My oldest son is a big fan of the animated movie Cars that came out a few years ago, and he has a bunch of the little toy cars that match up with the characters in the movie. And for whatever reason, he loves to use mom and dad’s bed as a racetrack. And almost
Monthly Archives: November 2010
The Power of One Christ-Centered Mind
There was a time not all that long ago when I really thought I knew a thing or two about the Bible. Not all that long ago, I would confidently dive into any and all theological discussions/debates that happened to pop up within earshot. Not all that long ago, I allowed myself to be somewhat
The First Sunday of Advent: November 28, 2010
November 28 marked the first Sunday of Advent 2010. Advent (which means “coming” or “arrival”) gives us an opportunity to reflect both on the story surrounding Christ’s birth as well as his promised return. It is marked by moments of quiet waiting and joyful expectation. We began our Advent celebration by meditating on the prophecies
My Only Real Need
Earlier this year, I went on a mission trip to Jamaica with my three teenage girls. I came home from that trip deeply sobered by the embarrassingly-rich way in which we Americans live. That one-week experience of being dropped into an entirely different culture may not have changed everything I do, but it for sure
The Embarrassment of the Church
Somewhere along the way, you may have heard the objection. The gist goes something like this: “You tell me that I should follow your Jesus. You say that he’s the very definition of what ‘good’ is. And you even claim that he turns lives around. But if that’s all true, how do explain all the
Passing Glimpses at Eternal Gratitude
Many Christians can tell you precisely when, where, and under what circumstances they gave their life to the Lord. “I accepted Jesus Christ at a Campus Crusade rally in October of 1976,” or “My husband and I both became Christians after our eldest son witnessed to us in 1994,” or something along those lines. I
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: November 21, 2010
This week’s music set-list review features photos by Gerik Parmele and was planned and lead by guest worship leader Rhett Johnson. You’ll find links in the song titles that will allow you to purchase recorded versions of the songs (where available). O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing by Charles Wesley (1739), Contemporary chorus by
Unfamiliar With a Shelf-full of Bibles
In a book* I was recently reading, the author (Donald Whitney) recounts being part of a missionary team in East Africa several decades ago. The biblical literacy in this region of the continent was shockingly low, in spite of having several churches in the area. The preachers would generally have 6 sermons in their repertoire,
The Pride Of Unthankfulness
There is just something not right about driving to work in the dark and then turning right around and driving home again in the dark. I really struggle this time of the year as I generally prefer the outdoors. As Thanksgiving rapidly follows daylight savings time, I find very little time to adjust my mindset
LGBT Argues For Legislating Morality
Meet The Press is one of the Sunday political shows that I podcast so that I can watch it at the gym usually on Sunday afternoon. One of the guests this past Sunday was Senator John McCain, the former Republican presidential nominee. McCain had just returned from Afghanistan and was sharing his opinion on how