Kris and I agree with the peacemaking ways of our President: President Obama’s full statement on the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case: “The death of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America. I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher. “But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American... Read more
The most common “advocate” for conversion is a family member or a friend (you can read about this in my book Turning to Jesus). Some are converted by reading, some by listening to a sermon, some by studying a problem, some by an aesthetic encounter (I know someone who was converted through a piece of art in an Eastern European church) or watching a film or reading a novel, and some by the power of an intellectual argument. But the most common... Read more
Fairly often in the discussion of issues surrounding the intersection of science and faith some mention is made of the inherent lopsidedness of the discussion. Theology, it appears to many, has to respond to science, as if it is the younger sibling and the less robust method of knowing. But I think this is a misunderstanding of the process. It is not that theology is the lesser form, but rather that it is more central to human existence. Because theology... Read more
One of the finest statements of the Christian life I have ever seen is found in Jason Hood’s book Imitating God in Christ: Recapturing a Biblical Pattern. This is what Jason says: “God, who created humans to imitate him, has now imitated humans [in Christ] in order to make them right with him” (68). To imitate God, God became [imitated] what we are (humans) in order that we can become [imitation] what God is (this is roughly what we learn from... Read more
From The Atlantic: Inarguably one of the world’s most generous — and successful — welfare states, the country has a lower infant mortality rate, better school scores, and a far lower poverty rate than the United States, and it’s the second-happiest country on earth (the U.S. doesn’t break the top 10). According to the OECD, Finns on average give an 8.8 score to their overall life satisfaction. Americans are at 7.5…. It’s a good debate to have, and in some ways, it seems like there’s no... Read more
This from Derek Powazek: He is discussing blog etiquette and the Bad Apple. So true. What’s your wisdom? In his 2009 study published in Research in Organizational Behavior, Will Felps found that one bad participant can have a negative effect on an entire group. His research was about real-life, in-person meetings, but it’s entirely relevant to online community. He identified three types of negative participants: the Jerk, the Slacker, and the Depressive Pessimist. The Jerk insults others, the Slacker displays disinterest,... Read more
SMcK: I made a mistake and posted this too soon. David: Friends – it seems there was a mix up with my most recent post on gay marriage and contraception. I intended to hold that until I finished talking about the cases, and I planned to revise it from the version that was posted. I’m away on vacation and can’t respond to comments or explain what I meant to get at this week. Sorry for any confusion. Evangelicals, Catholics, and Gay... Read more
Some churches talk about “God” and the “Father” and one is led to think “God” and the “Father” are the same. (They’re not.) Other churches talk about “God” and “Jesus,” sometimes far more about Jesus than God, and one is led to think either that God and Jesus are two entirely separate beings or that Jesus is all we need, and one wonders if the deity of Christ even matters. We can perhaps agree that the majority of churches talk... Read more
Two young authors, Andrew Camp and Shauna Niequist, are doing their part to make the church more aware of meals. Shauna has a book called Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes, and Kris and I have swiped a few of her recipes, including a magnificent berry dessert. Here is my blurb: Bread and Wine resurrects the table as the center of the home, the place where food and drink morph into fellowship and long... Read more
Our prayer today includes prayers for peace in our country following the legal decision in Florida over the death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of George Zimmerman: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle... Read more
Jesus Creed
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