Introduction: Although the occasions can be many, there are two basic reasons for discouragement—internal and external. The internal occurs when for some reason we have given way to sinful ...
Dealing With Discouragement
Empathy in the High Places
Casting down imaginations . . . (2 Cor. 10:5) The high places of old that kings in Judah were reluctant to tear down, even the good kings, were places that presented themselves well. The groves were stately, the trees well-spaced, the shrines impressive, the walkways manicured. There was a sense of the numinous and holy, …
The Revolution Will (Still) Not Be Televised
Introduction: Back in the day, 1970 to be precise, a gent named Gil Scott-Heron released a spoken-word piece with the title that I referenced above—The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. The phrase ...
How to Lose Your Joy
Introduction: To come into the kingdom of God, to be made a citizen of Heaven, is an occasion of joy. The man who finds the treasure of the kingdom goes out and sells everything in a spirit of ...
Justification and Concupiscence
Introduction: I was recently sent a copy of Ruined Sinners to Reclaim , a hefty book dedicated to a thorough treatment of total depravity. It looks marvelous. If you have any friends who are ...
Is Church to be a Safe Space?
In answering the question posed by the title, let me begin by saying yes and no. The contingent response depends on a number of factors. Safe from what? How safe? What tools may we use to establish that safety? Yes, of course, we should take every lawful precaution to keep the church safe — safe …
Jovial Introspection
Over the course of the last year I have been doing a major review of C.S. Lewis’s work. I had been shaped by Narnia as a kid, and began reading his theological works while I was still in high school. In short I did a bunch of binge reading early on, and periodically returned to …
Running From Honest Confession
A man who confesses his sins is doing something like this. In prayer to God, he names the sin he has committed, and he takes care to use the same name that the Bible uses. He does this because he is repentant and has turned away from that sin, rejecting it entirely. He thanks God …
Effluvia
This is the outline of remarks I gave to the male students of NSA this afternoon. Here are three things I want to set out with regard to the sins of words. I am not speaking here of the broad category of sins of the tongue — gossip, slander, quarrelsomeness, and so on. My concern …
Skewed Solidarities
This last Wednesday, I sent out the following tweet: Just so you know, husbands, angry men are terrible lovers. The day after, I sent out one for the ladies: Just so you know, wives, complaining a lot is like taking ugly pills. Both tweets got positive responses, but they also each got a peculiar and …