iTunes U has a growing number of free online courses that would make excellent supplementary material for pastors wanting to further their education or for those preparing for pastoral ministry. Here’s some of what’s available currently:
Do you have an old laptop that you never use any more or no longer need? Consider donating it so that others can have the opportunity to train for the ministry.
Request from Dr. Sam Larsen, RTS Missions Department:
Six used laptops in good working condition, primarily to be used for word processing and CD ROM course lesson playback, are needed for African Bible College alumni now enrolled in the RTS (Reformed Theological Seminary) Virtual Campus M.A.R. degree program in Malawi. If you have a laptop you would be willing to donate, or know of someone who does, please contact Ed Williford or Mary Courtney in the African Bible College office on the RTS campus (phone# 601-922-1962).
James E. McGreevey, who resigned as New Jersey governor in 2004 after saying that he had had an extramarital affair with a man, has become an Episcopalian and wants to be ordained as a priest in that faith, according to a published report.
The former governor, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, was officially received into the Episcopal faith on Sunday at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Manhattan, said the Rev. Kevin D. Bean, the church’s vicar.
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Bruce Parker, a spokesman for the General Theological Seminary in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, said Mr. McGreevey had been accepted as a student. Mr. Parker added that he did not know if the former governor wanted to become a priest.
By tracing the controversies, we can learn how and why the creedal formulations of these doctrines are important.
The pre-Constantinian context of much patristic theology offers a paradigm of how Christians can operate as a minority in a hostile or indifferent society.
The very alien nature of the world in which the Fathers operated challenges us to think more critically about ourselves in our own context.
As Protestants, we cannot claim to understand the historical development of our own tradition unless we come to terms with patristic theology.
You show me a preacher who is not regularly reading or at least listening to others read, and I will show you a preacher who has little to nothing to preach. . . . Those who would be faithful in their discharge of duties will find a regular and growing appetite for books, beginning with the Bible.
It is the primary means through which God has chosen to communicate to his people. The fact that the principle revelation of God to his people is the written word should not be lost to us. It reveals not only that we are intellectual beings, expected to reason and rationally assess logically communicated data, but it also demonstrates the primacy of written communication. . . .
It broadens our perspective. Reading tends to make us more rounded. One of the most dangerous tendencies among conservative Christians is to become intellectually ingrown. . . .
It encourages our creativity. More so than anyone else, Christians should be people given to creative expression. Unfortunately, we are usually lagging behind in creative ventures. . . .
It strengthens our confidence. Too often Christians are discouraged from engaging in the exchange of ideas because we do no feel confident in addressing varying subjects. Yet, Christians should be the most diverse. . . .
It gives us a sense of accomplishment. One of the greatest benefits to seeing a task through to completion is the satisfaction of knowing that an assignment is finished. . . .
It heightens our communion of the saints. One of the lost treasures of modern Christianity is its connection with the past. If our faith is a mile wide and an inch deep, it is largely due to our inadequate understanding of the faith once and for all delivered to the saints. . . .
Chuck Edwards looks at the huge decline in the spirituality of college-age students and offers some suggestions to reverse the trend.
When it comes to the spiritual life of college students, the statistics are not very encouraging. According to a recent study by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, after three years in college, the number of students who frequently attend religious services drops by 23 percent. The study also confirms that 36 percent rated their spirituality lower after three years in college.
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What can we do as parents, educators, and church leaders to keep our young people from dropping out of church or converting to the “no longer born again” category?
First, we must understand that the battle is for the hearts and minds of students. For too long many churches have been content to focus on the emotions, shying away from a serious discipleship of the mind. . . .
Second, our teaching should revolve around the fact that Christianity is a robust faith, and when it comes to life’s most pressing issues, we have answers that are superior to all other philosophies. . . .
And third, we must teach students that Christianity is a comprehensive world and life view. This means explaining the reality of God’s truth in every area: from philosophy and science, ethics and economics, to psychology, sociology, law and, yes, even politics. . . .
Mark Dever gives five factors (conveniently alliterated) to consider in choosing a seminary.
Confession of Faith. The first and most important factor for you to consider when choosing a seminary is what doctrine is taught there. . . .
Quality of Education. Another consideration in choosing a seminary is the quality of the education offered. While there is no precise way to measure such quality, factors which indicate it are the school’s faculty, the required curriculum and the library facilities. . . .
Cost. Let’s say you’ve found a seminary that you agree with theologically, and that seems to offer a good quality of education. Then, a third matter you should consider is cost. How expensive is the education there? What are the living costs like in that community? Are there good scholarships or jobs to be had? It would be unwise for you to commit yourself to considerable indebtedness. . . .
Church. Having lined up a seminary that you agree with theologically, that you think provides a good quality of education and that is affordable, you must also consider if there is a good church nearby that could be a place of ministry and spiritual encouragement and direction while you are in the seminary. . . .
Connections for Life. Finally, it is a legitimate question to consider what connections for the rest of life you might make by attending this seminary or that theological college. Most ministers who go to seminary for training meet there professors and fellow students who continue to be an informal network long after your formal educational work is done. Such questions of network and denomination are questions worth weighing carefully. . . .
Mark Goodacre, Associate Professor in New Testament at the Department of Religion, Duke University, has written a couple of articles defending the use of Wikipedia for research. I think he’s on target with his analysis. The context for his discussion is academia, but I think much of what he says applies to its use by pastors. I use it frequently and often find it very helpful. It’s a good starting place for research on people, terms, ideas, events, etc. Of course you need to read with discernment, but its breadth, up-to-dateness, and connectedness to additional sites make it a valuable resource.
Time has an interesting piece entitled, “The Case for Teaching the Bible,” in which David Van Biema argues in favor of classes on the Bible in public schools. Such classes are becoming more popular.
SIMPLY PUT, THE BIBLE IS THE MOST influential book ever written. Not only is the Bible the best-selling book of all time, it is the best-selling book of the year every year. In a 1992 survey of English teachers to determine the top-10 required “book-length works” in high school English classes, plays by Shakespeare occupied three spots and the Bible none. And yet, let’s compare the two: Beauty of language: Shakespeare, by a nose. Depth of subject matter: toss-up. Breadth of subject matter: the Bible. Numbers published, translated etc: Bible. Number of people martyred for: Bible. Number of wars attributed to: Bible. Solace and hope provided to billions: you guessed it. And Shakespeare would almost surely have agreed. According to one estimate, he alludes to Scripture some 1,300 times. . . .
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In the end, what is required in teaching about the Bible in our public schools is patriotism: a belief that we live in a nation that understands the wisdom of its Constitution clearly enough to allow the most important book in its history to remain vibrantly accessible for everyone.
I stumbled across two articles on seminary education in the last couple of days. Both make good points and have helpful perspectives.
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iTunes U
Do you have an old laptop that you never use any more or no longer need? Consider donating it so that others can have the opportunity to train for the ministry.
There have been several recent appeals at 
Mark Goodacre
