Author Archives: Clark Bunch

Peace on Earth?

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When a multitude of the heavenly host appeared to a group of shepherds out in the field, they proclaimed “Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men.” Someone may take a critical look at the world today and ask “Where is it? I don’t see peace on Earth.” The first thing we need to do is examine what this group of messengers were really saying. The full text of Luke 2:14 is “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Your translation of choice may not include among those with whom he is pleased so let’s not even go there. These angels are worshipping. They proclaim Glory to God in the highest which we do not see everywhere in the world today. The creation points to God’s glory but the majority of people walking the face of the earth do not acknowledge God. The angels were announcing the birth of the Messiah/Christ so peace on earth could be similar to Jesus himself saying “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” He certainly was. So the angels did not prophesy in so many words “There is going to be peace on earth” or “from now on there will be peace on earth and goodwill everywhere you look.” But I still want to address these two questions: Is there or can there be peace on earth? Will there ever be peace over the whole earth?

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Satur-deja Vu

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This year’s Hanukkah celebration ended last night. So about four years ago I’m watching a holiday special called Nina’s Hanukkah Adventure. The animated character that looks so much like me in the still shot above is actually Nina’s rabbi. Not only does it look like I got sucked into a cartoon the blonde hair, blued eyed lady could pass for Teresa. I cropped those those headshots and used it as my profile pic for a while.

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iMonk Radio: Podcast #115

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In this episode Michael Spencer shares his thoughts on the ESV Study Bible. I was the benefactor of one of a handful of Study Bibles that Michael received from various donors to his wish list. Pastors/preachers/serious Bible students used to build a library. Not too many of those these days but the ESV Study Bible is a single volume resource that could stand in for a small library if you can’t afford or don’t have the space for a real library.

Here is the open mic discussion of what the Bible can do. If you dig through far enough you can find a comment from me and discussion of me and my comments.

Fun fact: Van Til is mentioned right at the 5 min mark. I knew it would happen sooner or later.

Also in this podcast, the need to disquish Gospel from the Law.

Satur-deja Vu

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I found it. This picture was taken last year at Unity Baptist but a week or two ago I could not locate it. The cover image on the UBC Facebook page is a gorgeous picture of an Advent wreath from a few years ago but the colors were not right. It’s a picky little thing and I may be the only one that cares but in the picture above are three purple candles and one pink. whereas here all the candles (except the center) are white. At any rate we are two Sundays down and two to go in our season of Advent. Tomorrow we will light that pink Angles candle, sing Joy to the World and talk about our source of joy coming into the world. I have a preaching appointment on Monday with our local association pastors and music leaders. Unless things change I’m planning to suggest we rethink the angel choir.

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iMonk Radio Podcast #114

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A brief history of the Internet Monk blog; Michael’s dad and CB Radio; Christian movies (current at the time); Catholic friends and other assorted Christians.

Satur-deja Vu

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It’s a chocolate moose, get it? This is what the internet was made for. You’ve made it to the weekend, welcome to the Deja Vu.

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Satur-deja Vu

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Keeping the weeks of Advent is one way to keep Christ in Christmas. The school Christmas program may not include hymns that mention the birth of Jesus and local city ordinances may prohibit a public display of a live nativity. Maybe these are things you can do something about, maybe not. What we can and should do is read the scriptures and sing the hymns in our homes and in our churches that put the focus of Christmas squarely where it belongs. It is ultimately my responsibility to make sure that my child learns about the true meaning of Christmas and not the public school system, Charlie Brown, the Hallmark Channel or other thing. Advent is a season of preparation that gets us ready to celebrate the incarnation. Read more here if Advent is new to you or something you might be interested in learning more about.

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There is Much to be Thankful For

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As we talk about giving thanks I’m not going into this holiday season with blinders on. Over 258,000 Americans have died of Covid or Covid-related illnesses this year. Unemployment reached levels unheard of since the Great Depression with 33 million unemployed in April. (Unemployment will go back up as the total number of cases and hospitalizations rise and things shut down again.) Theaters, restaurants, airlines and hotels may never been the same, or so it seems. On a personal level, we all know someone that has been quarantined, hospitalized or died from Covid-19. Some families have been hit hard.

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Satur-deja Vu

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That is a cornucopia also known as a horn of plenty. It is a common image this time of year (although some readers of a certain age may recognize “the horn” from The Hunger Games). Pictured above is a ceramic wall plaque that came from my grandparents’ farm house. It hung in my mother’s kitchen for most of the years I lived at home and has followed Teresa and I through every move. In spite of all the jokes and memes about 2020 there is much to be thankful for. Imagine if this pandemic had been 20 years ago, before Zoom meetings were possible and video streaming was virtually nonexistent. Grocery delivery and pickup services are not just modern conveniences but have saved lives over the past year. We have all lost someone this year and perhaps know someone that is quarantined or hospitalized right now; and yet we are abundantly and richly blessed if we take honest stock of all that we still have. To read this post you must be not only alive and (presumably) well but have electricity, internet and a smartphone or laptop. That puts you in a high ranking category of wealth and privilege among the world’s 7+ billion population. This year has been tough. And God is good. Let’s be thankful this week and go ahead and look forward to 2021.

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The Little Team that Could

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This was originally published as “Illustrations Can Come from Anywhere” on March 22, 2018. I don’t do a lot of reruns but hope you enjoy this one.

If you are a preacher, know a preacher, or for that matter have ever listened to a preacher, you may have heard the oft repeated statement illustrations can come from anywhere. It’s a truism that may cause us to smile but seriously; a funny thing a child says, a misunderstanding in the supermarket line, words said in anger that have to be eaten later, literally anything a professional speaker hears about could become an illustration for a point being made. Be careful sharing those funny anecdotes around your clergyman. You may hear them again from the pulpit.

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