Thoughts and Questions on Global Christianity

The idea of Christianity crossing cultural boundaries fascinates me.  We’ve seen it since the beginning of course, with Jewish, Middle Eastern, Greek, Latin, and Germanic Christians all coming into the fold within the first four centuries of the church’s existence.  And all of these catergories are certainly too broad.  The most interesting issues for me [...]

Global Christianity: The Cross in Southern Sudan

I have been teaching an introductory course on the history of Christianity using Mark Noll’s Turning Points as our textbook.  This Sunday’s lesson focuses on the modern-day reality of global Christianity, brought about both by missions and the “indigenization” (or adaptation to local cultures) of the Gospel.  Noll agrees with what I usually hear that missionary activity [...]

So, Who Are the “Young Evangelicals”?

There’s certainly been a lot of discussion about younger evangelicals and their differences with their parents’ generation.  Matthew Lee Anderson, a “young evangelical” himself, tries to unpack the cultural trends of this group, focusing on their criticisms of their parents’ generation as well as the blind spots of this new generation.  One particular trend that he [...]

Evangelical Collapse

Well, I obviously missed this when it was posted in January, so perhaps linking to it now is kind of lame.  But if you want to read a bracing assessment of the current state of evangelicalism, check out the Internet Monk’s posts: reasons for the collapse, what will remain, and the effects.  Here are his first two reasons [...]

Surveying God’s Truth in Chicago

Yesterday, I took a bus tour through some different neighborhoods of Chicago: Austin and Garfield Park on the West Side, the Gold Coast closer to downtown, the Prairie Avenue area that boasted the homes of some of the richest Chicagoans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bridgeport (the home of the Daley dynasty), [...]

A God-Centered Perspective on a Useful Saying

I think that I first encountered the saying “All truth is God’s truth” when reading Mark D. Roberts’ Can We Trust the Gospels?.  He explained that he felt nervous about studying the Bible from a secular perspective in a Harvard course, but that John Stott gave him this phrase to ease his fears.  I believe that [...]

Review: “Skeeter and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure”

 Okay, so I watched this flick with the kids the other day and thought I’d share some thoughts on it. It’s a short animated film for children. The plotline basically centers on two brothers, Skeeter and Sinclair, who are very different in makeup, with Skeeter feeling inferior to his adventurous brother Sir Sinclair. Without giving [...]

A Gut-Wrenching, Heart-Breaking Story

In 1994, a 10-year-old and an 11-year-old tried dropped a boy of just 5 to his death out of a 14th-floor window in a housing project.  Prosecutors said it was because the younger boy had refused to steal candy for the older boys, although one of them now says it was purely an act of [...]

LDS Inclusion ~ LDS Exclusion

A straightforward reading of the Book of Mormon appears to endorse eternal punishment in hell for many people. A random example of this is found in 2 Nephi 28.15:
O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and [...]

ESV BCP Daily Lectionary

How’s that for acronyms? The English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible has a fantastic tool for performing the daily office of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). The ESV compiles the daily Bible readings: Psalms, OT, NT, Gospel – click this link. Not only that, if you use an RSS reader of some kind [...]

Catholic Inclusion ~ Catholic Exclusion

The logic of the Roman Catholic Church is that you are better off not ever hearing the gospel or knowing about the Church than you are in knowingly refusing to enter her. In other words, pagans who have not heard are better off than those who hear and do not join the Church. Current Catholic [...]

My Elders Taught Me How to Shoot a Rifle!!!

Just got back from our elder’s retreat and had a great time. One of my personal highlights was firing a rifle and shotgun for the first time. My elders were actually somewhat impressed at my skills, calling me a natural as I was consistently hitting the tiny targets.
I had to shoot the rifle as [...]

The End of Empires

Tying together the economic crisis, imperial presidency, fiscal insanity in our government, and far-flung military commitments, Andrew Bacevich makes a compelling case that our system is worn out.  If you’ve talked with me at any point since late September, I’ve probably mentioned something about this interview to you.  Check it out and see if you found [...]

