Introduction: Given the times we live in, and that fact that it is an evil day, I believe it is necessary to explain and defend a particular assumption that should under-gird all pastoral counseling, particularly marriage counseling. I first learned this assumption from my father decades ago, and it has been an integral part of …
Eighth Decade of Psalms: Psalm 73
Introduction: Asaph was an important singer in Israel, and this is the second psalm composed by him. In addition, it is the first of eleven in a row by him. We do not have any details of his biography, as we do with David, but we (possibly) learn a great deal about his personal piety …
Southern Baptist Lava Lamps
Just the other day, in a masterpiece of bad timing, delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention voted to disassociate themselves from the Confederate battle flag. I maintain this was a cloth-headed blunder for three basic reasons. First, it was as though the second story of your house were on fire, and the fire department did …
Rethink the Ink
Introduction: I stated in my earlier post on tattoos that there are Christians I respect who differ with me on the subject, and Joel McDurmon would certainly be in that number. And, just so you know, another example would be Jeff Durbin and the Apologia guys. My appreciation is specific, not generic. Now in order …
The Latest Trumpadoo
Introduction: So here are a few random thoughts on the latest iteration of our great republican hokey pokey. Have you ever read color commentary on res publicae hoci poci, to use Cato’s oft abused phrase? Well, that’s all anybody reads anymore, right? But here goes anyhow. Shock and Aw, Shucks: The first thing to say, …
So Which Way Do You Want It?
Cornelius Van Til argued that unbelieving societies alternate between rationalism and irrationalism, that unbelieving thought displays a rationalist/irrationalist dialectic, which is quite true. But in advanced stages of cultural decay it should be observed that this dialectic turns into an oscillating fan set on high. Examples are plentiful — in fact, it is hard to …
The Foundation of Free Government
The foundation of every form of free government—whether in the family, or in civil affairs, or in the government of the church—is self-government. If the people do not have self-control, then you may depend upon it that they will be controlled by outside forces. It is easy to lament despotism when it pinches, when the …
On the Attempted Defenestration of Mablog Through the Overton Window
So then first, what is this Overton Window? That window, named after Joseph “Wiki” Overton — who coined the phrase — refers to the range of ideas that are palatable, thinkable, acceptable, or otherwise within the pale, when it comes to public discourse. Outside the window, you’re just a hate-filled weirdo. In the area of …
Sixteen Sausages in a Row
A few days ago, I republished a post from a few years back on food allergies. This was mostly because I am still sorting things out in my new WordPress surroundings, and wanted to see how to repost something. Tinker with this, click on that, you know. A new commenter had just referenced that old …
Flatter My Heart, Three-Person’d God . . .
For many years I have taught that authority in a Christian home is to be found in Christ — not in the husband, not in the wife, and not in the two them together. The masculine perspective is not normative, and the feminine perspective is not normative. Both the husband and the wife are to …