Fear for life and loved ones has given strength to our fallen natures, ensnaring precious brothers and sisters in the lie that torture may be defined/redefined/justified by a Christian.
Liturgy Series: Part 9 – The Sermon
As stated above, just like all stories, a sermon opens up a world of possibility to God's people. Yet, unlike secular liturgies that call us to guilt or transaction, the Christian sermon tells us that Jesus has already opened up that world of possibility; it is already before us, already amongst us!
2014 Reflections: An Open Letter to TG Writers
This is an open letter to every single individual who found their name attached to a Torrey Gazette blog post in 2014. Some of these names and posts remain to be publish but this letter is for you too!
2014 Reflections: Top Beer
This year was the great expanse of beer trying. With books being sent to me I spent all my monies on the beers. This included some more expensive beers than I'm use to drinking and essentially a whole new Top 5 List.
Is Wendell Berry Making Me A Pacifist?!?
What I'd like to do in this post is simply share some of the most powerful quotations from this essay with you all. I found, as I read this essay, that many of the deepest presuppositions the Modern West surround the concept of war. Consider the following as an extra dose of "food for thought:"
2014 Reflections: Less is More
2014 was a year of considerable places where "less was more." So I'm going to recount some of them in a loose format.
Postmillennialism 101: Believe Your Christmas Carols
My admonition to you all is that you listen and believe in the words you will hear and sing this Sunday in
2014 Reflections: Top 5 Books
At somewhere over 50 books reviewed, after starting in the March timeframe, the sheer number of pages and topics are staggering. Admittedly, these are my Top 5. They are controversial, thought provoking, and utterly excellent for what I needed this year.
Am I Reading Wendell Berry or N.D. Wilson???
Each day is filled with "miracles." N.D. Wilson likes to point out that bats really do fly blind, plants really do turn sunlight into food, and caterpillars really do turn into butterflies; these aren't just stories we tell children. If we would heed Christ's admonition to consider the lilies and birds we would be filled with the miraculous wonder that God always intended us to see in His creation.
Book Review: Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible
I did not want to like this Bible. I remain convinced that my reservation for study Bibles and devotional Bibles is valid. But the Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible is worth the price of admission. For individuals looking for more than a simple NKJV text, I find myself surprised to say I can recommend this Bible in its entirety.
Presbyterian without Promise (Murray Edition)
"The efficacy of infant baptism principally consists in this that it is to us the certification or seal that God works in accordance with this company provision and fulfills his covenant promises. It is, after all, the Lord's own nurture which infant baptism signifies and seals."
No View Apart From Fog
The time was wonderful and the destination, Vancouver BC in Canada, almost perfect and rather inspiring.
Liturgy Series: Part 8 – The Creed
Like most parts of the liturgy, a weekly recitation of a Creed or confession of faith doesn’t really make sense to our modern selves.
No, I'm Sorry, You Actually DON'T Read the Bible "Literally"
Stop trying to claim the hermeneutical "high ground" with your literal approach. You don't actually do it. To some degree or
Book Review: NIV College Devotional Bible
Individuals seeking to purchase a NIV from Zondervan would be better served buying their NIV Skinii Bible which is both affordable and physical/visually attractive.
Presbyterian without Promise
Yes, God has promised the salvation of our children. Yes, He has promised directly to them to save them. And yes, some of them spurn His covenant of promise and become apostate.
The Highway & The Sidewalk
Too often when someone disagrees with what someone is writing they tend to boil things down to silly arguments about the writers moral standing. Developing a an enlarged understanding of how differing mediums and purposes will affect one's form of communication could do much to quell the tumultuous world of social media and blogging. Especially among Christians.
A Thanksgiving in Vancouver with Barth
As many of you might know, my wife surprised me in multiple ways on father's day this year. I found out I would be a dad (for the third time) via a cryptic card. I also received a book that I have been craving for a long, long time.
Why Are Christian Novels & Movies So Bad?
What Christian authors and film makers need to understand is that the Christian faith is not an idea. Christianity is incarnate, creational, embodied. If Christians continue to use physical means (art) to simply say that art is not important (only ideas are) then our contributions will continue to lag behind.
Book Review: The Authors of the Deuteronomistic History by Brian Peterson
The Authors of the Deuteronomistic History is a surprisingly accessible volume that is brimming with scholastic insight. Even laymen will be capable of understanding Peterson’s arguments and enjoy his insights into the history of Israel.