“The Crusades were a belated military response of Christian Europe to over three centuries of Muslim aggression against Christian lands, the systemic mistreatment of the indigenous Christian population of those lands, and harassment of Christian pilgrims.” (Serge Trifkovic, The Sword of the Prophet, p. 97).
The Genesis of the Cape and Beret Problem
“For an incandescent wit like Wilde, it was possible to express that contempt with grace and skill. But the majority of decadents were not that brilliant, and the best they could do was define art in negative terms, as the absence—or better still, the inversion—of other values, especially moral ones. To establish one’s creative bona …
Three Feet of Accumulated Total Depravity
“Sometimes staunch Calvinists (may their tribe increase) like to get more than a little worm theology into their prayers. What this prayer time needs, the thinking seems to go, is about three feet of accumulated total depravity. Of course we are sinners, and of course we must acknowledge it in our prayers. But to wallow …
You Can Say That Again
“Many times stoutness of spirit comes from weakness rather than strength. There is not always the greatest strength of judgment where there is the greatest strength of will” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 198).
Walk Like a Ninja
Greenbaggins continues to review my book “Reformed” Is Not Enough, and he does so here. He begins this post by asking where I have been hiding. I sent an email to Douglas Wilson asking if he is desirous of continuing the debate. I believe that since June 28th, which was the first post on the …
Adultery
We may all agree that adultery is not a good thing, but our opinions here sometimes appear to be a mud fence we have built to withstand an incoming tsunami. Something more, we feel, may be necessary. In the modern church, a pastor can commit adultery, and get caught. It is at least possible that, …
Inner Jihad
“Only after the Islamic Empire had been established the notion of an ‘inner’ jihad—that of one’s personal fight against his ego and sinful desires—also came into being, but it was predicated on the assumption that the external, real jihad was nearing its completion” (Serge Trifkovic, The Sword of the Prophet, p. 89).
Book Sites Are Always Worth a Look
Some of you may be familiar with the web site Books on the Path. I just had a delightful visit with the new owner and manager of that business, and thought you might be interested in taking a look.
Two Ways to Cook
“Like New Orleans cooking, New Orleans jazz derives its power from deftly balanced ingredients and carefully controlled heat” (Martha Bayles, Hole in our Soul, p. 29).
Praying in the Wrong Direction
“When the people of God are praying to God, the one offering up prayers on their behalf should not start (or continue) preaching to the people. If a pastor did not get his last point of the sermon in, he must not shoehorn it into the closing prayer. The one praying should never forget who …