#morepolymaths
Welcome to the varied thoughts of a pastor, sometimes Algebra and Lit teacher, writer, music critic, baker…etc.
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Featured
Matthew & Luke: A Tale of Two Christmases
In most nativity sets, we blend the various Christmas stories together in one big, happy créche–shepherds, angels, wise men, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, manger, and the rest. And rightly so. Each character adds a different flavor to the rich celebration of the coming of the Christ Child. Even the extras that crowd the scene like… Read more
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Featured“We Three Kings”: How Many Wise Men Were There Really?
It’s another Advent season, and another round of articles poised to rob us of our Christmas joy. This is not one of those articles. Sufjan Stevens encourages us to embrace the inner Christmas unicorn each December. It’s a time of imagination, celebration, and mirth. So, as we come to the traditional Christmas carol “We Three… Read more
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FeaturedWhy Did Paul Winter in Nicopolis?
I’m in a wintry mood this morning. Christmas is just around the corner. Perhaps you are stuck inside looking at the snow falling, or maybe you live in South Carolina–like me–and are watching cold rain. You clutch your mug nice and warm in your hand, and a perfectly normal thought enters your mind, “I wonder… Read more
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9 Classics to Add to Your 2020 Reading List
As you put together your good intentions for 2020, consider adding some classics to your reading list. I know what you are thinking: But weren’t these books written to be read by whiny high school students and no one else? Whether you were forced to read some of these in school or not, I think… Read more
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Where to Turn in a World of Competing Narratives
I was reading Psalm 73 this morning, and Asaph reminded me of Reason #372 why it is so important to be in church on Sunday mornings. He begins his Psalm bewildered by the conflict of what he believes to be true in his heart and what seems to be true in the culture: Truly God… Read more
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A Baptist Catechism for Kids
When I was growing up, there was this infomercial for a countertop appliance called the Showtime Rotisserie. I can remember the salesman showing the product’s many practical uses, and after putting a whole turkey or chicken or a salmon or a pineapple or whatever inside, he and the audience would repeat the catchphrase together: “Now…set… Read more
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Romans 12 (Memory Aid)
Another one. These tracks may not be helping any of you, but I’m having fun. I’ve been on a journey memorizing Romans and putting the verses to various tracks to help me remember them. This time it’s Romans 12 to Big Sean’s “Blessings”. As always, not a single word from the ESV translation has been… Read more
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Romans 11 (Memory Aid)
Lightning has struck in the same place twice…this time to the bump of the International Players Anthem. I’ve been memorizing Romans with a friend, and I’ve found bending the lines to various tracks makes them stick in my memory. When it comes to memorizing Scripture, I find the more outlandish the memory aid the better!… Read more
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Biblical Narrative Is Ambiguous (and Why That’s a Good Thing)
This might make your toes curl up inside your shoes, but the narratives of the Bible are ambiguous. Just to be clear, I am not saying that the Bible is false, untrue, misleading, or culturally confined. But its stories are ambiguous. Perhaps you remember being introduced to literary tools in your high school English class–simile,… Read more
