Who are Brian and Danny?
We are Brian Marchionni and Danny Pierce. We met while attending Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2003, and have since enjoyed many a lively discussion on matters of theology, Biblical studies, culture, and other such geekery, including matters not at all relevant to this website (e.g., bacon). We both attended and served at Community of Faith Christian Fellowship (CFCF) in Brighton, MA. In 2010, Brian joined CFCF’s effort in planting The River Church in Waltham, MA, and now attends there full time. We live in the greater Boston area. If you want to know more, check out Brian‘s or Danny‘s blog, though we claim no responsibility for the resultant waste of time, or the fact that they are updated once every Jovian year.
More About BBG
The objective of this site is best summed up by our mission statement: We are a website devoted to equipping and edifying Christians around the world to understand God’s Word more fully, and thoughtfully apply it to their daily lives and cultural context. We hope to accomplish this in many different ways: posting on specific Bible passages and their interpretation, reflecting on how we can apply Scripture in our lives and communities, reviewing books that may prove helpful to Christians, discussing hymns and worship songs that we find particularly instructive, commenting on current cultural trends or events, etc.
Both of us have had blogs in the past, but quite frankly, we found it takes two of us to generate the content of one competent blogger. We trust this will work in our favor by taking away the pressure to publish frequently at the expense of quality content. Moreover, we hope to give you our different perspectives on the Bible and church life. Note also that our goal isn’t simply to put thoughts up on the internet for people to read, but for our readers to interact with God’s Word and what we’ve written in order to enrich all of us. In other words, leave comments!
There are a couple distinct features we hope will be helpful to our readers. First, every month we will select a Resource of the Month (or RoTM; no more acronyms, promise), which can be found at the top of the page. The Resource of the Month may be a website we find helpful, a book that is particularly useful, a sermon series that our readers may enjoy, and so on. Throughout the month we will interact with that resource in hopes that we can all be edified.
Second, also at the top of the page, you’ll find a tab entitled “Articles.” This section consists of something we have written that we feel is worthy of “permanence” that doesn’t come naturally to a regular blog post. If you read something we’ve written that you feel belongs in the Articles section, please let us know.
Third, you’ll notice all sorts of links on the right of our home page. We’ve tried to break these down into easily navigable sections. Our goal is to include links that are particularly helpful to our readers, not to include everything on the internet that could fit into one of those categories. If you feel we are missing something, let us know and we’ll check it out. Please note: including a link on these lists does not mean we necessarily agree with or endorse everything contained therein. It’s just that we have found them to stimulate thoughtful interaction with the Bible, Church or theology.
Finally, you’ll notice that a number of our posts will arise from teaching in our church. We will do our best to write in a way that those who attend different fellowships can be edified. But we also don’t apologize for gearing what we write for those in our community. We are unashamedly pro-local church, and see ourselves as servants to Christ’s body, specifically those with whom we have covenanted to share life. While there is a temptation in the internet age to replace real, physical community with a virtual one, we do not want this site to encourage such behavior. This site is meant to complement the Church, not replace it.
We hope you find BBG a place where you are encouraged, challenged and taught. This is a first for us, so we welcome your feedback (just e-mail us: bostonbiblegeeks at gmail). Thanks for stopping by; we hope you stick around!
If you would consider reading an Atheist fiction story, Drawers & Booths by Ara 13, I would consider an interview. You may find it refreshing in that it does not give a free pass to all Atheistic behavior. I am receiving some generous critique from the theistic community. I welcome your feedback, and would willingly send an ARC for your review. You can research me at Ara13.com and on Amazon. I can be reached at Ara13c@yahoo.com. Thanks. Ara
Excellent job guys! Website looks great. I like how you do things. I am putting your link up on my site as a blog to follow. We are a small church of about 60-70 people but they are learning to enjoy these kinds of things. I can see your thoughts being helpful. For example, I’ll be recommending your review of The Shack to people as they ask. Dan Minnich is a great friend of ours and recommended the site to me. The Lord bless your efforts!
Corey
Ara13 –
I’d be happy to review your book, though I’ll say up-front that it may take some time (e.g., note how long it took for me to respond to your comment!) I appreciate your visiting our site, and hope you find it provocative.
I will also say that giving a “free pass to all behavior” is precisely what (consistent, honest) atheism does, because it provides no ultimate basis for its ethics. There is nothing outside of ourselves upon which we may meaningfully talk about “good” or “evil,” as we are as meaningless, hopeless and pointless as any other collection of matter, from stars to slugs. We are perhaps unique because we can KNOW that we are doomed to non-existence, but it is cold comfort in an increasingly cold universe.
I would certainly be interested in interacting with you and/or your book to talk this through some more, and understand your worldview. Perhaps we can extend this conversation further. Until then –
Brian
[…] Who we are […]
Hey guys!
I was searching around the web and came across you and found CFCF through you, actually! One of those happy “accidents”, as I was looking for a church to attend. I like what you’re doing here and am always interested in meeting Christian intellectuals.
Are you all still at CFCF? I’d love to meet up sometime if you guys ever have the time. Looking forward to exploring your blog more completely (and when I am not at work, hehehe).
~marji
Hi Marji –
I think I can speak for Danny as well when I say that we’re glad you find this site helpful. We still attend CFCF, and would be happy to meet you some Sunday at service. Until then, I hope you enjoy your explorations. All God’s best to you –
Brian
Hey guys, I enjoy the blog! I’m currently a student at GCTS, so it was fun to see some alumni posting and engaging the Bible online!
Keep at it guys.
Hi Danny,
I came across your blog while looking for some other thoughts on pride for a message. I really liked your posts. I wish you had the app on your blogger for following you…
It seems I just missed you both, as I transferred from GCTS-Hamilton to GCTS-Charlotte in the Summer of ’03. :(
Just know that you have a fellow Bible geek representin’ down south!
Blessings,
JM
JMSmith.org – “The Disciple Dojo”
I’m an aspiring bible geek and I’m curious to hear your take on Spong. I don’t see him mentioned anywhere on the site. His stuff is what really got me started in my quest.
Thanks!
Dan