Twice in the last four years we spent our summer vacation with the Obamas. Well, okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But, truly, two times during our last four summer vacations we encountered the President and/or his family . . . and were somewhat inconvenienced in the process. Here are the facts. Last month, my family and I vacationed in Mammoth Lakes, California, a picturesque spot high in the Eastern Sierra. We got to Mammoth by way of Reno,... Read more
In case you’re interested, I have just updated my collection of photos of the Eastern Sierra of California. This is one of the most beautiful places on earth, in my opinion. The new photos are from a recent family vacation to Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding area. You can find all sorts of great hikes in this area. Some are simple and easy, perfect for those who want a hour’s jaunt in the woods. Other hikes are much more demanding.... Read more
Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. Romans 16:18 In Romans 16:18, the Apostle Paul criticized those who, in the guise of serving Christ, were serving “their own personal interests.” I explained that the Greek word for “personal interests” signified base motives and desires. Thus Romans 16:18 does not deny the possibility that we can enjoy serving Christ. But it might lead... Read more
I just finished a thoughtful and challenging book by one of my favorite biblical scholars, Ben Witherington III. A top-notch New Testament scholar, Witherington is also an engaging blogger who, I am pleased to say, is part of the Patheos blogging community (see The Bible and Culture). The actual title of the book I just read is Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor. In fact, this book is a biblical and theological study of work from a Christian perspective. Though... Read more
I’ve been following a fascinating conversation that began with Jenna Wortham’s article in the New York Times: “Turn Off the Phone (and the Tension),” also called “Cutting the Digital Lifeline and Finding Serenity.” In this article, Wortham described the challenge and joy of disconnecting from the digital world, at least for a few hours. Wortham’s discovery began by accident, when she was put in a situation where she could not have her cell phone with her. At first, she felt... Read more
A few weeks ago, Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, affirmed his company’s support of traditional marriage (i.e., marriage between one man and one woman). This led to a firestorm of criticism, with many denouncing Cathy and Chick-fil-A for their views. Others responded to this attack by flocking to Chick-fil-A in record numbers. Perhaps by now the hysterical dust has settled enough for a reasonable discussion of some of the issues at stake here. No, I’m not thinking of the issues... Read more
Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. Romans 14:20 As I have noted previously, the church in Rome was threatened by differences of opinion over what Christians should eat or not. The Apostle Paul, who wrote this letter to the Romans, explained that all foods were acceptable for Christians. All believers in Jesus were free, therefore, to eat... Read more
L. Gregory Jones, senior strategist and professor of theology at Duke Divinity School, has recently written on holy friendship. I find his thoughts challenging and encouraging, as well as insightful. Here are a few excerpts from “Discovering Hope Through Holy Friendships.” What constitutes holy friendships? Holy friends challenge the sins we have come to love, affirm the gifts we are afraid to claim and help us dream dreams we otherwise would not dream. It is nice to have friends and... Read more
Yesterday, I shared some further thoughts on hiking with my daughter. Before I leave behind my summer vacation, I thought I might share a couple photos of a hike I took with my son, Nathan. We were vacationing in Mammoth Lakes, California, a High Sierra town known especially for its excellent skiing. But this is also a favorite location for those who love to fish, camp, hike, and simply enjoy the beauty of creation. We didn’t do any fishing and... Read more
Mark D. Roberts
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Sometimes the Headlines Add to My Confusion
The following headlines appeared a few minutes ago on my iPad: Hmmm. Anybody else confused? Need any more proof about the subjective nature of news reporting? Read more