November 2011
2 posts
Insulted by Grace
“You can do anything you set your mind to.” “If you work hard good things will come to you.” Growing up I heard phrases like this from teachers and other authority figures. The culture in America supports the idea that I can be a self-made man and that my potential is only limited by the scope of my dreams and the effort and discipline that I put into them. Humanity has done great things, curing...
Does God Hate the Sin but Love the Sinner? →
Excellent blog that takes a look at a statement that has been taken as truth because we have heard it enough in church.
October 2011
1 post
Why I Secretly Like Harold Camping
Another rapture and doomsday has passed and once again Harold Camping’s mathematical proof from Scripture has failed to yield the precise return of Christ. It is a strange message to focus on and the billboards and street prophets do not help. However I find this feeling on my gut of respect for Camping. I am not endorsing his desire to announce the day of Christ’s return or doomsday, his last...
September 2011
2 posts
The Evidence Points to Old
Despite being in my mid 20s, for years I have been keenly aware that my actions, affections, and ailments point to something quite different, old age. Even now I am aware of it as my back hurts and my reading glasses sit on the table next to me. Perhaps my preference for the simple adds to the diagnosis, I like my coffee black, my ice cream vanilla, and my books in physical form. But the most...
Jumping off Shelves: The 3-D Bible
For 2000 years there has been only small innovations in the way we read the Bible until now. Buckle you spiritual seatbelts as the most inspired Bible ever hits the shelves: the 3-D Bible. Simply crack open the Good Book, put on your Inspirivision glasses and experience three dimensions of truth and insight. The important verses jump off the page, and those boring maps in the back come to life....
August 2011
2 posts
Postmodernism is Dead! →
Free Will, Missions, Full Atonement, Prayer: 4...
I have been a Calvinist for about seven years now. I have had many discussions and a few arguments over the matter. I became a Calvinist after reading John Piper; I remained a Calvinist because of reading Jonathan Edwards.. Calvinism however seems to be a bad word and I would simply like to confess my faith in tenets (no, not tenants, I do not rent these beliefs) that are often considered (by...
May 2011
3 posts
Rob Bell's New Publisher? →
A friend pointed me to the fact that Zondervan, which published Bell’s first four books and Nooma videos, did not accept the Love Wins book proposal. This blog does a good job of explaining why. The change is not as pronounced as one would think seeing as Love Wins was published by HarperOne. Both HarperOne and Zondervan are owned by HarperCollins Publishers.
It Was Not Wicked for the Lord to Take Our Son →
This brought me to tears.
Death, Justice, and Celebration
Many of my memories from high school have faded, however one feels like it was just yesterday. Nearly ten years ago, I walked into Ms. Tuttle’s second period creative writing class to a strange sight; the television, which other than school announcements was as useful as a poster, was tuned to national news showing smoke billowing out of one of the twin towers. In the next hours I would watch from...
April 2011
2 posts
The Beauty of Easter: Resurrection and...
a collaborative piece by Andy Shurson and Clint Patronella
Sundays are made for sleeping in, yard work, playing golf, attending brunch, and relaxing before beginning another week of commitments, responsibilities, and stress. Yet every Spring, people abandon their usual activities and flock to churches to fulfill their duty in recognition of the most important day in our liturgical calendar:...
paradoxum:: truth in tension: The Resurrection (A... →
paradoxum:
(Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-9; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-23)
Needing to get Jesus buried before sundown on Friday evening (Sabbath begins Friday evening and goes until Saturday evening), Joseph of Arimathea secures the body of Jesus in order to give Him a proper burial. The tomb is guarded by…
March 2011
2 posts
“And, indeed, one of the choicest and most eminent parts of practically spiritual...”
– John Owen, The Mortification of Sin
New Book, Old Ideas →
Usually I wish Al Moehler would keep his mouth shut instead of giving a sound-bite for any major media article. However this article he wrote is a fine piece on the historicity of the ideas in Rob Bell’s new book.
February 2011
2 posts
O the Sweet Exhange
In my previous blog I referenced a late 2nd Century writing called The Epistle to Diognetus. I was struck as I read through chapter 9 again and again, the beautiful understanding of Jesus Christ as a substitution for me. Often times I struggle to understand why God would send his Son to die in my place. Suffice it to say I may never grasp the depths of love that God has shown to me. An anonymous...
Holy Ones: Set Apart not Separate
Saints are not just what we call a pro football player from New Orleans, they are not merely important dead Christians. The term saint is applied to all believers in Jesus Christ. Paul regularly uses the term saint when referring to the people whom he is writing. From the Greek that translation can either be “saint” or “holy one.” So then what does it mean to be a holy one...
November 2010
2 posts
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people...”
– C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 2 Chapter 3
A New Journey of Blogging
During a job interview a while back the interviewer asked me if I blogged. My response was that I had a blog but never used it. I called blogging an exercise of narcissism. My wish is that I can use this new attempt at blogging to put out some helpful thoughts on God, Christian culture, sports, and life. I hope that those who stumble into this might find a gracious approach to the topics at hand...