The first full chapter of Clapp’s book is entitled “America’s Southern Accent” and shows, quite effectively, that when we talk about American culture generally we are largely talking about Southern culture — “but now southern identity, like the Mississippi in flood, has surged well beyond the banks of the South as a region. In so …
Two Peas in an Archetypical Pod
Green Baggins is now addressing the section on the Trinity in our Joint FV statement. I agree with the caveats that Lane issues, acknowledging that the triune nature of God is something that He is, and not something that He builds out of three independent Persons. I think that Ralph Smith guards himself against that …
Fourth of July Uplift
Here is a photo of Obama’s chum, William Ayers, taken from a profile on him in Chicago Magazine. There are about five reasons why I believe Obama cannot win the general election in the fall, and this is one of them. HT: The Pearcey Report But here is the problem for Christians. We are commanded …
Stormy Winds That Do His Pleasure
The first house Nancy and I bought was a little thing, about 930 square feet. Not only was it small, but it was also a fixer-upper, which we proceeded to do. Some good friends had helped us get our start, and we were resolved to make the most of the opportunity their kindness had provided. …
It Will Be Yours
The Westminster Confession also teaches, rightly, that one of the purposes of the sacraments is to “solemnly engage” us “to the service of God in Christ, according to His Word.” When we are “engaged” in this way it means that we are bound to Him by means of an oath. When we are baptized, we …
Mothers Day and Pentecost
This year, as it happens, the church holiday of Pentecost and our cultural holiday of Mothers Day, happen to fall on the same day. There is no deep spiritual significance to this, but it is suggestive of a few things that we ought to consider. Mothers Day is one day a year on which we …
Momma Tried
I recently started reading Rodney Clapp’s latest book, Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction. It promises to be, in turns, exilarating and exasperating. Clapp is pointing out the contradictions of the whole American set-up, as embodied in Johnny Cash himself, and so I think I will begin by noting the contradiction that is going …
Invade Burma?
If the ethics taught to us in the parable of the Good Samaritan transfer from the individual level to the global level, without any significant adjustments, then certain things follow. If my obligation to give a guy a sandwich transfers without adjustment to our obligation to give food to an entire nation, then other obligations …
Mini Book Tour. Mini Tour, That Is. Not Mini Book.
For those who are interested and somewhere close enough, Nate is doing a mini-book tour early this next week. Portland: 10:30am, Monday, May 12th/A Children’s Place/4807 NE Fremont St. Beaverton: 7 pm, Monday, May 12th/Barnes and Noble/18300 NW Evergreen Pkwy Spokane: 7:30pm, Wednesday, May 14th/Auntie’s Bookstore/402 W Main.
Speaking in Code
Hamartia in James is used six times. James begins by describing the genesis and destination of sin. Sin is born from desire (1:15), and death is born from sin (1:15). James tells us that if we show partiality — specifically with regard to rich and poor — we are guilty of sin (2:9). This is …