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Death Be Not Proud
Tim Challies posted this John Donne poem this morning and as I read it, I was flooded with memories from my freshman year in high school—the year God saved me—because I was reading John Gunther’s book by the same title (Death Be Not Proud) and the reality of the brevity of life was pressing hard upon me. If you haven’t read the Gunther book, it is a memoir by the father of a remarkable teenage boy who is diagnosed with brain cancer and dies at age seventeen. To the best of my recollection, it is not an overtly “Christian” book. I don’t recall that it included any clear presentation of…
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What Would a Jury Say?
One of my favorite memories from my law school days was the time that Dr. Paul Jensen (who also happened to be a law student at the same time—long story) facilitated a discussion during Easter Week on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what would a jury say? He was his usual humble, brilliant self. And, as one of the leaders of the law school’s Christian Legal Society student group (who was sponsoring the discussion), I was thrilled that it was standing-room only. I’d have to dig up my old notes to review all of his points. But I remember that he was careful to include only…
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Nothing is More Destructive to Christian Fellowship
‘Nothing could be more destructive to Christian koinonia than the common practice today of pretending not to have any problems. It is often true that Christian homes may be filled with bickering, squabbling, angry tantrums, even bodily attacks of one member of the family against another, and yet not one word of this is breathed to anyone else and the impression is carefully cultivated before other Christians that this is an ideal Christian family with no problems of any serious consequence to be worked out. To make matters even worse, this kind of conspiracy of silence is regarded as the Christian thing to do, and the hypocrisy it presents to…
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Why We’re Not Emergent
I’ve been meaning to read Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck’s book, Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be, for a couple of years now. And after a quick re-reading of “Being the Body” and “Life Together” this morning, I’m diving into it this afternoon. (Can you tell I’m not in Momma Tara Mode Today? Nope. Still feels strange to be able to get a cold drink or use the restroom without having to coordinate three people and accouterments, but for a few hours today, I’m tucked away in my church’s library stretching a different part of my heart and brain.) I have to say, so far, DeYoung…
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One Mediator
‘A Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ. Among men there is strife. ‘He is our peace,’ says Paul of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:14). Without Christ there is discord between God and man and between man and man. Christ became the Mediator and made peace with God and among men. Without Christ we should not know God, we could not call upon Him, nor come to Him. But without Christ we also would not know our brother, nor could we come to him. The way is blocked by our ego. Christ opened up the way to God and to our brother. Now Christians can live with one another in…
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Rare (Gracious!) Disagreement on the Internet
What a great example of Roger Nicole’s Polemic Theology (What Do I Owe the Person Who Differs from Me?): David Powlison Responds A (very!) rare internet/blog exchange addressing a difference (or miscommunication?) among Christians … rare because it is gracious. Oh, wouldn’t it be great if such exchanges began to be commonplace? If the world would say, “Oh! Look at how those Christians LOVE each other!” and “You know, I’ve never heard a Christian slander. Or gossip. Ever.” What a wonderful world that would be … “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that…
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S*xual Detox (HT: Tim Challies)
If it weren’t for the excellent work of Tim Challies, I would not regularly be praying that the future husbands of Sophia and Ella will be protected even now from the devastating effects of p*orn. But after reading his many links, articles, and his excellent (FREE!) e-book series on S*xual Detox, I am now. I am also praying, of course, for my girls to be protected too. It’s a sad fact of life in our current world that this temptation has the potential to devastate lives and families. But it does. (Challies linked to another article this morning that reviews some of the stats: Getting Serious About P*rnography) As someone…
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Sinful Silence
Talking with someone about an apparent sin or temptation has to be one of the most difficult things to do in all of life. It’s one thing to do so in a conciliation case when you’re serving as a mediator. It can still be difficult, of course, but the people have invited you into their lives to serve you in this way (either by opening a case or being bound by a conciliation clause in a contract), so it’s a little more doable. But what about when it has to do with a parenting concern? (Dum DUMMMM! Cue scary music.) Who am I to speak with this person about how…
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Thinking of Teachers Who Make a Difference
Yet again, what “is known” (by whom?) as the “most forwarded poem ever” (the numbers of such a descriptor boggle the mind, don’t they?) has completely slipped past me until this morning. But I can see why it’s earned such a moniker. And listening to it brought me immediately back to Mrs. Adams 3rd grade class at Cork El, Mr. Fiske and Dr. Lambrecht conducting us in band, Dr. Charmian Poe scaring the living life out of me (but making me able not only to write a paper but also NEVER misuse its and it’s again. Ever.). Thinking back on teachers in my life, I thanked God for Mrs. Miller…
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Worst Enemy for a Pastor
Challies.com linked to an excellent post over at HeadHeartHand—Leadership for Servants: The Pastor’s Worst Enemy Although particularly directed at pastors, his insights into the consequences and the cure are helpful for all of us. Plus, this brief article gives us some great reminders for encouraging and praying for our own pastors. (And thanking God for leaders who lead with genuine humility and servant hearts.)
