I’ve been trying to come up with a good blog post topic for the last couple of days with no real success. Plenty of ideas have floated through my brain, but each one felt redundant or forced. Continue reading
1 Corinthians
A Game of Grey Areas and Reasons
Occasionally, the church will highlight a specific show or movie that it feels warrants some attention, often employing social media to convey their message.
Five Truths for the Newly Single
Although breakups occur often in our culture, we don’t seem to know how to handle them well.
Rest
On Service
Matt Chandler, a pastor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, once imitated Mark Driscoll, another pastor, to illustrate Paul’s charge to Timothy to “fulfill your ministry” in 2 Timothy 4:5. In the video, Chandler shows that simply copying a popular pastor’s style of teaching will not make one’s preaching powerful. Instead, each one must do as the verse says and fulfill his own ministry, carrying out the work God assigned him to do. Though short, the video stuck with me, reminding me to fulfill the ministry to which God has called me and to avoid unwise comparison and copying in the work.
Insecurity
The mini-fridge in the hotel room made a sound like a Geiger-counter in Chernobyl. That strange detail stood out to me as I tried to fall asleep in Pocahontas, Arkansas; that, and insecurity. I was preparing to represent my school at a college seminary day, and I kept wondering if I’d be able to answer student questions, if I’d be overdressed (or underdressed), if I’d do a good job. The event went well, and I had some great conversations with prospective students. Still, in the back of my mind, insecurity loomed, evaluating everything I did. Continue reading
Lyrics, Worldviews, and the Glory of God
I caught myself examining the theology of Ed Sheeran songs the other day. Granted, I’m pretty sure he’s not writing songs with God in mind; he seems to say as much. Even so, some of his lyrics reflect imagery and ideas found in Christianity, and I like trying to figure out what he might believe based on what he sings (for instance, I’m pretty sure he’s not a Gnostic based on “Shape of You”). Continue reading
State of the Union? Still Forthcoming
Maybe Valentine’s Day is your least favorite day of the year. Maybe you dread walking alone amidst the teeming mass of smiling couples at your favorite restaurant. Maybe you feel sick as you see others enjoying what you so long to possess, or as you remember what you’ve lost. Maybe you see your present state of singleness as a curse.
If that’s you, take heart: God has not forgotten you.
Jim and Pam and Enduring Love
Different, Not Necessarily Defective
How do you define success? Continue reading
as i learn to walk 