Bruce Waltke Belated Birthday Bash

BYOT - "Bring Your Old Testament" Birthday Bash

The Regent College Foundation USA invites anyone who knows and wants to honour this Professor of Old Testament, to come and join them in an informal birthday celebration. Dr Waltke will be sharing his thoughts over what has happened over the past year. If you are in Seattle, or planning to be there, don't miss this.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:00-6:00pm 

The Calvin Room, University Presbyterian Church

4540 15th Ave NE, Seattle

RSVP to Holly by October 20th at hrail@regent-college.edu or 604.224.3245×377

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Gordon Fee

This is a nice write-up by charismamag.com on one of Regent-College's beloved Professor Emeritus.  Reading this article gives us a background on how Dr Fee become so well-known in the evangelical world.  Below is an excerpt about his stand over women in the Church.

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“It’s a given,” he says. “The real question is, Which comes first, gender or gifting? What [opponents of women in ministry] are trying to tell me is that gender comes above gifting. How can that be? The Spirit gives the gifting. If a woman stands and prophesies by the Spirit, and men are present, does the Spirit not speak to them? Come on! How dumb can you get?”

His advocacy, Fee says, is on behalf of the Holy Spirit rather than women. “The Spirit is gifting women,” he says, “but many evangelicals are not prepared to adjust because of the ‘box’ they’re in.

 “I’ve been blacklisted over this issue,” he adds. “People have said, ‘We can’t have Fee speak because he’s pro-women.’ I am pro-Holy Spirit! I just can’t get over that some people think gender comes before gifting.”

- "A Professor with Spirit"
- "How Christians miss the mark when studying the Bible."

conrade

Rikk Watts in Singapore (11-13 Aug 2010)

Those of you who will be in Singapore can catch Dr Rikk Watts as he speaks and teaches there. You can download the flyer here.

Simpson Community Services

One Regent-alum has recently setup a community services group that ministers to people living at Vancouver's Downtown East Side and marginalized groups at various parts of Vancouver. This new ministry is called "Simpson Community Services." If you are on Facebook, you can join his group by clicking here.

From their website, the rationale for the ministry is this:

The rationale of the Simpson Society builds on the ancient proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Therefore, the Society interacts with vulnerable persons by first relief (giving fish) and then development (teaching people how to fish). However, the Simpson Society goes further and adds social justice (defending the right for persons to fish) and also providing palliative, pastoral care when there are no supports available for people in dire need (when there are no fish).This four-fold approach to community service is offered in a networking context and a hands-on work, bottom-up working style.

[From Simpson Community Services Society website]

Dylan Goggs (MCS, 2008) and his wife are co-founders of the organization. You may want to check them out here. Thanks Dylan for your love in the LORD.

[Photo Credit: Dylan Goggs]

conrade

"The Wondering Fair" Regent Blog

This is a soon to be launched collaborative blog by a few members of the Regent community. They are planning to launch it in July 2010. Called WonderingFair, it has several well known Regent alums, as well as Dr John Stackhouse as the contributors. It plans to be some kind of an online cafe, to allow anyone to discuss spiritual matters. The list of contributors are visible here.

The aim of the blog is to have an average of 3 articles per week. Should be great!

[Picture Credit: WonderingFair.com]

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On Doctorates

One of the benefits of a Regent-College education is the high academic standing and requirements expected of students. As a top-tier theological institution, Regent-College adheres to the accredition standards of theological colleges and seminaries under the ATS (Association of Theological Schools in USA and Canada). Regent-College's accredition status is available here. Earned doctorates (different from honorary ones) nowadays include PhDs, DMins, DPhil, DTheo, DMiss, etc.

Many Regent students and alumnus have at some point considered a higher degree after graduating with the Masters. Many have moved on to do doctorates of various theological disciplines. I have read several tips for those who are pursuing a doctorate. Here is a list of resources for you to read, before attempting a doctorate level education.

• Dr John Stackhouse's "Thinking about a PhD?" (good advice from Regent's own Professor)
• John Roxborough's Postgraduate research criteria; (very clearly written, and easy to understand)
• American vs British PhD Programs: Three Doctoral Students reflect...
• Tips for PhD Students. (Lots of links for PhD students).

Remember that going for a doctorate is not for the faint-hearted. It does not guarantee a better status or a higher salary, or even a job! In today's environment, having a doctorate can sometimes repel prospective employers. It is a calling. 

conrade

"Be Interesting" vs "Being Interested"

This post is first published at Yapdates.

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Title: "Be Interesting" vs "Being Interested"
Written by Conrade Yap
Date: 13 May 2010
Main Idea: There is a difference between 'interesting' and 'being interested.'

I remember back in Regent-College where I encounter how people use the word 'interesting.' After each lecture, classroom discussion, or any impromptu chats, the word 'interesting' appears to be a suitable one-size-fits-all answer to any question. In fact, after talks from the esteemed and popular Dr James Packer, to the lesser known adjunct professors with their newly minted PhDs, the word 'interesting' can be fitted in like a standard three-pin plug in any electricity outlet. New students can say it with confidence without becoming embarrassed by any lack of theological jargon. Older students use this word to politely disagree, or to appear brilliant, while carefully preparing one of their brainy counter-points to the propositions concerned. 'Interesting' is a word likened to a T-shirt, clothing that reveals a little bit, and hides the rest.

A Review of the NET Bible

A Regent Alum Reviews The Freely Available NET Bible


Here is a nice informative review of the NET Bible, the first English translation to be freely made available to the public on the Internet. Tze-Ming QUEK is a Regent Alum currently a PhD Candidate with Cambridge University (UK). He is currently a lecturer (New Testament and Hermeneutics) with Biblical Graduate School of Theology in Singapore.

