Note that this is a Saturday post and the category is “stupid stuff“:
Monthly Archive for February, 2011
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Andy Naselli summarizes an answer to this question from theologian Thomas Schreiner.
Russell Moore considers the presence of anti-Christian bumper stickers:
To get to my favorite coffee shop here in Louisville, I pass a lot of bumper stickers intended to make people like me angry. One of them says “Born Okay the First Time.” Another says “If You Don’t Like Abortion, Don’t Have One.” And, of course, there are several of the Darwin fish, those metallic signs with the early Christian symbol sprouting legs.
These bumper stickers have spawned an entire industry in American evangelicalism, countering these arguments, with “right back at you” ridicule. I understand the temptation, because some of those bumper stickers used to rile me up too. I would roll my eyes and think how stupid the argument was in front of me. Why does the Wicca devotee really need to tell us, “My Other Car Is a Broom”? Why does the anti-procreation guy have to announce, “My Labradoodle Is Smarter Than Your Honors Student”?
Read the rest here.
As a farm kid, I would add a creek to the list, as documented by the below picture of my son and me in the Swiss Alps. Still, I can’t argue with this list of the 5 best toys of all time.
HT: JT
One of our dreams for the “Bricks” in Stillman Valley is that they will be like the Bereans who received the Word eagerly, but also examined the Scriptures for themselves to see if these things were so (Acts 17:11).
At our church, we aren’t looking for people who blindly accept whatever they hear – - but, rather who humbly listen with their Bibles in front of them.
Today the Gospel Coalition published an article I wrote which summarizes in more depth what to look for in biblical preaching. Consistent with my recent book,When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search: Biblical Principles and Practices to Guide Your Search
Here to read the article.
More resources for churches looking for a pastor are available at pastoralsearchresources.com.
I am preaching on Romans 4:13-22 on Sunday. Paul’s argument in this section is that Abraham was saved by faith and not through works of the law.
In this context, Calvin reflects on how our faith should be like Abraham’s:
Let us also remember, that the condition of us all is the same with that of Abraham. All things around us are in opposition to the promises of God: He promises immortality; we are surrounded with mortality and corruption: he declares that he counts us just; we are covered with our sins: He testifies that he is propitious and kind to us; outward judgments threaten his wrath. What then is to be done? We must with closed eyes pass by ourselves and all things connected with us, that nothing may hinder or prevent us from believing that God is true (quoted in Moo, 284).
This does not mean that we take an existential leap of faith, but rather that we trust the Word of God rather than our perception of circumstances.
Tim Keller considers the reasons for declining birth rates:
In Japan, in Western Europe, and in Russia, the birth-rate has fallen precipitously, to below replacement levels. If this does not change, the economic and cultural impact will be very great on those nations. Many have pointed out that interest in child-bearing is lowest in the most secular countries and sectors of society, while it is the highest in the most religious countries. Why is this? One explanation is that more educated people put off child-rearing until later in life and that means fewer children. However, educated religious people have more children than educated secular people, and therefore the socio-economic answer isn’t the most basic answer. I don’t think anyone can be completely sure that they have a handle on this complex phenomenon, but I think it creates an interesting backdrop for the consideration of the unique Christian view of the family.
Read the rest here.
I am planning to preach at Oxford Bible Fellowship near Miami University in Ohio tomorrow . You can read Jeremy Carr’s introduction of me, as well as my encouragement to read Philemon over at Jeremy’s blog. Click here.
In the mean time, we are privileged to have Jess Miller preaching to the Bricks on Romans 3:21-26. Consider these quotes about this passage:
“possibly the single most important single paragraph ever written” Leon Morris
“the chief point, and the very central place of the Epistle, and of the whole Bible.” Martin Luther
See also key terms for a sermon I preached on Romans 3:21-26.
