http://www.michaelryanwalker.com Theology. History. Culture. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:26:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I'm decommissioning this blog and future posts will be at www.regulafidei.com (www.ruleoffaith.com). http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2008/08/20/future-posts-will-be-at-regulafideicom/ I just read an interesting article on MSNBC, about video game addictions. What gets people addicted to these things so much that we've heard stories about neglected children, destroyed marriages, and even death by self-neglect - seriously, read the article - for the sake of the game world? The article ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2008/04/22/the-mask-that-makes-us-honest/ Tim Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, is one of the best "missional preachers" in the U.S. today (in my humble opinion). The content of his preaching is somewhat "cerebral" -- engaging some of the most common intellectual challenges that both Christians and non-Christians face when seeking the ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2008/04/14/reason-for-god-belief-in-an-age-of-skepticism/ The following is the second lecture in a series entitled "Living Hope: The Story of the Future Life." To download a copy of the lecture, click here. For the audio of the lecture (mp3, 56 min.), click this "play" button or you can "right click" here to download it. ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2008/03/14/abyss-or-embrace/ As Theologian-in-Residence at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX, my theme for special lectures this year is Living Wisdom: Forming Our Faith with the Mighty Dead. There will be four series of lectures under this theme. Our first series is "Living Hope: The Story of the Future ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2008/03/14/a-firm-foundation/ The Gospel lectionary text for today is Mark 5:1-20. It's the story of Jesus healing the demoniac who is possed by "Legion" -- many evil spirits. Jesus sends the evil spirits into the nearby herd of swine, who then charge into the lake and drown themselves. At this surprising ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2008/02/23/fearing-his-power-drawn-by-his-goodness/ The Gospel lectionary text for today is Mark 4:35-41, the story about Jesus calming the storm out on the sea, after the disciples wake him up and implore him to do something, for fear that they will drown. After calming the storm, Jesus says to them: “Why are you ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2008/02/22/faith-and-fear/ The future life envisioned by Holy Scripture involves a restored physical universe, a “renewal of all things” — a New Heavens and New Earth (e.g. Rev. 21). It’s true, however, that if we were to take a poll of western Christians about their views on what the future life ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2008/02/21/material-offerings-eucharist-and-our-vision-of-the-future-life/ The “Holy War” passages in the Bible that describe the Israelite Conquest of Canaan are surely some of the most disturbing – and disturbingly misused – passages in all of Scripture. In Deuteronomy 7:2, for instance, Moses tells the Israelites that when they enter the Land of Canaan, ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2007/07/26/the-drama-of-redemption/ The following is the text of a sermon I preached on July 15, 2007, at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. For the contemporary worship service we’re doing a series called “You Asked For It,” where the pastors are taking turns preaching on topics the congregation expressed a special interest in. ... http://www.michaelryanwalker.com/2007/07/18/a-sermon-on-heaven-or-the-new-heaven-and-new-earth/