Hanging With the Elders

I am about to head out to an Elder retreat for my Church, Sovereign Grace Fellowship. We will be spedning some quality time together and pray for God’s leading and guidance upon His body. I love the Body of Christ and am most excited when praying and planning according to His will. Jesus is the [...]

Obama Stem Cell Position More Radical than President Clinton

I saw Clinton interviewed the other night, and even he was concerned about the openness in Obama’s position which permits the creation of embryos for the sole purpose of research. Clinton supported embryonic research for embryos that were created “in vitro” and were going to be discarded. He did not support the creation of embryos [...]

Reformed, Charismatic, Credo-Baptists Taking Over “Calvinist” Banner?

In Time’s article highlighting the “New Calvinism”, it is interesting to note that all such folks mentioned in the modern  ”Calvinistic” scene are all “credo-baptists” (those who believe in baptizing only those who actually profess Christ as Lord). Those mentioned were:

John Piper
Al Mohler
Mark Driscoll
Justin Taylor’s “Between Two Worlds” Blog

I’m not trying to drive a stake [...]

Calvinists En Vogue?

Time Magazine just released the 10 ideas that are most changing the WORLD right now. #3 on the list was…ummm prepare yourself, we’re talking about the World, not just the Church, not just America, but the third most important idea changing the world….okay I have been redundant. It is….drum roll…
“The New Calvinism”

3. The New Calvinism
By DAVID [...]

Mission trip in the summer

My family and I are planning on going on a mission trip to Uganda in July. Details are here.

John Piper “God is God When Everything Else Fails”

Short clip, check it out!!!

Trip Lee + Tedashi Video “Real Vision”

I love all the artists at Reach Records. This video is about seeking truth and abiding by it. There is even a dig at Arius and false doctrine. I just love this theologically driven urban hip-hop. 

Tedashi About to Drop New Album from Reach Records!!!

 

Click here if the player isn’t showing up
Don’t Miss the Identity Crisis Release Party in Nashville at the GMA’s!
Wed. April 22nd 8-10 pm at B.B. King’s. Click here for map
Special Guests: Sho Baraka, Trip Lee, Lecrae, Flame, J.R.

the conservative black vote

I know this a little late but I had it drafted during the elections but just forgot about it but still wanted to post anyway b/c this problem didn’t stop just b/c this election is over.
Why were black conservatives who voted for McCain being ostracized for their conservative beliefs?   People want to claim that only [...]

The Presidential pen collection

Ok, was it just me or did anyone else notice the plethora of pens that Obama used to sign the spending bill?? I mean really, how many pens does a guy need to sign those documents? Are there special powers to each pen? Are they all different colors? Did one not [...]

Looking For Some Fantasy Baseball Buddies

I have set up a free fantasy baseball league through Fox Sports and looking to fill the 12 team max I have set. As of now, we have 4 teams and are ready to go. A live draft will take place on Sunday, March 15th at 10:30pm (Eastern Time Zone). Let me know if you [...]

Angels Adopting “Moneyball”?

In a recent article in the LA Times, it is noted that the Angels have been emphasizing plate discipline and pitch recognition throughout the organization.The OC Register also ran a similar article noting this new emphasis in the Angels’ organization. 
I am very encouraged at this new-found emphasis. It seemed that their former philosophy was to [...]

Looking forward to Spokane, Expository Godfather, and the Minor Prophets

I want to thank the elders of my church for granting me a sabbatical leave to attend the following conference in Spokane, WA. I’m really looking forward to it. I have heard great things about this church from a missionary family that we support which attended this church while living in Spokane. Actually, you should [...]

Geerhardus Vos = Charismatic Theologian?

Okay, I know that some are about to stone me for even mentioning Geerhardus Vos and charismatic in the same sentence. It was intended to be provocative, but I must say that Vos’ pnuematological insights align well with a Redemptive-Charismatic hermeneutic. He quotes:
The position of Jesus in the development of pneumatology as between the Old [...]