Skip to main content
EssayTheology

Believing the Bible: John Calvin

Some in the hyper-literalist camp may not care what Luther says about the bible; they're more interested in having John Calvin on their side. But Calvin's view of scripture is fascinating, in part because he follows Luther rather closely. Like Luther, Calvin's approach to scripture…
Jason Lief
March 1, 2019
Theology

Believing the Bible: Martin Luther

Those who hold to a hyper-literal interpretation of the bible often want to use Luther and Calvin to support a modern view of biblical inerrancy. The problem, however, is that neither Luther nor Calvin fit with this approach to reading the bible. Luther inherited a…
Jason Lief
February 28, 2019
SermonTheology

Genesis 1: Part 1

Intro Welcome to Lumberjack Theology "axing" the right questions. My name is Jason Lief. And today we begin to explore the Book of Genesis. How do we make sense of faith and science? What does it mean to read the creation accounts of Genesis 1…
Jason Lief
February 28, 2019
Theology

Believing the Bible

More than once over the last few days I’ve been asked if I “believe the bible”. What they mean, I think, is whether I believe the bible is the true word of God. Of course my answer is yes, but yes is the tip of…
Jason Lief
February 27, 2019
Essay

The Women Mystics in a Wrath Obsessed World

My spiritual formation students are reading The Thirst of God: Contemplating God's love with Three Women Mystics by Wendy Farley. The book explores the life and faith of Mechthild of Magdeburg, Marguerite Porete, and Julian of Norwich. Our conversation as been rich, both serious and…
Jason Lief
February 22, 2019
Essay

A Few More Grains of Sand

Yesterday, during a NW Iowa blizzard, a friend and I went out for a beer. Sitting in the warm glow of sports television we talked about "stuff". Not just any stuff, but heavy stuff we usually discuss over cigarettes and cheap cigars, but the driving…
Jason Lief
February 8, 2019
Essay

An Ode to Losing (Why Instant Replay is Dumb)

With unadulterated joy, I watched as a pass by Drew Brees fell into the arms of a defender. This was matched by the elation of watching a 57 yard field goal sail through the uprights in overtime, sending the New Orleans Saints to a crushing…
Jason Lief
January 25, 2019
Essay

The Emerald Temple and the Image of God

I spent this afternoon on a train with a gazillion other people in the heart of Bangkok. My big body and beard made me seem like Sasquatch standing in the midst of the Thai people. Last week, while traveling in Laos, little kids couldn't help…
Jason Lief
January 11, 2019