How many headlines like this have we seen in the last seven years? They are impossible to ignore because either you dislike the President and cannot wait to read something bad about him or love him and want to vent at the author who dares to come after your hero. Also these headlines must work, because websites continue to use them to drive page views and ad revenue. Advertisers and our politicians have their fingers on the pulse of the... Read more
“We Lost a Child and Gained Something Greater“ The heartbreaking story by Kyle Porter about the birth of his family’s third child, a stillborn daughter. He captures both the heartbreak and hope they encountered as they walked through this unspeakable difficulty. I am not engaging in hyperbole when I say this is the most moving piece I have ever read. “Heaven is more at the forefront of my life because of that week. We have talked about it more. It... Read more
“We’re having a boy!” After three daughters I never thought we would utter these words. The celebration your mother and I had in in the ultrasound room confused the technician as she had no idea how excited we were to welcome a son into our home. Lurking underneath my joy was a thought that scared me to death- you will be looking to me to figure out how to be a man. Your three sisters get to learn about being... Read more
Every year we hear about “the war on Christmas.” Journalists tell stories of towns taking down their nativity scenes and schools refusing to use the word “Christmas” in their holiday plays. These actions taken by well-meaning employees hoping to avoid offending people and stay out of court do not constitute the real war on Christmas. The greatest war we face each Christmas is the consistent battle to shun commercialism and embrace this remembrance of Jesus’ birth. The Bible never says,... Read more
“Of making many books there is no end.” This piece of wisdom from from King Solomon reminds me how many books I will leave unread in this life, so this is not the list of the best books written in 2015. Instead, this is the list of the best books I read this year. Theology and Church Life What Does the Bible Teach about Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung Many “Christian” voices have called on the church to change her teaching... Read more
Thinking Theologically about Islam Unfortunately many Christians only think about Islam from an outlook which emphasizes politics and security. We must learn to think about Islam from a theological and missional point of view. Kevin DeYoung shares several important thoughts on how Christians view Islam and our Muslim neighbors. “From jihad abroad to terrorism at home to questions surrounding refugees and immigration, there is no shortage of stories about Islam. Depending on who you listen to, you may think that... Read more
For the past year I have immersed myself in reading about the life of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt after a post on The Art of Manliness drew me to this magnetic figure. Roosevelt grew from a fragile boy to a man with boundless energy. He led the Rough Riders to victory in Cuba, ensured the building of the Panama Canal, busted trusts, advocated for the working man, brokered peace between Japan and Russia, wrote over one hundred thousand letters,... Read more
A Crash Course on the Muslim Worldview and Islamic Theology Justin Taylor provides all of Adam Franciscos videos on Islamic Theology and Worldview on his page at the Gospel Coalition. With the renewed discussion about Islam in our culture, Christians would do well to gain a better understanding of the Islamic faith and how it informs their view of the world. “His work on the history of Islam is nuanced and informed. As one online bio notes, ‘He has a... Read more
(We are currently in a series on the life of David at Chelsea Village. As I’ve written before I attempt to write a full manuscript of my sermon before preaching. Throughout this series I’ll be posting some of the sermons I think will be helpful. If you would rather listen to the sermon, you can find it here.) I’m convinced now more than ever that one of the first things being a Christian should change is how you treat people.... Read more
Bitter Clingers and the US Media Rod Dreher tells the story of listening to NPR and comparing the story they did on an off Broadway play about a gay teen who was kicked out of his youth choir and their discussions of the shooting in San Bernadino. He does not write as someone whining about the way things are, but simply demonstrates the disconnect existing the American news media in their coverage of religion. “This has been pointed out so... Read more
One Degree to Another
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