J P Moreland

Rapid Reaction: Tampa Bay 5, Rangers 4

Well, that was a kick in the gut for Texas. Rangers reliever Arthur Rhodes let the late lead slip away as the Rays won, 5-4. Evan Longoria 's homer in the eighth was the difference. It means we'll have a rubber match at 12:10 p.m. on Wednesday. Please join me at Buffalo Wild Wings in Addison for a live in-game chat tomorrow. Some quick thoughts on tonight's game: * The issues in the Rangers' bullpen continued Tuesday. After Texas had taken a 4-3 lead into the eighth, 41-year-old Arthur Rhodes came in with two outs and no one on to face left-handed hitter Johnny Damon . After getting ahead in the count, Rhodes allowed a bloop single to left (it was a tough play for Elvis Andrus, trying to backhand it on the run). That brought up Longoria, a right-handed hitter. Manager Ron Washington stuck with Rhodes, who allowed the homer (it barely cleared the wall in center). The two-run blast gave the Rays the lead. * For those curious (and I know you are), here were the numbers Washington was dealing with in sticking with Rhodes against Longoria. While right-handed hitters are batting .286 off Rhodes this season (lefties just .150), Longoria was hitting only .125 against lefties, striking out in eight of his 16 at-bats off of them with no homers. He had also never faced Rhodes before, so I can see Washington's thinking there. * Wilson started the game by finding the corners, a sign that he was going to have a good night. He got the first two hitters he faced with strikeouts with good fastballs and a mixture of off-speed stuff with nice movement. Wilson ended up with 10 strikeouts (seven of them looking) in 6 2/3 innings. At one point, Wilson had five straight strikeouts. * Wilson, who led the AL in walks in 2010, managed to walk three batters in the second, loading the bases with one out. But the third walk came with runners and second and third and it appeared Wilson was working around Joyce (seems understandable knowing what he would end up doing in the seventh) to get to Kelly Shoppach , who has been struggling. Wilson went to the curve and got ahead in the count 0-2 and then got Shoppach to hit a routine 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and get out of a big jam. He didn't walk another batter until his final hitter in the seventh. * Wilson was not able to execute a shutdown inning in both opportunities. The first was in the third. With two outs and no one on, Wilson got behind 3-1 and Sean Rodriguez hit a long homer to left.

Audio from J.P. Moreland's “Love Your God With All Your Mind ...

Where does all my snarkiness about the anti-intellectual church come from? It comes largely from this lecture, and from the book of the same name. This lecture also gave me many of my personality quirks, like saying “Does that make sense to you?” all the time. He’s  a great speaker. This lecture could change your life. It changed mine.

The MP3 file .

Topics:

How J.P. Moreland become a Christian How evangelism drove his efforts to answer skeptics How can evangelicals be so numerous, and yet have so little influence? When did the church stop being able to out-think her critics? How studying and thinking can be a way of worshiping God Romans 12:1-2 – what does this passage mean? Are your beliefs under the control of your will? Can you “try” to believe something by an act of will? If not, then how can you change your beliefs? Changing your mind is the only way to change your life Matthew 22:37 – what is this passage saying? How can you love God by using your intellect? How can you defend God’s honor, when it is called into question? In a debate, should you quote sources that your opponent doesn’t accept? Should you only study the Bible, or should you study rival worldviews? 1 Pet 3:15 – what does this passage mean? If you knew you were going to be in a debate, what should you do? How can you be bold in witnessing? Where does boldness come from? What should the church do to make bold evangelists? 2 Cor 10:5 – what is this passage talking about? The passage talks about destroying fortresses – what are the fortresses? List of some of the speculations that we are supposed to be destroying What does the phrase “spiritual warfare” really mean?

You can read a little summary of a part of the book here .

And here is a longer university version of the same lecture (MP3).

The disciples were willing to suffer and die for their beliefs - J.P Moreland, PhD

Whoever controls the intellectual life of the church will eventually control the church. -J.P Moreland

Listening to j.p. moreland speak about spiritual formation. How to have a balanced healthy Christian life!

RT : Audio from J.P. Moreland’s “Love Your God With All Your Mind” lecture

RT : Audio from J.P. Moreland's "Love Your God With All Your Mind" lecture:

Kingdom Triangle, Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit's Power

Here is penetrating analysis and critique of Western society's dominant worldviews, naturalism and postmodernism, which have also influenced the church.

Love Your God with All Your Mind, The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul

Have you really thought about your faith? This book examines the role of reason in faith, helping you use your intellect to further God's kingdom.

The God Question, An Invitation to a Life of Meaning

Americans are twice as rich, far healthier, more youthful, and much safer than they were 50 years ago - and still, depression rates are ten times higher than ...

Jesus Under Fire, Modern Scholarship Reinvents the Historical Jesus

Who is Jesus? What did he do? What did he say? -Are the traditional answer to these questions still to be trusted?

Smart Faith, Loving Your God with All Your Mind