I had not anticipated the veritable flood of comments that came from my post on the movie Walk the Line‘s deficient picture of manhood. With that said, let me first say that I appreciated everyone’s contributions and found them stimulating. As I’ve said before, my blog regularly benefits from a group of erudite commenters and thinkers. Thanks to all who contributed–newcomer glorygrace, trevin, riley, the master-of-Bible translations r. mansfield (he has a neat blog), and the reg’s–paul, ben, al, and... Read more

My wife and I received the 2005 movie “Walk the Line” a few days ago and watched a bit of it last night. We had watched it many months ago in our pre-dating days and had really liked it then. The movie includes some pretty incredible acting and is directed with a deft touch. In general, however, the movie’s depiction of manhood is altogether deficient, and thus the movie communicates a rather poisonous message. I of course realize that lots... Read more

Part of the fun of doing a blog is attracting smart comments from sound thinkers. To everyone who comments or who is thinking about commenting, please know that I read every comment written on this blog, and your words often make me think about my own. I appreciate those who read this humble little blog, and I appreciate those who take the time to think about it and offer their thoughts. I don’t always respond to what you write, but... Read more

A key part of the self-understanding of many modern persons is that they do not take themselves, or life, very seriously. Mockery is everywhere around us. Turn on most any tv sitcom and the brand of humor is not punchlines, it’s subtle, arrogant mocking. In addition to this posture, sillyness proliferates today. This is a problem for the Christian church, and it requires that we chart a new course. But too often we simply sail according to the world’s compass.... Read more

I took yesterday’s blog to denounce elitism among Christians and argued that it has no place in the Christian church. All people have been created in the image of God and thus stand on equal ground in regard to our being, to the fiber of our person. Noone is any better than anyone else. My close friend, blogger extraordinaire, and coworker Matthew Hall left a thought-provoking comment in response to my post. Essentially, Matt (go to his excellent blog here)... Read more

Different age groups and segments of the Christian church will struggle with different problems. Yesterday’s idea or problem, “coolness,” will mostly affect young people who don’t realize that love and truth are the cornerstone principles of the Christian faith, and that Christians were never called to be hip, but to be holy, kind, bold, and truthful. Today’s problem will affect more of the learned folks of our churches, those who have achieved a high standard of academic accomplishment. It may... Read more

Many of my generation trip over themselves in pursuit of that elusive brand: “cool.” “He’s cool.” “She’s so progressive.” And on and on. But cool doesn’t really square with Christianity. That’s not to say a Christian can’t, in the end, be branded as “cool.” Some are, and that’s fine. But it is to say that a Christian should not pursue coolness. A Christian should not seek to be a social alien in his culture, but he should not go to... Read more

I have been in the tunnel all week. The paper-writing tunnel, that is. Here’s a selection from the 33-page paper I just wrote about the Boston pastor Harold John Ockenga, a hugely important twentieth-century evangelical figure. “Harold John Ockenga was born on June 6, 1905 to a lower middle-class family in Chicago. The only son of Herman and Angie Ockenga, Ockenga was raised in the Methodist church by his mother as his father was not yet a believer. From an... Read more