Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 11h

Not all who say "Lord, Lord":

"[Many will say] 'our super-spiritual projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’" (Matt. 7:21-23, MSG)

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 14h

Them that have ears to hear:

"Politicians talk more or less freely about Jesus, but the Jesus they talk about is rather a lone ranger, a bodiless head that can be stitched onto whatever national or party body comes to hand." -- Peter Leithart

firstthings.com/third-ways-a...

Third Ways and Other Ways - First Things

Charlie Kirk’s assassination has fired up a long-standing evangelical wrangle about “third-wayism.” Keen to avoid being boxed in by either the right or the left, third-wayists say Christians must...

firstthings.com

W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 1d

John Van Deusen’s newest album, “As Long as I Am in the Tent of This Body I Will Make a Joyful Noise (Pt. 1),” is fire. FIRE.

open.spotify.com/album/6rdN8J...

As Long As I Am In The Tent of This Body I Will Make A Joyful Noise Pt. 1

open.spotify.com

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 1d

A Morning Prayer for the Short of Faith:

O Lord, for all the ways in which I need to trust you this day in the face of things that try my faith, I believe, O Lord, help my unbelief. I pray this in the name of the One who remains faithful even when we are faithless. Amen.

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 2d

If you want a fight, call people names. If you want to change hearts, consider choosing your words with care.

"Slapping the label liberal or right-wing on any given position immediately raises walls." @christianitytoday.com

www.christianitytoday.com/2025/10/civi...

A Civil War of Words - Christianity Today

Evangelical factions can increasingly be identified by our speech. We agree on big issues yet insult and talk past each other.

www.christianitytoday.com

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 2d

One of my students @fullerseminary.bsky.social is writing his research paper on the parallels between Celtic spirituality and Cowboy spirituality (drawing on Marie Dallam’s OUP book on the topic). I’m super stoked to see what he comes up with.

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 2d

A Morning Prayer:

O Lord, may I be wise of heart, teachable of spirit and care-filled in all my doings rather than rash, foolish or prideful, so that I may discern what is right and good this day for my sake and my neighbor’s as well. Amen.

(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 8d

The moral of the story is that Big Tech doesn't care about the moral health of our society; they just care about the monetization of our lives. In doing so, they reduce us to things and trust that the law of the jungle will keep us safe. It won't.

www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

YouTube Bends the Knee

Welcome to the era of Big-Tech capitulation.

www.theatlantic.com

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 8d

I’ve just sent off an abstract for a scholarly essay I’ll be working on this fall for a theology and visual arts project, and my favorite part of the essay (which will involve a close study of Sandro Botticelli’s early 16th painting, Man of Sorrows), is the title itself: “Faith Comes by Seeing.”

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 8d

I’ve just sent off an abstract for a scholarly essay I’ll be working on this fall for a theology and visual arts project, and my favorite part of the essay (which will involve a close study of Sandro Botticelli’s early 16th painting, Man of Sorrows), is the title itself: “Faith Comes by Seeing.”

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 9d

What a nightmare for the world of actors vs. AI "synthetics":

"SAG-AFTRA has issued a statement condemning Tilly Norwood, the AI “actress”...[which] multiple talent agents were interested in signing."

variety.com/2025/film/ne...

AI Actress Tilly Norwood Condemned by SAG-AFTRA: Tilly ‘Is Not an Actor… It Has No Life Experience to Draw From, No Emotion’

SAG-AFTRA issued a statement on the AI 'actress' Tilly Norwood, saying she is not a real performer and can never be.

variety.com

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 9d

A Morning Prayer:

In the name of the One
Who comes to me, I pray,
The God beyond measure,
Full of grace beyond grace,
I commend soul and body
To his grace this whole day.

("Prayers for the Pilgrimage")

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 11d

It's complicated, said every academic.

JG: Do you have new insight into the phrase “spiritual but not religious”?

RB: That’s a term that’s been bouncing around the academic literature for decades now but we haven’t really been able to wrap our arms around it.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/o...

Opinion | Why There Won’t Be a Charlie Kirk of the Left

www.nytimes.com

W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 11d

Awful things are being said and done in Jesus’ name and the world feels like a dumpster fire that refuses to go out. Yet in small and often undetected ways, good people are doing good work that’s (mustard) seeding hope into this world that God so loves.

wdavidotaylor.substack.com/p/can-contem...

Can Contemporary Worship Music be Better?

Why (good) change in CWM runs at a mustard seed pace.

wdavidotaylor.substack.com

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 12d

Dear Canada: thanks for being awesome. Your customs/border system was impeccably efficient, your people wonderfully friendly, and your donuts divine. We’ll see you next time and in the meanwhile keep being your awesome self. 🇨🇦🍁🍩

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 15d

A MORNING PRAYER:

Incarnate God, Word made Flesh:
Use my mouth, I pray,
To speak a word of hope to those
who despair this day.
In your name. Amen.

(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage” via @ivpress.bsky.social)

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 16d

In my talk at Matt Redman's conference this Saturday, I’ll be talking about how we praise God with creation, thru creation, and for creation. There are loads of CWM songs for the first but a dearth for the third. It's only hymns there. I’ve got my suspicions about why but no research to back it up.

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 17d

A Pre-Dawn Prayer:

O Lord, you who keep watch day and night, let me not become anxious over things that I cannot control this day but rather trust you in all things and receive your gift of true peace. I pray this in the name of the One who is my Refuge. Amen.

(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 18d

Out of the overflow of the heart....

"Charlie Kirk...did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them...I am sorry, Erika."

www.livenowfox.com/news/donald-...

Read President Donald Trump’s full speech at Charlie Kirk’s funeral

Articles and videos about Read President Donald Trump’s full speech at Charlie Kirk’s funeral on LiveNOW from FOX | Breaking News, Live Events.

www.livenowfox.com

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 18d

C. S. Lewis, the diagnostician of our age.

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 18d

The Best Morning Prayer Ever: “Just Begin.”

“Not to be worked for, nor another task,
But love that’s lavished on us, full and free,
Course after course of hospitality…
He paid the price before we reached the inn.
And all he asks of us is to begin.”

-- @malcolmguite.bsky.social "After Prayer"

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 20d

A Prayer of Fortitude:

O Lord, strengthen my heart this day in the face of things that try my patience or require my suffering, so that I might become more wholly dependent upon you in the hour of trial. I pray this in the name of the One who shepherds both body and soul. Amen.

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 21d

Ted Cruz has spoken. 😯

“That’s right out of Goodfellas. That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, ‘Nice bar you have here, it’d be a shame if something happened to it...[shutting down free speech is] dangerous as hell.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/u...

Cruz Likens F.C.C. Chair’s ‘Threat’ to That of a Mafia Boss

www.nytimes.com

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 24d

A theology department (at Fuller Seminary) that eats ridiculously good and 100% authentic Thai food together stays together.

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W. David O. Taylor @wdavidotaylor.bsky.social · 25d

On the day I turn in a book to @brazospress.bsky.social, I receive a book from Brazos. It's the third volume in the collaboration between Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt. I loved their “The Story of Your Telling,” which tells of the mysterious collaboration between divine and human making.

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