Young, Restless, Reformed talks about Calvinism’s recent comeback, focusing mostly on Calvinistic baptists, but interesting nonetheless.
Posted in in the news, theology
Being young and somewhat shaded from death, I breeze past these words in the Creed oftentimes without a second thought. I do believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, even though I can’t begin to fathom what that really entails and I don’t even spend mental energy imagining it. Until someone I know dies in the Lord, and then I remember. And I am glad for the hope of the gospel.
With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Your servant, George, where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting.
Posted in family life, theology
The point to glean here is that our doctrinal orthodoxy does not save us. Certainly, Scripture puts great emphasis on right doctrine. As a theologian, in the doctrine business, so to speak, I have no interest in depreciating the importance of right belief. But doctrine, even orthodox doctrine, is not the final test of Christian faith. One might be most rigorous in biblical and creedal orthodoxy but spiritually dead. Theological acumen and doctrinal knowledge are no measure of godliness. And as with Abraham, God’s choosing and saving us does not require us to have first attained complete theological proficiency. (Michael D. Williams, Far As the Curse is Found)
For the past two weeks my drive home usually coincides with NPR news, which has been dominated with coverage from the Middle East. What has struck me is that the growing threat of radical Islam in the Middle East is not going to go away easily. Dealing with Iran is going to be like dealing with USSR, and I think they see themselves in that light. Continue reading
The week was crazy and the weekend followed suit. We didn’t work today, but worship and fellowship all day wasn’t really… restful. I struggle with my theology of sabbath rest and my actual Sundays. In my ideal world, we’d sleep in on Sunday, make breakfast together, have family time reading and hanging out, go to worship after naps and have a large sabbath breaking feast after dinner. Can you tell I am not a morning person?
Posted in family life, theology
O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — BCP
Posted in family life, theology
It’s frustrating that just when Uganda has a chance to end the 20 year long war that has destroyed that country, the eyes of the world are on the Middle East, as usual. Yes, hundreds have died in southern Lebanon, but so much media attention and a few too many wag the dog incidents. Why doesn’t anyone care about Africa? There’s a good editorial in today’s International Herald Tribune about Uganda, and a sad AP story about the lack of peace in Darfur after last month’s agreement. What can we do? How can we help? I long for justice, I long for the world to be made right.
I was reading Orthodoxy yesterday (yes, I am going to finish it sometime) and Chesterton got it right, as usual.
We need not debate about the mere words evolution or progress: personally I prefer to call it reform. For reform implies form. It implies that we are trying to shape the world in a particular image; to make it something that we see already in our minds. Evolution is a metaphor from mere automatic unrolling. Progress is a metaphor from merely walking along a road — very likely the wrong road. But reform is a metaphor for reasonable and determined men: it means that we see a certain thing out of shape and we mean to put it into shape. And we know what shape… My ideal at least is fixed; for it was fixed before the foundations of the world. My vision of perfection assuredly cannot be altered; for it is called Eden. You may alter the place to which you are going; but you cannot alter the place from which you have come. To the orthodox there must always be a case for revolution; for in the hearts of men God has been put under the feet of Satan. In the upper world hell once rebelled against heaven. But in this world heaven is rebelling against hell. For the orthodox there can always be a revolution; for a revolution is a restoration.
Posted in in the news, theology
Gordon-Conwell sees a need; will train conservative episcopal priests. (HT: Stand Firm in Faith)
Posted in in the news, theology
Apparently when the puritanboard isn’t debating which level of hell Rich Lusk and Mark Horne will be in, they spend time wondering whether or not Jonathan Edwards was heretical. I guess even Edwards didn’t fully understand justification. Surely God will have mercy on him, though; Edwards didn’t have the help of internet-equipped laymen.
Posted in theology
Incoporate daily readings from the ESV into your Google Calendar. The link takes you to an html version that you can always visit. You could also toggle the ‘month’ tab and select ‘subscribe with Google Calendar’ to add this calendar to your own personal.
If you click on an entry, it takes you to the entry on Google Calendar, from which you can select the link to take you to the online edition of the ESV.
Posted in technology, theology
Since Christ returned to claim his throne,
Great gifts for me obtaining,
My heart will rest in him alone,
No other rest remaining;
For where my treasure went before,
There all my thoughts will ever soar
To still their deepest yearning.
Oh, grant, dear Lord, this grace to me,
Recalling your ascension,
That I may serve you faithfully,
Adorning your redemption;
And then, when all my days will cease,
Let me depart in joy and peace
In answer to my pleading.