The basics checklist continues… The mission is the Great Commission. Is the Great Commission essentially the mission (no matter how it is worded)? Many churches have mission statements. Examine it. The wording may be a little different, but is the church’s mission statement similar to or an application of the Great Commission? In case you don’t…Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 3
More thoughts directly from the Journal I kept while on my 60 hours of total isolation. The next morning, I went for a hike and wrote a little to try to understand my issues with boredom. I don’t know that my direct intentional thoughts were very insightful, but my continued ruminations probably offer more insight:…Continue reading Sabbatical (2017) Report VI
John MacArthur and the “Truth Matters Conference” comments about Beth Moore The Setup Listen to the recording of the event. Then come back and read. It is only about 7 minutes long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeNKHqpBcgc During the “Truth Matters Conference,” held Oct. 16-18 at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, where he is pastor, MacArthur and other panelists were asked…Continue reading John MacArthur’s “Truth Matters Conference” comments about Beth Moore
Report on the recent New York State abortion decisions. My readers know that I think most topics that matter deserve more than a meme’s worth of treatment. I know that means less people actually read things like this all the way through, but I still think it is the right call to make. My goal is…Continue reading Report on Recent Abortion Laws in NY – part 1
Go back and read part 1 if you haven’t yet. It ended with: “This doesn’t call for abolition, it calls for wisdom.” Later in the conversation about the ad, I wrote: I know that I cannot know the motives or internal workings of the company… maybe they meant it to be shaming or scolding or…Continue reading Of Course There is Toxic Masculinity – part 2
Ok, someone asked about my thoughts about the celebration of Christmas, especially for Christians. I assume this is in response to my thoughts about Halloween… and I will refer you to the history of Halloween article to offer some of the overall history of Christmas as well. I think it is tough to understand the…Continue reading General Questions and Thoughts about Christmas & Santa
Go back to part I, if you want to get the background. Back to roots So, it didn’t come from what some in Christianity think of as “social justice” – meaning the Church taking care of people in need in the Name of Christ. That Christian version is in opposition to the social justice movement and…Continue reading Social Justice – Part II
Examining the article recently published about Men preferring Debt free virgins without tattoos – To summarize: in an article that makes the claims she makes, I see no research and no scripture that defends the actual claims.! This is purely an opinion piece. It doesn’t represent anyone at all except herself (and the original writer perhaps).…Continue reading Response to Men Prefer Debt-Free Virgins Part 3 (and most important part)
But instead a stance taken against girls going to college. Here is the “logic” of the article. Men prefer debt free virgins without tattoos. College is where debt, sex and tattoos happen. Therefore girls shouldn’t go to college. This logic is obviously filled with error. Even if some men prefer these traits, and even if…Continue reading Response to Men Prefer Debt Free Virgins – Part 2
momentConclusions Many people have argued that this is only a movie. The director can make changes to whatever he wants and it shouldn’t matter… after all, it’s just a movie. I once had a seminary professor who said that if a preacher is going to take over a new church and then change everything, he…Continue reading Star Wars The Last Jedi Review – Part iv
“and Lead us not into temptation” According to “The Independent” on Dec 8, 2017: “Pope Francis has called for a change to the wording of the Lord’s Prayer, as the existing translation implies God ‘induces temptation’… The prayer, also known as Our Father, asks God to ‘lead us not into temptation’.” “The 80-year-old also highlighted…Continue reading Pope Francis changing the Lord's Prayer
Crisis Culture In our crisis-based nation (we seem to have almost no culture except for the culture of crisis… which, by the way, I assume is the unavoidable consequence of the culture of media that we developed in the last few decades. To paraphrase Frank Peretti , “TV does not reflect the culture nor affect…Continue reading Confederate Monument Controversy – Part 5
Christian Ethic #2 for this conversation: So, what about in 2017? Should we be removing monuments to Confederate Leaders? Well, there certainly is wisdom in doing so… and then a Christian ethic for doing so. First, the wisdom – and from what you might consider an unlikely source: Lexington, VA., August 5, 1869. Dear Sir–Absence…Continue reading Confederate Monument Controversy – Part 4
Here is a historical and human truth: Essentially every human being has aspects of their lives that are noble (did you know that Hitler was an aspiring artist?) and aspects of their lives that were distressing (Did you know that George Washington was a slave owner?). This is according to the Christian understanding that though…Continue reading Confederate Monument Controversy – Part 3
… (read part 1 if you haven’t yet) And, in the continued research, I discovered that there are dozens of various statues and monuments to the man, especially in South Carolina. Schools, streets, and a city are named for him. Because of his military prowess, a ship was named after him in WWII. I want…Continue reading Confederate Monument Controversy – Part 2
Taking/tearing down Confederate Monuments “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The Apostle Paul, Romans 12:18 & 21 Hopefully the verse above makes it clear that I am writing this to Bible – believing Christians. If you have…Continue reading Confederate Monuments Controversy – Part I
Is the end of the world coming Saturday? Well, I suppose… maybe. I am sorry that the tone of this will, at times, be a little tongue-in-cheek. As a rational Christian skeptic, I have a hard time taking faddish, panicky social media input very seriously. The 2nd coming of Christ and the “Day of the…Continue reading Is the end of the world coming on Saturday?
Loving the mother of your children conference Mother’s Day is coming up, an ultimate day of testing for a father. What type of gift will mean the most to my wife this holiday? How do I give her compliments that will mean something to her? How do I parent my children so that know how to…Continue reading Men's conference tomorrow – call us to register
New workshop by Chris Legg and Zach Herrin Mother’s Day is coming up, an ultimate day of testing for a father. What type of gift will mean the most to my wife this holiday? How do I give her compliments that will mean something to her? How do I parent my children so that know how…Continue reading Navigating Fatherhood – new workshop for fathers and husbands
Now, here are some of my personal responses to these points. My issue with the Calvinism branch of reformed theology is mostly based on the view that if one thing is true, others things cannot be… when often this is not the case biblically. If something appears to be paradoxical, it may be our error.…Continue reading Calvinism and my views – Part II