James Challen: Resurrection, New Earth and the Christian Hope

Few preachers were as well known in the Stone-Campbell Movement in his day as James Challen (1802-1878). Challen was a skeptic early in his life but he came under the influence of the great Baptist preacher, and frequent correspondent with Alexander Campbell, Dr. James Fishback of Lexington, KY. He was baptized into Christ at the hands of Fishback on January 18, 1823. While a student he was called to preach for the Enon Baptist Church in Cincinnati,...

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Holy of Holies: Returning to Eden 2 - Song of Songs and the History of Denying Sexuality

"While the king was on his couch,my nard gave forth its fragrance.My beloved is to me a bag of myrrhthat lies between my breasts."Most of us reading the quotation from Song of Songs 1.13 probably did not know that it is really not talking about a woman's perfumed body with her lover lying on top of her. Rather this text is really about the "grace of baptism." Yes baptism! Or at least that is what one of the greatest scholars in the history of Christianity...

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Holy of Holies: Returning to Eden - the Song of Songs, Sexuality & Spirituality

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.Your love is more delightful than wine;delicate is the fragrance of your perfume ..."(Song of Songs 1.2, Jerusalem Bible)"For in all the world there is nothing equal to the day on which the Song of Songs was given to Israel, for all the writings [i.e. Scriptures] are Holy, but the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies." (Rabbi Akiba, Mishnah, Yadaim 3.5)"Holy love is the only subject treated in this Song....

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Words Easy to Understand: The Restoration Movement and the King James Version

"In Words Easy to Be Understood"[1]As we move further into the twenty-first century it is interesting to note some of the changes in perspectives that have occurred among "us" over the last two hundred years. One particular shift is quite a radical one, at least in some quarters. It is a shift from call for radical revision of the 1611 King James Version, or its total replacement, to irrational defenses of the King James as the only true Bible....

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