We would live differently if we realized that we lived in a war zone. It is socially acceptable to complain about the amount of foam in our coffee when the sun is shining and flowers are blooming. But soldiers know how to appreciate even lukewarm coffee. It is also socially acceptable to complain about the…
In the big picture, the hallmark of the Christian life is not about how well-organized or structured (or, for that matter, how spontaneous) the church is. Rather, it is whether we have built our faith, our church, and our ministries on the foundation of the gospel. A passion for the local church should stem not…
Chapter One—Know Something About the World In which Wilson points that if your desire to write is the only thing you have to write about, your writing will be as lame as you are. Chapter Two—Read Until Your Brain Creaks In which Wilson offers his permission, free of charge, to read far more than you…
12 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Posting Something Online “What might be some indicators to consider before you publish a blog, Facebook status, or tweet? I want to offer 12 brief questions to ask. Think of them as indicator lights, the kind a pilot checks before take off.” Set an Example in Your Purity “Young…
[A]ll unbelief is foolishness, for it takes such wisdom as its own finite perception can attain, and, measuring infinity by that petty scale, concludes that what it cannot understand must be impossible. Unbelief is the result of incapacity engaged in argument. Men are sure that an event never happened, because they have made up their…
The Pharisees were a Jewish religious sect that was active during the ministry of Jesus and the beginnings of the early church but disappeared after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 AD. While speculations about the Pharisees abound, such speculations are often based on very little hard evidence. In reality, we do not…
Those educated in studying people have observed a phenomenon they describe as the “echo chamber.” You might not have heard the term but you probably know the symptoms. Your friend posts an article on Facebook explaining some conspiracy theory. No matter what evidence or arguments to the contrary are presented in the comments, your friend…
[T]he Bible as a whole document tells a story, and, properly used, that story can serve as a metanarrative that shapes our grasp of the entire Christian faith. In my view it is increasingly important to spell this out to Christians and to non-Christians alike—to Christians, to ground them in Scripture, and to non-Christians, as…
As I said last week, Wordsmithy is one of my favorite books. While I hope that many of you have already started reading it, it is not too late to jump in now! Our coffee-and-cookies book discussion will be held after the evening service on Sunday, December 11 and I look forward to seeing many…
The Challenge in Praying with Your Spouse “I would like to extend the thirty day challenge to you. Pray for your spouse, with your spouse for thirty days and just see if it doesn’t make you more tender toward each other and more positive about your marriage and your life together.” The Greatest Act of…
