Creating a character arc for Mike Berg in this trilogy was actually easy. Creating a character arc for an A.I. system, YAR, was a little more challenging. But most of my readers say I pulled it off! If you’ve read them, tell me what you think. www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDDWV55N

A Bible-based diet but more absurd than the Daniel diet. Go!

Theology 101: “To be exasperated by common matters is the part of the little-minded, morose, and peevish.” (John Chrysostom)

Theology 101: You know how critics of your theological perspective on this-or-that issue don’t seem to quite understand your tradition’s view and tend to caricature it or portray it in a way you never would? You sound the same to them when you talk about their view.

Movies for which end-credit bloopers would be totally inappropriate. Go!

“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to you. Therefore, attract people to your Easter Sunday production with absurd gimmicks including, but not limited to, dropping Easter eggs out of helicopters and taking pictures with the Easter Bunny,” said Jesus never.

Theology 101: If your church’s beliefs and practices would be about the same without the Scriptures, it’s a false form of Christianity.

Theology 101: “I find no dress cursed by God, except a woman’s dress on a man.” (Tertullian or Carthage)

Theology 101: God does not retcon the Old Testament.

Theology 101: If you choose to change lanes from one Christian tradition to another, do it slowly, cautiously—with adequate warning to those around you—and don’t side-swipe others who are just trying to stay in their lanes.

Yes, Christian sci-fi is a thing. It’s not a big thing. But it is a thing. a.co/d/0fZdJAnt

Don’t forget the prequel to Heir of the Forgotten Realm: a.co/d/0eFK5EBW

For both kids and adults… a.co/d/0hSI5kfQ

Theology 101: It’s an uncomfortable and inconvenient fact for contemporary evangelicalism that the Bible has no concept of a preacher or teacher who is self-taught in Scripture or Christian doctrine. Discipleship is not a suggestion, but a command. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Theology 101: The biblical narrative presents a lot of problems, poses a lot of questions, and leaves a lot of loose ends. Jesus Christ is the solution to the problems, the answer to the questions, and the one who ties up the loose ends.

Theology 101: An OT scholar once told me Gen 3:15 is just a story meant to explain where people got their fear of snakes. Huh? The fear of snakes was such a great existential question plaguing humanity that it warranted mention in the third chapter of the Bible? Nah.

Theology 101: I long for that unending day when Revelation 21 will be history.

Theology 101: That Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Root of David is not just about where he came from but also about where he’s going—not simply revealing his origins but also revealing his destiny.

Theology 101: “Wherever the Holy Spirit is present, He makes men of gold out of men of clay.” (John Chrysostom)

Me, when someone takes seriously a post that was obviously meant as a joke and then replies with a barrage of nasty comments:

Why I don’t do a podcast: My calling is research, writing, and teaching, bridging the scholarly, academic and the popular, churchy spheres. Plus, I have a face for radio, a voice for writing, and a writing style for social media.

Me, when I scroll past the vast majority of hot theological debates on here:

Theology 101: Even if I disagree, I respect those who articulate well-researched, nuanced theological positions on which they labored for years with accountability to both church and academy. But I have no respect for fools who build a fortified tower on top of Mount Stupid.

REAL Theology 101: Along with the Essentials of Christian Theology book (a.co/d/0ivJeJei), I've written a Field Guide for personal or group study. Available FREE as a PDF download in the product description, or available as ebook or paperback: a.co/d/0e0duKhO.

Theology 101: Them: “The NT applies OT promises to the seed of Abraham spiritually to the church. So—no future promises for the physical seed of Abraham.” Me: “The NT applies the OT promise of resurrection spiritually to the church. Will there be no future physical resurrection?”

Theology 101: Despite its flaws, I haven’t forsaken the free church tradition that led me to Christ, discipled me, and supported me through many struggles—for the same reasons I’ve never forsaken my mother who bore me, nurtured me, and still provides wisdom and encouragement.

Theology 101: “The Twilight Zone” Season 3, Episode 3, “The Shelter.” You’ll thank me later.

