Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Please pray for Westmont College, a school and community suffering from the fires. Read more
I brew coffee at home and at the office, and at home I use a Rancilio Silvia and at school I use an AeroPress Coffee and Espresso . The most recent coffee at home is a fine cup Rwandan coffee: The Land of a Thousand Hills. Their line is “Drink coffee, Do good.” I like that line and many of us want to do good when we drink coffee — and just moving into that mindset is a step forward... Read more
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go… (more…) Read more
We are praying for the folks in Santa Barbara. Read more
On Fridays at the Jesus Creed blog we converse about a book that helps us form friendships, and we are now reading through Kathleen Norris, Acedia & Me: Marriage, Monks and the Writer’s Life. This is a book that paints pictures of “acedia” — something that wanders in between depression and apathy and a simple lack of care. Our chp today vulnerably sketches her shaky marriage. Honest, not always pretty, narratives of marriages reflect the Bible’s way of narrating the... Read more
Many evangelical Christians emphasize what is called the doctrine of assurance, the conviction that one is saved and destined/elected for eternal blessedness. But, what happens to the person who, once fully assured and confident and joyous, discovers that assurance has been snatched from her or his hands? In other words, once you accept the sovereignty of God what happens if you come to the view that you might be — or in fact are — not one of the elect?... Read more
A letter about advent resources. What are your suggestions? Hi Scot, I’ve been taken in a big way by the return of the spiritual practices / ancient way. I’m particularly interested as we approach Advent how I, as a member of a non-liturgical (in the common sense of the word) can embrace the season of Advent in my personal spiritual life with my family. Are there any reading themes (scripture and non-scripture), and spiritual practices that you would recommend for me... Read more
I’m proud to be an evangelical. I think we do many things well. Some will roll their eyes with those first two statements. Why? Criticizing evangelicalism is fashionable and evangelicals have joined the fashion, sometimes with apocalyptic fervor. I wonder if the relentless critique of (sometimes hard-headed) evangelical pastors, theologians, and authors – not to mention blogs and internet sites – is not the place we ought to urge the beginnings of reform. I’m sure that most critics have their... Read more
I’ve never been a fan of studies of the seven deadly sins. I did purchase the New York Public Library series since it had two of my favorite authors, Phyllis Tickle and Joseph Epstein. Recently I got a book in the mail and when I saw the title “Seven” I thought, “Here we go again.” No, it is not here we go again. Jeff Cook, in Seven: The Deadly Sins and the Beatitudes , uniquely and eloquently combines the seven... Read more
How does Paul understand the “gospel”? We’ve looked at Galatians, where we saw an emphasis on the gospel declaring the inclusion of Gentiles by faith in Christ into the People of God. (Paul says more than this, but this was his emphasis.) Thessalonians has (perhaps rather surprisingly) emphasized the witness that Paul’s own behaviors had in making the gospel more compelling. We turn now to 2 Thessalonians: (more…) Read more
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