/13/2023)
The Last Class
News and Updates:
This past week I wrapped up my Spring course (ecclesiology) at Westminster Seminary California. My three year term as visiting professor of systematic theology is up and a new full-time professor will be filling the gap which I had previously covered.
I truly enjoyed my time in the classroom, but am ready to step aside. Thanks to the WSC faculty for giving me the chance to finish up my career as a seminary professor! Thanks to the students who endured too many dad jokes and quips from the beloved Rod Rosenbladt (AKA “the prophet Rod”).
I’ll be plenty busy with the Riddleblog, The Blessed Hope Podcast, several book projects, as well as teaching the weekly adult Sunday school class at Christ Reformed Church.
My daily schedule won’t change much except I won’t be commuting to Escondido from North Orange County. And I’ll be retired. Well, sort of.
The “Comments Section” — Some Thoughts:
It used to be that the “comments section” of my favorite blogs and news sites were good places to participate in reasonable discussion, and even learn a few things about the topic under discussion. Now, most of these same spaces have morphed into battlefields for right-fighters, bullies, partisan hacks, kooks and conspiracy theorists, know-nothings, self-proclaimed experts, and internet theologians. People comment angrily on essays they’ve not read, they react to trigger words without consideration of what these words mean and how they are being used. And since like attracts like, you had better be in their “tribe,” because if you are not, a barrage of falsehoods and personal insults are sure to follow. Giving such people free reign in a comments section is like throwing chum into water filled with sharks. The few “comments” sections worth reading these days (yes, there are some left I still enjoy) now require extensive moderation to counteract the above mentioned bad behavior. As a matter of self-defense of my time and energy, I have gotten into the habit of deleting all comments that remotely fit the description above.
Much of this sort of discussion has moved to social media—which is why I use my social media accounts sparingly and primarily for announcements of new blog posts (full disclosure—I do post personal stuff on Instagram). But I miss the good, thoughtful comments and the discussions which took place at the old Riddleblog. So please feel free to comment on various posts, but keep in mind the need to stay on target, be decent, and civil. Grind your axe elsewhere.
Links:
Here are two very helpful essays on eschatology from Dean Davis: Preterism: Exposition and Critique and Postmillennialism: An Exposition and Critique
Dr. R. Scott Clark takes J-Mac and his Gospel According to Jesus, to the Reformation woodshed. There are five parts:
The Gospel According to John MacArthur (part 1)
The Gospel According to John MacArthur (part-2)
The Gospel According to John MacArthur (part 3)
Here are PDF, epub, and mobi links to selected works of J. Gresham Machen
Proof that dogs are Man's Best Friend!
So Cat Scratch fever Is Really a Thing: Man Goes Partially Blind -- Adopted Cat Scratched His Arm
A Blast from the Past:
Iconic music from an iconic scene in a so-so movie. When McQueen pops up in the bad guy’s rear view mirror . . .