In the clean-up preparations for Christmas services at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, fisticuffs broke out between rival factions of priests. At least the original disciples of Christ had their squabbles on the road before the resurrection.
Good News, Lord Caiphas!
N.T. Wright sometimes overstates his case. By this I mean that he says things like “X is not Y” when it would perhaps be more helpful to say “in addition to Y we must also be careful to say X.” For example, he maintains that the gospel is not about how to get saved, but …
Pre-Selected Texts
“It must be burdensome to some, and very easy to others, I should imagine, to find their subject, as they do whose lot is cast in the Episcopal establishment, where the preacher usually refers to the gospel or the epistle, or the lesson for the day, and feels himself bound — not by any law, …
A Little Cyber-Anarchy
“The Net not only managed to become big and important before any would-be regulator noticed, it evolved both software rules and social norms without official direction” (Virginia Postrel, The Future and Its Enemies, p. 36).
Divine and Human Righteousness
In chapter four of Piper’s book, I suspect there is a little bit of Piper and Wright talking past one another. In this chapter, Piper is arguing for the “necessity of real moral righteousness” in justification. “Wright stresses that for the defendant, righteousness is not a character quality (i.e. not a moral righteousness) but a …
State of the Church 2008
INTRODUCTION: One of our customs is to have an annual “state of the church” message around the first of the year. These messages vary—sometimes they address the state of the evangelical church generally, and other times they are more geared to the circumstances surrounding our particular congregation. This message falls into the latter category, but …
Ken Doll Republicans
So despite warnings from the judicious, our nation continues to careen toward Iowa and New Hampshire. And, given the lay of the land, and what the possibilities are, it appears that the American people will once again get what we deserve, good and hard. Ron Paul is the one doctrinal anomaly in the race — …
Tomorrow’s the Day
Just a quick reminder that tomorrow, Boxing Day, is the release date for 100 Cupboards. For those in the Moscow area, Ball and Cross Books still has some copies that have not been reserved, and Nate will be there from 12 to 2 to sign copies if you would like.
Christmas Irony
At Christmas time, we are privileged to reflect on how God in His wisdom has taken human sophistication and urbanity, and folded it back over itself, turning everything around. The first Christmas was the time in history when God began announcing His mastery of irony—and it is also the time when the worldly wise began …
And Give Me Family
Several wonderful blessings at church this morning. The first is that I had the privilege of baptizing two of my grandchildren, the twins Chloe and Titus. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, including the blessing of God’s generational kindness and promises. The second blessing was a dedication, not a baptism. A family in our …