Let's Feast on Theology

If God Gambled, Would He be Good at Blackjack?

April 12, 2017 | by: Dave Maniquis | 0 Comments

What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. Right? Or, to accurately quote the tagline, “What Happens Here, Stays Here.” Usher used the tagline for a song, and of course, those cinematic masterpieces of all time have been inspired by it: the Hangover movies (they’re considered a trilogy now!). As a slogan it’s ingenious for its marketing acumen to attract tourists. It was birthed by the R & R Partners ad agency over 14 years ago with the notion of attracting tourists to the desert oasis for “stuff” other than gambling; just fill in the blanks yourself for what you crave, and you’re off to have your fill.... Keep Reading

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Theology

Do Footprints Ever Really Disappear?

February 15, 2017 | by: Dave Maniquis | 0 Comments

The tradecraft of tracking has always fascinated me. I’m not talking about when I was a tot and tracked mud into the house while the thermal waves of reprimands bellowing from my mom’s Scots-Irish throat would have made Nebuchadnezzar’s oven seem like the South Pole. What I mean is that uncanny ability to track an animal or human by interpreting the unintended traces they leave behind.... Keep Reading

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Theology

Burying Roots

January 13, 2017 | by: Dave Maniquis | 0 Comments

I was enjoying my morning devotion while savoring a nice dark roast cup of java when I heard it. It was a muted and thumping sound like hydraulic equipment driving pilings into the ground or some such thing. No. It was a human wielding a machete, tossing lopped off roots from a hole while his coworkers were digging a humongous six-foot deep grave in my front yard! Always curious about why someone is being buried on my property, I went outside to get the lowdown. As it turned out, these guys were grave diggers from AT&T. They had descended on my property to repair the connection to some fiber optic thingamajig that was intercepting signals from the main box across the street.... Keep Reading

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Theology

Advent: Jesus Turned Up and will Show Up

December 22, 2016 | by: Dave Maniquis | 0 Comments

The church is now fully in the season of Advent which began on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. For most churches in the West, Advent is the beginning of the church year. The word itself derives from the Latin adventus which means arrival, approach, or coming. Some interesting synonyms are: birth, appearance, materialization, and occurrence. I particularly like these two: turning up and showing up. At Christ’s first Advent He definitely “turned up” in fulfillment of prophecies, types and shadows in the Old Testament.... Keep Reading

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Theology

Hero Worship

November 9, 2016 | by: Dave Maniquis | 0 Comments

I confess that I’m guilty of hero worship. No, I don’t mean that loaf of Italian bread cut lengthwise and stuffed with meat and all those veggie munchies. Although, I’ve probably come close to bowing down to one in the sanctuary of Jersey Mike’s. Let’s face it, when you get one scrupulously well-made it’s easy to get lost in a hoagie fantasy as you grind the sub into chewable sub-morsels and revel in the experience.... Keep Reading

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Theology

Christ Doesn't Need a Super Pac

October 19, 2016 | by: Dave Maniquis | 1 Comments

It’s an understatement to say that this looming presidential election has been odd. The electorate is being bombarded with the candidates’ dizzying rhetorical speeches, bumper sticker banalities, fanciful and acrimonious tweets and sound bites. Oh, let’s not leave out those campaign slogans and presidential preferences on placards stuck into front yards; real- estate strongholds of political preference, ranging from impeccably manicured lawns to just good ol’ weeds and dirt. Like two-dimensional hands on rigorous forearms waving as you pass by they make an appeal for hope: “I know best who can lead our country.” Accordingly, everyone has a preferential voice. It’s as it should be in a democracy, right? And we ought to be grateful for living in a country that allows us to vote for the next rotation at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.... Keep Reading

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Theology

Christ is the Supreme Gold Medalist

September 14, 2016 | by: Dave Maniquis | 1 Comments

The 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio had over 11,000 athletes from more than 200 member nations of the International Olympic Committee participate in the event. You’d be surprised that I thought long and hard about participating myself. However, to my chagrin, jogging wasn’t listed as an acceptable event. What’s that about? Does everything have to be quick? Are only the speedy to be rewarded with gold? Come on, plastic would work for me. No? Oh, alright…I settled for watching real athletes at their craft. Whew! That’s why they’re called gold medalists! Fast and furious!... Keep Reading

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Theology

The Pearl-like Beauty of a Heart Recreated by God

August 10, 2016 | by: Dave Maniquis | 2 Comments

Many moons ago when I was jeweler, I had the occasion to set gorgeous pearls into fine jewelry-- marvelous and iridescent round balls that were always a delight to my eyes. They have been considered candy for the eyes for centuries and some of the world’s most precious jewelry has been adorned with them.... Keep Reading

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Theology

Yippee! It’s official. The new Jason Bourne 2016 movie will be released on July 29th! I’ve always enjoyed the intrigue and thrills of the Bourne film series based on the character of Jason Bourne; a CIA assassin created by author Robert Ludlum and then brought to the big screen. Jason Bourne is a man trying to figure out who he really i... Keep Reading

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Theology

Stump Grinding vs. God’s Promises

June 8, 2016 | by: Dave Maniquis | 0 Comments

Twelve years ago a rather young live oak tree was planted in our front yard. It was cute in its barky adolescence, even awkward in that it couldn’t decide which direction to lean. As any caring father would do for an adolescent, my hands guided it in a way I thought it would look most regal as it reached for the sky. I remember easily pulling... Keep Reading

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Theology

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