“The perception of a news show as a stylized dramatic performance whose content has been staged largely to entertain is reinforced by several other features, including the fact that the average length of any story is forty-five seconds” (Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death, p. 103).
Worship as Political Relevance
“Christians often debate whether or not they should throw themselves into the political realm. Some say we should, because Christians should be involved in saving our culture. Some say we shouldn’t, because our culture is soon to be perpendicular to the surface and headed for Davy Jones. We should consequently continue to focus on our …
Hatred of Competition
“Last, one proud man is very discerning in the discovery of pride in another. Though he entertains it in his own bosom, yet he hates it in others whereever he sees it. This is a peculiar curse upon this sin. One drunkard loves another, one whoremaster another, but one proud man hates another” (Burroughs, Irenicum, …
Getting the Right Lid for the Jigsaw Puzzle Box
Now that my schedule has recovered some of its equilibrium, perhaps I can catch up on answering some of Greenbaggins’ questions. On the law/gospel distinction, Lane says of me that “if there is any distinction, it is in the person, and not in the text, whereas I hold that there is a distinction in the …
Flannery Fanboys
Just a random Flannery O’Connor thought. I am currently enjoying Wise Blood very much, and it struck me how seriously O’Connor took her fundamentalist misfits. She was a Roman Catholic, and yet we find that her literary (and very Southern) genius really sees Jesus in the angular, raw Tishbite street preachers. She expects us to …
St. Alphonse the Lesser
This is Trinity Sunday, the beginning of the backstretch of the church year. From Advent through Pentecost, we commemorate the life of Christ our Lord, marking His arrival in our midst, His life, His death and resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and His outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon His people. Our observance of these …
Greater Matters
Last week we considered why it is important for us to be seated as we partake of the Lord’s kindness at this Table. This is the time when we, His people, sit with the Lord at Table, and when we discuss with Him the affairs of the world. He has invited us to His Table—He …
Even Interestinger
Over the few years this blog has been up and going, I have periodically given a report on the web traffic doings here. The natural time for doing this is birthdays, but I was so busy that this blog’s third birthday passed by a few weeks ago without me noticing it. Oops and sorry. But …
More Leepikey Stuff
The good folks at Veritas Press asked me if I would write an open letter to Nate about Leepike Ridge for their monthly electronic newsletter. I was happy to do that, and you can read what I wrote at this web site. Be sure to check out Laurie Detweiler’s review of the book after my …
Last Installment of Hitchens/Wilson Debate
I want to offer my public thanks to Christianity Today for hosting this debate. I would also like to thank Christopher Hitchens for participating in it. The last installment can be found here.