Dad, It's Been a Month Since You've Been Gone

Dad, It's Been a Month Since You've Been Gone: And that puts me on a morning train

Today makes it one month since my dad died. He died. He did not pass on, pass away, or move on to the other side. He died and that is the reality of it all. He did profess faith in Jesus in the weeks leading up to his death, but there is no way around the ugly fact that it was death. Too often we skirt around that language to make things more bearable, but I am afraid that when we do so we are trying to cover up reality. Reality tells us that death is real and it is real because of sin.

My dad would not have denied being a sinner. Matter of fact that was the biggest obstacle for him to profess faith in Christ (from his perspective). He feared that he sinned too much, that his offenses were too great to be forgiven. And that very view point is sin as well. Paul says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Romans 1:18 ESV).”

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

He has shown his people the power of his works 

in giving them the inheritance of the nations.

- Psalm 111:6

The opening verses of the book of Psalms reads: “Blessed is the man… [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night,” (1:1a, 2). Recently my small group went through JD Greear’s “Gospel Revolution” study. This is one of the key points Greear brings up throughout the study. Our obedience should not be primarily out of obligation (though we are obligated), but a result of desire, or as the Psalmist says, “delight.”

Trusting in the Sovereignty of God

Dear Readers,

This post is not primarily about me, nor is it primarily about my doubts, fears, frustrations, or complaints. This post is about thankfulness and joy. The thankfulness and joy we have in Christ who has redeemed us. Coming out of Easter Sunday, my awareness has been heightened as it has been with most. My thankfulness and gratitude for my salvation and the multiple blessings God has given me is great. At that same time, I am fighting doubt.

Family Ministry and It's Importance in College Ministry

BOOK REVIEW

TRAINED IN THE FEAR OF GOD
Family Ministry in Theological, Historical, and Practical Perspective
Randy Stinson and Timothy Paul Jones, Editors
Published by Kregel Academic and Professional, 2011

Due to the nature of this book, my review will be different than normal. I feel it is necessary to go into more detail regarding specific issues because of the relevance of the truth this book is able to communicate at this specific time to our culture. Thus, this is not a thorough review of every chapter, though I endorse it with confidence and certainty that every chapter is able to successfully speak to the topic of its focus. Instead, this review is an in-depth look at specific chapters that demand much attention in my ministry context. 

Book Review: Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

BOOK REVIEW

DUG DOWN DEEP
Building Your Life on Truths that Last
By Joshua Harris
Published by Multnomah Books

What do you think you know about God? Is it true? Are you a Christian who doesn't really care about who God is? What about theology? Is it a foreign word that causes you to cringe when you read or hear about it?

Truth is, we are all theologians. We all have some kind of idea of who God is, even if that idea is that "he isn't." You see, what you believe about God, whether he exists or doesn't exist, whether he is good or evil, all powerful or completely weak, it is still theology. You have developed a doctrine about God that you think is right, or at least you may think it is most plausible.

Why Do Protestants and Catholics Have a Different Bible?

Reasons for Rejecting the Apocrypha or Deutero-Canonical Texts

Prior to reading further on in this post it is important that you first read this. Protestants and Catholics disagree on a number of doctrines, most of which are secondary in nature. While these issues are strong enough to cause a number of denominations to develop out of the Reformation, it should only be for the purpose of kindling better relationships with the one true catholic church which is all Christians united under Christ. Doctrines such as the canon of Scripture which I am about to discuss are of major importance, but they should not take priority over our fellowship and unity with brothers and sisters in Christ. “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread,” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17, ESV). We are all united under Christ into the body of believers which make up the one true church. 

Abbie Hoffman: What Can Christians Take from His Life?

Abbie Hoffman was a character of the 1960s who stirred up controversy beyond what most dream of. You could say he did just to do it. Some of Hoffman’s actions had no true purpose behind them, primarily what he did as a youth. What can Christians learn from Hoffman though?

What issues are Christians facing?

This is the first time I have tried this and possibly the last depending on your response. Instead of answering questions I think you may have, I want to know what issues you think Christians today are struggling with.

This might be your way of asking me about something you, a friend, or loved one is facing, or it could simply be your way of saying, "this is important and the church is struggling in this area." You can ask any question or give any statement to this.

I am merely asking for ideas on future posts. I am not out of ideas, I just want to help you and your walk with Christ if at all possible.

If you are not a Christian, feel free to respond as well. Maybe you have a perspective as an outsider looking in, a challenge to the Christian faith, or unanswered questions in your own soul search.

Book Review: The Cost of Discipleship

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship is like reading a blade into your heart where the more you read the more that blade twists, ripping out every bit of pride and arrogance you may have had. When he says being a Christian means being willing to die a martyr in the name of Christ, he not only wrote it, but lived it.

Not too many weeks ago I was able to visit his church in Wroclaw, Poland, (previously Breslau, Germany) seeing his memorial. It is moving and tragic. There is a twofold reason for saying this. Bonhoeffer's grave was never found. He was executed in 1943 at the command of Himmler just a few days prior to his concentration camp being liberated by the Allies. Secondly, and more of a side note, what was once the church he pastored is now a Catholic parish since 1946 when Breslau once again became a part of Poland.

The Danger of Christianity

There are a great number of Americans who now, in retrospect, believe our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan to be a failure. Many want our troops back home. I can certainly understand where these people are coming from and I sympathize with them. To date we have lost more than 6,000 lives when you tally both so called "wars." Military involvement is dangerous and it not only affects the soldiers, but their families, friends, and neighbors as well.

Bioethics: A Primer for Christians by Gilbert Meilaender

Book Analysis

Bioethics: A Primary for Christians

by Gilbert Meilaender

Published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Introduction

Few Christians, if any, have thought long and hard about abortion and its effects on the mothers, families, and communities. As Christians, we are staunch opponents of abortion, fighting for the sanctity of life. Another ethics issue we think a lot about include the sanctity of marriage, but beyond that, our scope of concern for ethics is typically narrow. We can give some kind of answer after thinking about an issue for a period of time, but we are not prepared to face these kinds of situations.