You can download the NET Bible here, or simply read it online here. Another nice feature is that the NETBible is available in many different formats, including Kindle and MS Word.

You can read more of Tze-Ming's review by clicking here.





conrade
(Regent MDiv, 2008)

Teach Listening - 5 Tips

TITLE: TEACH LISTENING - 5 Tips
Written by: Conrade Yap
POINT: We learn so much about learning how to do expository preaching, what about helping the congregation toward expository listening?

At Regent-College, one of my favourite courses is expository preaching, conducted and eloquently taught by Professor Darrell Johnson. As a required course for MDiv students, we go through the basics of learning to do exegesis, to interpret the passage and their contexts, and to be faithful to what the texts say. A unique approach is the way Professor Johnson encourages each student's preaching practice time. He asks for fellow students to evaluate the 10 minutes preaching effort. All of us are encouraged to listen well, and to give feedback so as to help the student improve. I have many enjoyable times, being encouraged that I am not the only person nervous about preaching up front.

Indeed, speaking in public is one thing. Trying to be faithful to the Bible without becoming boring is an art. In this sense, preaching is both an art as well as a science. Yet, for all the expository preaching that we learn, what about the standpoint of the listener? Is there such thing as 'expository listening?'

According to Ken Ramey, there is. Ramey has just released a handbook called "Expository Listening: A handbook for Hearing and Doing God's Word." As I think about it, it certainly makes sense. What good is there for TV stations to transmit signals, if people do not have any television sets? What good is learning to speak eloquently in French, if the people we speak to do not understand French? Likewise, if we preachers spend so much time in preparing expository sermons, what about spending some of this time to teach the congregations how to listen?

I believe that preaching is one of the greatest privileges given to any Christian. Mind you, we can easily turn preaching into a pathway for super-stardom. When this happens, we are in danger of leading the people away from worshiping God. We end up putting ourselves on the pedestal instead of serving the people by pointing their eyes of Jesus. In teaching listening, we connect with the congregation even more, as they understand more of where we are coming from, and we seek to understand where they are coming from. Here are 5 tips I have for teaching listening.

Four Kinds of 'Friends' Every Pastor Needs

This is a very thoughtful article that should be a good resource for pastors and budding pastors. Entitled: "4 Types of Friends Every Pastor Needs," Ike Reighard, a pastor of more than 30 years, from Kennesaw, Georgia, writing for CrossWalk.com distills four different kinds of people that all pastors need to surround themselves with. Leadership can be lonely. (That is an understatement).

According to Reighard, we need a 'DEVELOPER' to bring out the best in us. We need a 'DESIGNER' as a kind of a mentor who walks alongside us. We need a 'DISTURBER' to rough us up in case we become too comfortable in smooth-sailing ministry work. We need a 'DISCERNER' to give us a fresh perspective of our calling as pastors.

Personally, I think Reighard misses out one important 'D.' A DISCIPLER. You can read the rest of the article here. Thanks to alum Stanley for first bringing this to my attention.

conrade

Dr Bruce Waltke Resigns from RTS

This is a special update on one of Regent-College's beloved Professors. Dr Bruce Waltke has resigned (6 April 2010) from the Reformed Theological Seminary because of a theological dispute between Bruce and the powers to be, at RTS. It seems that the controversy was first stirred by a video entitled: "Why Must the Church come to Accept Evolution?" The crux of the matter is that Waltke urges Christians not to completely reject evolution. In other words, it is entirely possible for a Christian to accept evolution. Theistic Evolution.

Dr John Stackhouse has written a posting on his own blog, largely in defense of his colleague.

For me, I think it is a regretful situation. In the words of Brandon Withrow, "any professor who really wants serious academic freedom needs to look elsewhere."

Personally, I do not hold the view that Dr Waltke holds, but I do not agree that he should have been forced to resign, simply based on one belief. From my interactions with him, Waltke is not one who willfully imposes his ideas on others, but respectfully offers them for consideration. For more information, check the following:

1) Biologos (the site video that started it all)
2) Dr John Stackhouse blog
3) Official News from RTS
4) Good roundup by Brian LePort
5) Cosmos (Dr Ross Hasting's Response)
6) Official Re-conciliatory Note from RTS

I wonder why in this particular case, both Waltke and the rest of the academics did not 'agree to disagree' and carry on life as normal? That is, is it necessary for Waltke to resign just because of this one issue? Or is this the proverbial feather that breaks the camel's back? Maybe, it is simply to let matter explain itself, like this note.


conrade

Regent-College Mission Statements

When we are deep into a certain mission, sometimes we forget why we are doing what we are doing. For many of us, these statements serve as good reminders of our heritage and what it means to be a Regent alum.

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Global Mission Statement of Regent-College

Regent College cultivates intelligent, vigorous, and joyful commitment to Jesus Christ, His Church, and His world.

Global Educational Mission

Our hope for students is that through their time at Regent College their lives will become more fully integrated in Christ, so that their minds are filled with the truth of Christ, their imaginations captivated by the glory of Christ, and their characters formed according to the virtues of Christ.

Regent Ethos

Regent College, as a Christian academic community, takes relationships seriously, seeking to understand and live them in light of our biblical and theological commitments. We want to embrace the vast implications of being the “new humanity in Christ,” including how we treat gender, ethnic, racial, denominational and theological differences (cf. Galatians 3:28). Regent College welcomes students as varied as the whole people of God and seeks to create an environment in which all students feel safe to engage in courteous and respectful conversation in the pursuit of truth, as we seek to be formed and reformed by the Scriptures. The College welcomes and actively pursues qualified faculty reflective of this commitment.

[Credit: Regent-College]