The Often Destructive Nature of Masculine Competition

Last updated on: December 12, 2007 at 5:42 pm By Owen Strachan

Those who study men know that they love to compete. In sports, relationships, cars, hair, jobs, clothes, accolades, books–you name it, men compete with one another to see who can become the most prestigious. I found a great quotation on this phenomenon by a psychiatrist named Frank Pittman in his book Man Enough. Read it all, especially if you’re a guy with competitive tendencies–you’ll find that Pittman’s words nail you where you’re standing. “The primary contest for grown men…is economic.... Read more

The Rise of the Pastor-Theologian

Last updated on: December 11, 2007 at 7:47 pm By Owen Strachan

Came across this quotation by Jonathan Edwards scholar Doug Sweeney. Those familiar with Edwards’s works will recognize Sweeney as an editor of volume 23 of the Works volumes (it’s pretty sensational to have your name alongside that of Jonathan Edwards on the author listing). Sweeney is an impressive scholar, but he is also a man with a love for the local church. Several years ago he said this of Edwards’s pastor-theologian model: “Edwards teaches us that theology can and should... Read more

GRE Words

Last updated on: December 10, 2007 at 8:56 pm By Owen Strachan

In studying for the GRE, I’ve realized that there a number of words that I’ve used wrongly for all of my life. This is a sobering realization. How many of us have used the word “insensible” to describe a particularly risky operation, never realizing that the word means unconscious? Sadly, I think I’m in the number of people who have. Kudos will go to the consumed commentor who can rightly define all four of the following words: internecine expostulation depredation... Read more

The Week-est Link, Dec. 7

Last updated on: December 7, 2007 at 7:49 pm By Owen Strachan

1. The strangest–and most hilarious–commercial I’ve ever seen. Suffice it to say that after you watch this, you will never hear the words “berries and cream” in the same way. Also, go here to discover more of Starburst’s excessively strange commercials. 2. This man takes good pictures. My wife and I randomly met him and he took some incredible shots for us for our holiday picture. If you’re a seminarian looking for a good wedding photographer, you might look Jason’s... Read more

A Young Preacher’s Thoughts on Preaching: Practice Makes Better

Last updated on: December 6, 2007 at 10:52 pm By Owen Strachan

Practice does not, as we know, make perfect, necessarily. But practice does make one better. Preaching is no different than any other discipline in this regard. It is hard to be a young preacher. You read off your manuscript too much; you try to go off it and end up somewhere you didn’t mean to go; you preach way too long and observe the congregation yawning; you go too short and leave everyone a bit shocked by your brevity. What... Read more

A Young Preacher’s Thoughts on Preaching: Manuscripts, Notes, or Extemporaneous?

Last updated on: December 5, 2007 at 9:11 pm By Owen Strachan

This is one of the hardest things to figure out as a young preacher: how much should I rely on a manuscript? How much should I speak off the top of my head? How much should I study and then just talk as I remember my points? These are difficult questions for the young preacher to answer. My suggestion would be to do this. Start your preaching career using a manuscript. As you get more opportunities to preach, change from... Read more

A Young Preacher’s Thoughts on Preaching: Fresh Insights

Last updated on: December 3, 2007 at 11:04 pm By Owen Strachan

Much is made in the current day of preaching the basic truths of the Bible. This we must do. However, it is my opinion that the best preaching is not simply that which is true, but that which digs very deeply into the text and the context of the text to unearth fresh insights or approach familiar truths from fresh angles. In conservative and reformed circles, many preachers have reacted against liberal disbelief in Scripture by focusing great attention on... Read more

The Week-est Link, Nov. 30: The Greatest Band You Know Nothing About

Last updated on: November 30, 2007 at 4:22 pm By Owen Strachan

1. As has been happening, there is only one link this week. It is to my new favorite band: Explosions in the Sky. For those who have not heard of EitS, it is a rock band with some very significant twists: 1) it does not have a singer (ever), 2) it plays a style that could best be described “cinematic rock,” and 3) it makes some of the most thoughtful, beautiful music you will ever hear. I’m not a big... Read more

The Message of James: The Commentaries to Buy

Last updated on: November 28, 2007 at 12:23 am By Owen Strachan

One more day on James stuff, but this day doesn’t deal with the text. At least not directly. I want to suggest a few commentaries that preachers, seminarians, or interested laypeople should take note of and, in my opinion, consider buying as an investment in their biblical study. Here are four. Moo, Douglas. The Letter of James. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. Hartin, Patrick. James. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2003. Laws, Sophie. Epistle of James. Black’s... Read more

The Argument of James: Uncovering and Recovering the Double-Minded Man, Pt. 2

Last updated on: November 26, 2007 at 4:26 pm By Owen Strachan

Here’s the conclusion of this series. I’m not switching to extra-long posts, though I am attempting to make the case that the letter of James is fundamentally about uncovering and recovering the double-minded man. Congrats to Al, who read the previous piece all the way through. If someone else out there did as well, feel free to leave me a comment–what do you think of this thesis? Oh, and if you read nothing else, read the conclusion. 3:14-16 The Double-Minded... Read more