INTRODUCTION: We have come to the second of three pointed words from the prophet, addressed to a disobedient Israel. The first begins with “hear this word” (3:1). The second does the same (4:1). The third begins with “hear ye this word” (5:1). God’s judgments are not designed by Him as surprise attacks. Surprise does result, …
Sexual Orthodoxy
Things are pretty grim in Canada. Those who are up for a little appalling reading, and who still need to be convinced of my thesis statement, are encouraged to check it out here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. HT: The Pearcey Report One case involves a Pastor Boissoin, who wrote a letter to …
While Calling It Capitalism, Just to Keep Things Jumbled
“Modern statism is a return to mercantilism, to forcible impoverishment of some in order to benefit others, to zero-sum thinking” (Herbert Schlossberg, Idols for Destruction, p. 279).
Flipping Through the Yellow Pages
So your son is out of control, and you feel helpless. You don’t know what to do. If you tell him to do something, and he doesn’t want to, he throws down and there you are. He is defiant, says that he hates everybody, and you know the rest of the drill. And yet Scripture …
Eating Out of the Zeitgeist Can With a Spoon
Rodney Clapp says a number of structurally admirable things in his conclusion, but he can’t get them to add up. He states, rightly, that baptism is a political act (p. 121). He says, also rightly, “for the baptized, nothing can be more basic or more significant than their baptism” (p. 122). Batting a thousand, he …
Simple Pimple
I have finished Rodney Clapp’s book, and enjoyed it a good deal. This post will be on his penultimate chapter — on violence and peace, and my last post, following shortly thereafter, will be on the central contradiction that has plagued Clapp’s attempt to work through these issues. This post will be fairly short because …
A Barrier to Help
Over the years, I have seen many hard cases of difficult kids not effectively loved by their fathers. Because I don’t see the problem disappearing, I thought I would post a series of short pointed exhortations to a dad who has a problem child. The child actually has a problem dad, but the child doesn’t …
An Axe at the Root of the Tree
I would like to recommend some really heartening thoughts from the UK, here and here. Having said this, I should probably explain why such blunt, discouraging analysis should be registered in the “heartening thoughts” column. The answer is that in times of crisis, the truth is your first and best friend. If you have a …
And That, To Use An Old-Fashioned Word, Is False
“The great fallacy of our time, Malcolm Muggeridge has written, is the one that says that we may pursue collective virtue apart from personal behavior” (Herbert Schlossberg, Idols for Destruction, p. 264).
Evangellyfish Cast of Characters
Chad Lester, pastor of Camel Creek Community, 38 years old, compulsive sexual predator, founder of TrueLife Ministries, popular author and conference speaker. He is an administrative control freak, with one area of his life not under control. Michelle Lester, estranged wife of Chad, has been separated from him for 2 years. Divorce is almost final. …