As I continue to reflect on the state of things in the UK, I wanted to post something that might be a tad provocative, and by this, I don’t mean provocative to those who are currently agitating for the ordination of sea urchins, or whatever it is they are doing these days. Those folks have …
Pikestaff Texts
The global Anglican communion is blowing apart, as we speak. N.T. Wright is unhappy about it, as he ought to be, but unfortunately he analyzes the situation wrongly, almost from top to bottom. I wrote about this some years ago, as one who appreciates much of Wright’s scholarship. But I noted then that his anti-gnostic …
Think Globally, Sit On Your Butt Locally
I am preaching through the book of Amos, and so issues of economics, finances, generosity, and so on keep coming up. This last Sunday, someone after the service asked about something they had heard, which was that Catholic charities outgive evangelical charities, and do so by a long shot. This had application to Amos, but …
Put Me In, Coach
Some of the men in our church have been running the Bon Hom Lacrosse League for a few years, a summer program that helps get boys started early in this (fantastic) game. This last Saturday was grandson Rory’s first game ever. He is the one on the right, with gold striping on his shorts. As …
For He Is Small
Throughout the book of Amos, Israel has been preening herself over her wealth, her privilege, her status, her security. But Amos sees how vulnerable she is and pleads that way — Lord God, show mercy for Jacob is small. “Lord God of hosts, have mercy on the United States for we are tiny.” The fact …
Health is Not Mechanical
“The key to health is obedience and faith, not mechanical observance of health techniques. Valuable as exercise, good diet, and the like may be, they are not delineated in God’s revealed law” (James Jordan, Pig Out? p. 58).
No Mercy
In Romans 1, Paul gives a list of sins, as is common with him, but in this list it is striking that the characteristic note is that of venom. Among other things, he chastizes, “maliciousness,” “envy,” murder,” “malignity,” “whispering” (v. 29), “backbiting” (v. 30), being “without natural affection,” “implacable,” and “unmerciful” (v. 31). This last …
Downwind from Apostasy
“Faith in the old orthodox creed is not a matter of choice with me now. I am frequently told that I ought to examine at length the various new views which are so continually presented. I decline the invitation; I can smell them, and that satisfies me” (Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, p. 125).
Which Should Be Obvious
“In contrast, multiculturalism is tied to the position that all we have are different cultures without any borders surrounding them. That’s like saying that there are all kinds of lines on the chart, but there’s no paper” (Steve Schlissel, Christian Culture in a Multicultural Age, p. 101).
Prevailing Winds at the Back
“A certain type of man is always able to trim his sails to suit the prevailing winds, and he takes pride in the fact that he is adept at it. He does not know where he is going, but he is making good time” (For Kirk and Covenant, p. 169).