I’m the only writer in the entire blogoshpere that hasn’t said anything about Pope Benedict XVI being in the United States. Half the internet is devoted to this topic. There’s more pics of him this week than Brittney Spears; well, maybe not.
I’m still not going to blog on the Pope, but will take this occasion to say some things about the Catholic Church while everybody’s talking about it right now in America. Continue reading
“And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (ESV)
That’s not exactly how I first memorized that verse 20 years ago in the KJV, but it’s close. Romans 8:28 is one of those verses that can easily be misunderstood and/or wrongly interpreted. What does the verse not say? It does not say everything that happens will be good. It does not say that. All things that happen work together for good. It’s not the same thing. Some things that happen in life are great. We can see the blessing in them right off. Some things are painful, traumatic, or sorrowful, and we rely on God to know what he’s doing and see us through. Most days fall into the category of ordinary. They just get lumped into the pile of just another day. But God uses every event – good, bad, and whatever – to our ultimate benefit. Think of Romans 8:28 like baking biscuits. Continue reading
Internet Monk has brought up an archived article about correctly reading and interpreting scripture. Magic books, grocery lists and silent messiahs gives 3 examples of how scripture can be misused in a sermon or lesson. It’s a good read, and I recommend it. As I looked over it again, and the comments, I found that I had commented twice in the thread. One of them apparently just after I had finished a book on expositional preaching. A good expository sermon is one where the text is read, a few minutes is given to exegesis, and then application is made. Reading my own comments from 2005 reminded me of how strongly I once believed in this. I didn’t have a blog at the time, and good exposition fits well into the theme of Clark Bunch’s Weblog*. Here is the bulk of that comment: Continue reading
We could list many things Jesus makes a difference in: finances, vocation, plans for the future, etc. I want to point out the difference Jesus makes in us.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away, behold the new has come.” (ESV) When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, he or she is just not the same person anymore. I don’t often use the term conversion, but that’s what happens. Saving knowledge of Christ changes our mind, heart and spirit from what they were into something… new. Look up the third chapter of Colossians. Verses 1-17 are about this new self. Verse 2 says to “set your mind on things that are above…” When we change from old self to new self, other people will be able to see a difference. It might not be Christian people, either. It could be that old friends notice the difference in attitude, action and speech. Continue reading
I just read a very good (if not somewhat lengthy) post here on Isaiah Chp. 1. I’ve preached more than once on this text. It’s a harsh reprimand for people that “play church” by doing all the churchy things, but not worshiping in spirit and in truth. If you’ve been reading my weblog, you know how I feel about that. Isaiah mentions all the things they’re doing; the stuff God commanded. But the problem is they have innocent blood on their hands. They live in their sins, and act out the motions, but are not changed people inside. God (through Isaiah) finally tells them to stop doing evil, and learn to do good. Jesus quotes Isaiah when he says “this people love me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” In Deuteronomy, God says to “circumcise your hearts.” Replace everything in the Isaiah 1 list with singing hymns, praise and worship choruses, powerpoint slides, taking collection, etc. Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman about worshiping in spirit and in truth. Isaiah says that true religion is to visit the widow and the fatherless, an idea echoed in the New Testament. Worship is an outward extension of what’s inside of us, not something we can rehearse until we get it right.
I’ve listed the blogs I read in a recent post. Some I know personally, some I’ve got to know by what they write online. There is a certain personality type that blogs I guess, and bloggers probably have certain things they all share in common. But what about this:
Jack and Shirley have a blog called Notes from a Retired Preacher. Jack is a retired preacher, 78 years of age. His latest post (as of this moment) is titled “How to Share Christ.” I think that’s awesome.
For the sake of this argument, the premise is that the atheists are right. God does not exist, and all religions are mistaken about any type of higher power, intelligent design, etc. I want to examine for a moment the pragmatic effects of having Christians in the world.
I know that from time to time Christians do really dumb things. Continue reading
I didn’t start blogging because there were no good blogs out there. Quite the opposite; reading some very good blogs is what inspired me to write also. Here are some of the blogs I have found. Some of these are listed in my blogroll, some are not. Perhaps more should be. If you find your blog listed below and don’t wish to be, let me know.
UPDATE: All the blogs listed below are now in my blogroll, regardless of what each one says.
Two Channel Station: I met Ricky online by way of his blog. He recently added Adam as his blogging partner. I’ve never seen or spoken to either of these guys, but they write thought provoking material on religion, philosophy and politics. I highly recommend them – after you read my blog each day, of course:-)
Third Watch: This is a group blog also. Sometimes they have cute pictures of their kids. If you’re an old grouch about that sort of thing, stay away. But they also have very insightful commentary on the Christianity in America.
Redhead Rev: not on my blogroll yet, Red Head Rev is a female minister in the Assemblies of Christ. Her husband Chris appears with her on a video she has up right now from Palm Sunday. You’re welcome to feel however you wish about women in ministry. But before you comment, just remember this post is “Blogs I Read” not “Blogs for you to agree or disagree with.”
Pilgrim’s Journey: is on my blogroll. Brian and I met in college. He went on to get his M.Div. at Midwestern in Kansas City. Don’t ask his opinion unless you really want him to answer honestly. Atheists – stay away from this guy. He’s not nice like me.
Life in Mordor: also on my blogroll. Mike Frizzell has been blogging quite a while. His archives are extensive, and he’s pretty well read. You and I could both learn a lot from him.
Noel Heikkinen: on my blogroll. I once watched this guy throw a coconut threw a full length mirror. He then explained we’re broken by sin, and cannot be put back together. His blog is a lot of things, religion being one of them. Most of it’s hilarious. I’ll be hilarious someday; I’m working through the serious stuff first.
A Small Faith: not on my blogroll, but I should probably add it. A Small Faith is another group blog, with some good theology. By listing their blog here, it will prevent me from just copying and pasting their stuff in my own blog to make me look smarter than I really am.
Internet Monk: many of you are already familiar with Michael Spencer. I’ve seen internet monk listed on some of your blogrolls. Reading his stuff is what prompted me to go to wordpress and start my own. If you want to mess with him, send me an email and I’ll tell you how. If you want to know what post-evangelical is, ask me instead. You don’t want to get him started.
Garment of Praise: Sometimes poetry, sometimes photos, sometimes really personal insight, Garment of Praise is almost like a daily devotional in convenient blog format. I would have done my taxes by now if the IRS was in “convenient blog format.”
There you go. Some of these are listed on my blogroll, I subscribe to them all. When I’m not writing, I’m reading one of these. Is there a blog you read (or write) that I should know about? Let me know, and it might make my next list.
The story of the Samaritan woman at the well is found in the fourth chapter of John’s gospel. Jesus sets the example for us by doing several things wrong here. By “wrong” I mean he didn’t follow proper procedure for first century Jewish culture. He went against the conventions of culture to share the good news. Continue reading
Ben Stein has a movie coming out April 18th titled “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” which criticizes the way proponents of intelligent design has been laughed off, discriminated against, or ignored. Many Christians are optimistic this will open doors to discussions of intelligent design, creation, and theism or at least get people asking the right questions. I don’t know if this secular movie creates an opportunity for sharing the gospel or not, but many think it will. It at least challenges closed minded thinking that any idea other than evolution is laughable and that the book on that subject has long been shut. Here is an excerpt of a letter from Chris Bougie sent out to campus ministry leaders everywhere:
The evangelistic opportunity we're referring to will be created by the release of the cutting-edge, controversial documentary by the well-known and brilliant Ben Stein. Continue reading
The Master's Table 