Well I have completed a half day of day two and thought I would post a rapidfire update.

 

I made it to my room last night at the home of a great older couple. Sleeping proved a challenge for two reasons:

 

1. The room is very old (beautiful but ooooold) and has a door at one end with a note that reads "Do Not Open". This bothers me for some reason.

2. When the lights go off it is PITCH BLACK. Not dark but the complete absence of light. I am afraid of the dark.

 

I imagine it will be better tonight since nothing attacked me last night (at least not while I was awake).

 

The sessions began this morning at 8:15 am and the first speaker was Duke Divinity School theologian and prof Richard Hays. He led a fantastic and friendly presentation of not simply what he agrees with in N.T. Wright’s theology but also some pointed areas where he disagreed. I enjoyed one comment where Hay’s mentions the profound impact of Karl Barth upon him and how Wright has been critical of Barth. Hay’s suspects there are more similarities between Wright and Barth then Wright would care to admit. I appreciated this primarily because I brought two books to the conference to read – one by N.T. Wright and one by Karl Barth. I will try to get Wright to sign both.

 

Following Hays presentation there was another remarkable presentation by Marianne Meye Thompson on the theology of N.T. Wright and the Gospel of John. Wright has avoided the gospel of John in much of his writings sticking primarily to the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Very enlightening stuff.

 

Wright responded in brilliant fashion to both speakers and then proceeded to lead the college chapel where he delivered a very good sermon on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He speaks so fast and so passionately I think he managed to squeeze two sermons into the time it takes for one. More on these subjects in tonight’s post.

 

I managed to hook up with Dr. Pyles and hung out with him a bit and will try to find him after lunch for the afternoon session. I probably won’t update/connect again till after 8:30 pm but maybe quickly at about 6:30 pm – we’ll see.

 

Anyhow – that’s a snapshot of the morning. I had a great lunch and will endeavour to stay awake this afternoon.