Source (where you can read his explanations for each change): What do you think? What has changed the most in your lifetime? What are the most dramatic changes? First, when I was growing up and well into my early adult years evangelical Christianity in America focused much attention on the return of Jesus Christ. Second, and related to “first,” when I was growing up and into my early adult years evangelical Christianity in America focused much attention on heaven and hell. Third,... Read more
From Jason Micheli: ‘The Sacrifice of War’ My Grandpa died this spring, just before Holy Week. Maybe it’s because I preach so many funerals, but I’ve learned that when it comes to death this paradox is true: while no amount of words can ever do justice to a person’s life, sometimes a single sentence can encapsulate the essence of a person. The paradox is true in my Grandpa’s case. If you want to get a sense of my Grandpa,... Read more
O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Read more
It takes a village! If you care about the Great Lakes, read this fun set of facts. Using the “parkway” (between curb and sidewalk) for gardening. How about donating this space for the good of others? The L.A. City Council voted Wednesday to approve new parkway guidelines that will outline what residents are allowed to plant in that small space between the curb and street. The city attorney can now prepare draft revisions on existing guidelines, and the Bureau of Street Services will have to provide... Read more
Seems like a good day to bring up news about lightning bugs, and they fill our yard each summer. Here is a clip from an article that discusses 12 fun facts about lightning bugs. There are many wonders to behold in the animal world, but few offer such enchantment as that of a summer evening punctuated with the twinkle of fireflies. It’s a singular experience, like handfuls of Lilliputian stars tossed from the sky, falling to flit and hover among... Read more
Of course, neither our President nor any nation’s leader is the same as the Davidic king envisioned here, but the Davidic king can be seen as a template of kingship — with due adjustments for our world, and with all respect to our Canadians who have some of their official statements embedded in this Psalm. Kris and I are on Cape Cod with family, almost within earshot and eyeshot of the famous tea party that gave plenty of colonialists a... Read more
In the history of the church, moral teachings often flow from the seven deadly sins and the seven virtues. The seven deadlies are wrath, avarice, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. The seven virtues tend to be chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness and humility. One might reasonably ask where such lists come from and the answer is “lots of places, including the Bible.” So one thinks of the listings one finds in the Ten Commands or in Micah 5... Read more
Source: In her book, The Good News About Marriage, Feldhahn lays out what she found during her eight years of investigating the complicated, complex divorce statistics. First, the divorce rate is way below 50 percent and much lower for those who attend church. Feldhahn estimates the overall divorce rate for the country is around 31 percent. The studies of people who regularly go to church all show a much lower divorce rate for them. “Maybe 15 percent, maybe 20 percent for... Read more
Chapter four of Matthew Lieberman’s book Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect bears the interesting title Fairness Tastes Like Chocolate. Personally I like chocolate, on occasions, in small amounts. But it is nothing to write home about. Now homemade ice cream, with real vanilla, and blueberries (preferably picked in the wild, but farmed will do); that is something to write home about. And quite appropriate for the Fourth of July holiday weekend (well, holiday for those of us... Read more
Philosophy is rooted in reason and begins with detachment and skepticism. Theology is rooted in revelation and begins with faith and trust. History has assigned the former to the public realm, especially in the form of science, and the second to the private realm. Are the two allies? Are they competitors? Such are the questions asked in IVP’s newest Spectrum Multiview Books, this one edited by Azusa Pacific professor, Steven Wilkens, and called Faith and Reason: Three Views. The three views... Read more
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