Ravi Zacharias, Stephen Williams, Josh Moody: Henry Center 2009-10

Last updated on: August 18, 2009 at 6:28 pm By Owen Strachan

The Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL) has a powerhouse lineup of speakers and events in 2009-10. This is my employer, and I am personally excited about the year to come. All events are free and open to the public (except for the Gospel Growth conference). Here’s a preview of several important upcoming events: 1. The year kicks off with the Center’s world-class Kantzer Lectures in Revealed Theology featuring Dr. Stephen... Read more

Books to Buy: Dockery on SBC and Dutcher on Idolatry

Last updated on: August 17, 2009 at 9:10 pm By Owen Strachan

Two books to highlight in this installment of Books to Buy. This is not a review post, but a quick summary designed to put good books on your radar screen. The first is Union University president David Dockery’s new Southern Baptist Identity: An Evangelical Denomination Faces the Future (Crossway, 2009). The text is an edited collection of talks from recent Baptist Identity conferences at Union. The roster of contributors is high-wattage: Dockery, Mohler, Wills, Stetzer, George, Moore, Garrett, Akin, Rainer,... Read more

The Strong Shall Become Tinder

Last updated on: August 16, 2009 at 8:29 pm By Owen Strachan

Too often we study Scripture only to wring the truth out of it. We need to learn truth and live off of it, but we also need to appreciate the beauty and poetry of the sacred text. I find the conclusion to the first chapter of Isaiah evocative. This is 1:27-31; see especially verse 31 (“and the strong…”). Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness. But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,... Read more

What Is Wisdom? Solomon: “Listening!”

Last updated on: August 15, 2009 at 4:07 pm By Owen Strachan

From Proverbs 1, an elegant and important passage by Solomon: 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I... Read more

The Link 8.14.09: Awkward Family Photos, Pastor-Theologians, and People Growth

Last updated on: August 14, 2009 at 8:53 pm By Owen Strachan

1. One of the single funniest websites I’ve come across is Awkward Family Photos. The title tells the story. Your life will be more complete by visiting this site. 2. Gerald Hiestand of Harvest Bible Chapel (home of renowned preacher James MacDonald) has the best single piece I’ve seen on the pastor-theologian. Seminarians and pastors, this is a must-read. If you have a good mind, do not assume that you should teach. Maybe that’s what the Lord has for you,... Read more

Shooting Sacred Evangelical Cows: Coffee, Again

Last updated on: August 13, 2009 at 9:15 pm By Owen Strachan

A few quick words of reply to the conversation that has surfaced over my post a few days about coffee. There are nearly 15,000 Starbucks locations worldwide. 5000 Dunkin’ Donuts in the US. This is to say nothing of Caribou Coffee, Tim Hortons, and local coffee houses. Clearly, coffee is no longer a boutique product. It’s a little different than rare Jefferson Airplane concert vinyl or imported caviar, for example. What’s the point here? Well, only that coffee has arrived. ... Read more

A True Leading Man: Cary Grant

Last updated on: August 12, 2009 at 3:29 pm By Owen Strachan

The NYT has a brief but noteworthy piece up about Cary Grant, a “real leading man.” It has some lines worth pondering in an age when masculine movie characters can be hard to come by: But the winners and Grant’s performances in them are such an important constituent of our feelings about American movies and about an entire style of American life in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s that we forgive any number of failures. The character he created and... Read more

Shooting Sacred Evangelical Cows: Coffee Drinking

Last updated on: August 11, 2009 at 3:12 pm By Owen Strachan

It’s time to resurrect a little series I did a little while back: Shooting Sacred Evangelical Cows. This time, my target is something I’ll call “poseur coffee drinking.” It’s a makeshift title, I admit, but I think you’ll see that it has merit. From where does this latest installment of SSEC proceed, you ask? Here’s where: from perusing any number of blogs run by folks in my peer group: youngish, theologically oriented, book-loving, culturally plugged in, ironically inclined, that sort... Read more

“We’re Conservative Until it Costs Us”: Ross Douthat on Americans and Marriage

Last updated on: August 10, 2009 at 3:05 pm By Owen Strachan

From Ross Douthat’s most recent op-ed in the NYT (HT: Russ Moore): “More than most Westerners, Americans believe — deeply, madly, truly — in the sanctity of marriage. But we also have some of the most liberal divorce laws in the developed world, and one of the highest divorce rates. We sentimentalize the family, but boast one of the highest rates of unwed births. We’re more pro-life than Europeans, but we tolerate a much more permissive abortion regime than countries... Read more

The Link 8.8.09: Sweeney’s Edwards, Together for Adoption, Getting Crammed On

Last updated on: August 8, 2009 at 8:28 pm By Owen Strachan

1. You may remember this from a little while back, but Doug Sweeney’s excellent Jonathan Edwards and the Ministry of the Word is now out as of a week ago. Terrific overview of Edwards’s life and thought. 2. Have you checked out the Together for Adoption website? If not, you really should. It’s working toward a great cause, and it’s grounded in great theology. Well deserving of your time and attention. Also, they have a conference coming up in October... Read more