Oak Ridge Today

Faith & science lecture on archaeology of Israeli women on Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Erin Darby

Erin Darby

Were the women depicted in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible more than mothers of the children of Israel? Did they contribute to Israelite tribal survival by experimenting with food plants and seeds, shearing wool and weaving cloth, making pots and devising ways to cook, preserve, and store food? And what about their religious lives?

The second talk in the First Presbyterian–First United Methodist Church Faith-and-Science Lecture Series will be on “The Archaeology of Women in Ancient Israel.” The lecture will be presented by Erin Darby, associate professor of religious studies and co-director of the ‘Ayn Gharandal Archaeological Project at the University of Tennessee.

Darby will deliver her lecture at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, in the fellowship hall of the sanctuary building of First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Refreshments will be served.

An archaeologist, Darby takes UT students to Jordan every other summer to learn about human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. [Read more…]

Faith & science lecture in April on archaeology of Israelite women

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Erin Darby

Erin Darby

 

Were the women depicted in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible more than mothers of the children of Israel? Did they contribute to Israelite tribal survival by experimenting with food plants and seeds, shearing wool and weaving cloth, making pots and devising ways to cook, preserve, and store food? And what about their religious lives?

The second talk in the First Presbyterian–First United Methodist Church Faith-and-Science Lecture Series will be on “The Archaeology of Women in Ancient Israel.” The lecture will be presented by Erin Darby, associate professor of religious studies and co-director of the ‘Ayn Gharandal Archaeological Project at the University of Tennessee.

Darby will deliver her lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in the fellowship hall of the sanctuary building of First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Refreshments will be served, a press release said. [Read more…]

High Places has ‘Walk Thru the Bible’ on Sept. 7

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

High Places Community Church

High Places Community Church in Grove Center is pictured above.

High Places Community Church will be hosting a special “Walk Thru the Bible” event on Sunday, September 7, at the historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge.

The event has been booked as the result of a passion, one that stretches back more than 30 years in the heart of High Places’ founding pastor Martin Fischer, who also celebrates a birthday on the same date.

“What I want for my birthday is to host a party where anyone in attendance will be given a chance to experience the same thing I once did in a ‘Walk Thru the Bible’ event,” the Rev. Fischer said in a press release. “Years ago, I came away with a better understanding, appreciation, and even fascination for the way the Bible story unfolds through history. It was life-changing for me.”

This event, which focuses on the Old Testament, offers a unique and highly interactive way to gain better handles on the Bible stories that show how God built a “faith family” with the Hebrew people in the two millennium leading up to the birth of Jesus. [Read more…]

Faith column: Respect for the ‘holy’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

In the world there are people, institutions, and certain things that God has set apart as “holy.” When something is ordained as “holy,” it must be treated with a fearful respect.

Why do I say a “fearful respect”? Because, according to the Bible, a lack of respect for things that are holy brings consequences. There is an inherent power in the things that God considers to be “holy” in the earth. That inherent power can release upon us a state of happiness, healing, provision, peace, and other forms of blessing; or it can invoke a state of difficulty, and THAT should be feared.

This blessing occurs when we cultivate an attitude of the heart that responds with a fearful respect. “Fearful,” because we realize that God has both grace and judgment to give away; and “respect,” because we realize that God is worthy of our love and devotion. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you show a proper respect for holy people, places, and things you will draw a blessing upon your life.

[Read more…]