Archive for January, 2008
« Previous EntriesI’ll Take My Chances
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008Mary Chapin Carpenter had a song in the early 90’s titled “I’ll Take My Chances.” I found myself humming that song to myself on Sunday morning as we worshipped in a very different tradition from our own while away on vacation. There are not a lot of options on Sunday mornings at the beach, particular [...]
Stott on God’s Credibility
Friday, January 25th, 2008I spent a couple of hours last night with a couple who will bury their first child today. John Stott says poetically what I hope I communicated to them through our shared tears:
“It is the cross that gives God his credibility. The only God I believe in is the one Nietzsche (the nineteenth-century German [...]
I Make A Baker’s Dozen
Thursday, January 24th, 2008My friend, Philip Palmertree, has an excellent reflection on Jesus’ (and our) need for prayer. A tasty sample that should make you click the hyperlink above to read the whole thing:
You would think he could say to God, “It’s OK; I can pick twelve–no problem.” Yet if even Jesus, before making such a great decision, [...]
Bearing Palls and Burying Self
Thursday, January 24th, 2008Great, reflective article by Paul Gregory Alms, a LCMS minister, on what pall-bearing communicates:
Many customs and traditions in many areas of life are disappearing from among us. Liturgy in the church, national “rites” such as the Pledge of Allegiance or taking off one’s hat at the National Anthem, and countless other shared activities are being [...]
How to Really Love Life
Monday, January 21st, 2008Ahead of tomorrow’s 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, Justin Taylor has an excellent interview with Robert George, author and law professor at Princeton. The whole thing is worth reading, particularly George’s assessment of Harry Blackmun’s abortion-right invention. Justin concludes by asking him what ordinary people can do. A portion of his answer [...]
Who Trains The Church’s Young Men?
Saturday, January 19th, 2008Over at the Touchstone blog, Anthony Esolen reflects on a non-typical WashPost story about 11 boys from one Scout troop who made Eagle. The whole article is worth reading, but this one paragraph is worth pondering by Sessions everywhere as they evaluate family ministry in general and youth ministry, in particular.
But there’s a [...]
For What It’s Worth
Saturday, January 19th, 2008I’ve long concurred with the view that John McCain is a genuine American hero, has been a lousy U.S. Senator, and would be an awful President. George Will’s column in tomorrow’s Post just reinforces that opinion. He is a good example of a great man who’s just plain wrong on many issues. In fairness, McCain has [...]
You Wouldn’t Recognize It From the Paper
Friday, January 18th, 2008My favorite newspaper has an uncharacteristically awful story today about church discipline. It transmogrifies church discipline into the arbitrary and cruel exercise of evil feudal powers upon innocent serfs. (Incidentally, it’s also an unintended apologia for a presbyterian polity.)
Picking (Important) Nits
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008In Monday’s WSJ, Collin Levy is right-on about a verbal phenomenon we hear more and more often:
Campaigning is certainly exhausting in a primary homestretch, which may explain this gem from Mitt Romney: “It is going to take a person who is himself an innovator like myself who has the experience to bring change to Washington.” Republican contender [...]
Worth A Look
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008Sorry for the spotty posts of late. Life is galloping along in good ways, but at the cost of the blog.
Based on the standard talking points and boilerplate rhetoric, Tony Woodlief nicely sums up the presidential race.
Coming to a bathroom near you! David Kotter at CBMW thinks through the transgender utopia on the two coasts. <p>
Tom Brady accidentally preaches the book of [...]