Theology 101: When a local church or even denomination itself becomes its own idol and object of affection, God may remove it and give its ministry to others whose object of affection is God alone.

Theology 101: The “best of all possible worlds” theodicy only works if God is in the process of actually redeeming—not totally annihilating—this world.

When a captain goes down with a ship, that’s principled leadership. When the passengers go down with the captain, that’s cultish fanaticism.

Long-stem wine glasses are absurd.

WEEKEND CHALLENGE: Grab and read/listen to “The AItheist” this weekend, and I’ll bet you won’t be able to resist grabbing 2.0 and 3.0.

Theology 101: The Body of Christ is radically inclusive in that God invites ALL who believe and repent to partake. The Body of Christ is radically exclusive in that God invites all WHO BELIEVE AND REPENT to partake.

Theology 101: Real dispensationalism should have zero interest in building a temple in Jerusalem this side of the Tribulation.

Theology 101: Too often we pray for “words to say” when we should be praying for “ears to hear.”

Theology 101: You can call yourself whatever you want, but unless you believe, confess, and teach the things of the Christian faith held everywhere, always, and by all, you are not a Christian.

Theology 101: Every eschatology—whether amillennial, premillennial, or postmillennial—has death on earth during the millennial kingdom of Rev 20. Only in classic premillennialism is death reduced to a mere trickle while the world is gradually freed from its bondage to corruption.

Theology 101: “Without the Spirit it is not possible to behold the Word of God, nor without the Son can any draw near to the Father for the knowledge of the Father is the Son, and the knowledge of the Son of God is through the Holy Spirit.” (Irenaeus of Lyons, c. 180)

Theology 101: If you can’t resist posting snide swipes at whole traditions or denominations of God-loving, Christ-serving, Spirit-empowered, Bible-believing, Trinitarian Christians, you’re either insecure in your own tradition or just plain mean. It’s carnal, not spiritual.

Theology 101: When you have to constantly resort to straw-manning, ridicule, exaggeration, rhetorical fallacies, reductionism, anachronism, and false accusations to dunk on theological opponents who manifest the fruit of the Spirit, I reject your position for just that reason.

Theology 101: Scripture isn’t the only source for theology, because it isn’t the only means by which God has revealed himself. But it’s the only verbally inspired revelation of God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ, so it’s the essential starting point and center point of our theology.

Theology 101: NO! No ecumenical council—neither Constantinople (381) nor Ephesus (431) condemned premillennialism, chiliasm, or any particular millennial view. If someone repeats this debunked myth, walk away. You’re dealing with a hack. fathersonthefuture.com/articles/did...

Theology 101: In our miraculous ascent toward glory, the devil strives to drag us back down to the dust. In that descent he convinces us we’re nothing more than animals and that self-preservation and self-gratification are the only worthy pursuits.

Theology 101: If your eschatology has you calling death “resurrection,” congratulations, your eschatology is no better than second-century Gnostics.

Theology 101: It pains me to say that a fair share of famous evangelical preachers and scholars are so full of themselves they walk around conferences with an entourage and ignore the peons. It tickles me that nobody outside our tiny bubble cares a bit about them.

Not just theology-infused science fiction, but relevant, thought-provoking, entertaining, and inspiring. There's something for everyone in this trilogy. www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDDWV55N

Theology 101: If your end-times expectations are antichrist-and-Armageddon centered (fear) rather than Christ-and-resurrection centered (hope), I’d say that’s a problem. (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10)

Theology 101: Ever notice how many Christians who change their theological position on a non-foundational matter tend to be more dogmatic and enthusiastic about it than those who have humbly held the position from the start?

Theology 101: Without prudence, discernment, wisdom, and discretion, speaking your mind and getting things off your chest are not virtues. When speaking, speak the truth. But sometimes we need to just keep our mouths shut.

Theology 101: “He was not subject to death, since death came into the world through sin. He dies, therefore, because He took on Himself death on our behalf, and He makes Himself an offering to the Father for our sakes.” (John of Damascus)