Author Archive for Chris Brauns

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Another Awful Story Where Forgiveness Must be Unpacked

Published on May 22, 2008 in Forgiveness. 0 Comments

Andrew Ford pointed out this forgiveness story about a four year old who saw her own mother murdered, had her throat cut, but survived, and ended up saving her four month old sister’s life.

You can read the whole story here on CrunchyCon. 

This is the kind of situation that I address at length in my forthcoming book.   But, for now, I would point again to the column I wrote after Virginia Tech.  While, forgiveness does need to be offered, we need to read Romans 12:17-21 carefully when processing evil like this.

News on Google Earth / It’s Been a Quiet Week in my hometown: Keosauqua.

Published on May 21, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Google Earth now features news icons on different geographical locations.

It is cool.  See this post. 

I was excited to see what is happening in my hometown.  Alas, there is no news.  We can only wait for Sheep Empire Day and hope that it (or whatever the Keosauqua-ites currently call it) will warrant a link on Google.

There Is No Third

Published on May 21, 2008 in Psalms and Word of God. 1 Comment

Who are you?  Who-who, who-who?

Psalm 1 describes two kinds of people.  Which are you?

Option #1 – The first is the person who delights in God’s Word.  If you studied the life of this kind of person, you would be struck by his or her ongoing meditation on Scripture.

Option #2  – The alternative is the person who keeps company with people who have no regard for Christ or his word.  This person hangs out with Beevis. 

You might answer, “Well, I’m not sure that I fit either category.  I have this kind of third option going – - I’m a hybrid – - I’m not really sold out about God’s Word, but then I don’t think I’m Beevis’ sidekick either.  I’m option #3.”

Here’s the thing.  Read Psalm 1.  Read Matthew 7:13-29.  There is no third. 

There are two kinds of people.  Those who delight in God’s Word and those who don’t.

There are two roads: a broad road and a  narrow one.  

There are two kinds of houses: those built on the sandy land, and those built on the Rock.

There are two kinds of trees: those that bear fruit and those that don’t. 

There are two eternal destinies, not three.

As Derek Kidner as pointed out, there will come a day when the two ways, and there is no third, part forever.

Flying Over Mars

Published on May 21, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

It’s a big young universe out there, and if you’d like to do a little exploring, you can experience what it would be like to fly over Mars.

This is a cool link.  Take the ride by clicking here.

HT: Justin Taylor

God Bless Ted Kennedy

Published on May 21, 2008 in Recommended Links. 0 Comments

God bless Ted Kennedy, and God bless Cal Thomas.

Cal Thomas has written a warm column regarding the senior senator from Massachusetts’ cancer.  You can read it here. 

Thomas’ title is, “God bless Ted Kennedy.”  I wonder if, when you read it, you wouldn’t pray for Senator Kennedy.  But, also pray for Cal Thomas, who stands for Christ and truth year in and year out.

I’m thankful for Cal Thomas.

Challies Reviews the Shack

Published on May 21, 2008 in Recommended Reading. 0 Comments

In 2005 a man named William P. Young wrote a book called The Shack.  Originally, it was written for his children.  Soon, however, a small, little known publishing house, made it available to the public, and now it is wildly popular.

The fact that a work of fiction has gotten so much attention, especially coming from an unknown author and publishing house is surprising.

On another level, it is not so surprising.  The goal of The Shack is to address the question, “Where is life in world so filled with pain?”  This an itch that everyone knows.  Any book that scratches, or appears to scratch, that itch in a compelling way is going to sell like ice cold bottled water in the Gobi dessert. 

If you haven’t read the book, you know someone who has.  And, because the Shack has a theological agenda, it is important that it be read discerningly. 

I would encourage all of you to read Tim Challies’ excellent review of The Shack by clicking here.  Tim’s review, not The Shack is the reading I am recommending here.

Psalm 1 Trees, Not Spring Weeds

Published on May 20, 2008 in Word of God. 0 Comments

Gunny Hartman insightfully compares growth in the Christian life with that of trees.  (It’s worth clicking here to read the Kilmer poem).

Or, meditate on Psalm 1.  My prayer for our church is that we would be Psalm 1 Trees, not spring weeds.

“ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish (Psalm 1, ESV).”

McLaughlin on the Canons of Dort

Published on May 20, 2008 in Soteriology. 0 Comments

Brian McLaughlin has written a thirteen part series on the Canons of Dort.  The last post (click here) makes some important points about 5-Point Calvinism and whether or not true Calvinists are evangelistic.

Touching Them All

Published on May 20, 2008 in Recommended Links. 2 Comments

“Touching Them All” is baseball jargon for hitting one out of the yard. But, this video is about a home run that touched not only all the bases but also everyone who heard about it.

 

It’s an interesting study in image bearers to see how acts of love resonate with our hearts. It illustrates Paul’s observation that people have a standard of God written on their hearts (Romans 2:14).

HT: “Monday’s Medicine”: Gunny Hartman.

What Makes a Pre-School S.S. Teacher?

Published on May 17, 2008 in Chris Brauns Radio Spots, Church and Parenting. 1 Comment

The other night at dinner our five year old, Mary Beth, surprised me by summarizing the doctrine of the Trinity. I know that I am more than a little biased, but for a five year old it was a pretty good overview of a difficult doctrine.

What got my attention was that I didn’t remember spending much time teaching her about the Triunity of God. So, I asked, Mary Beth, “When did you learn about the Trinity?” She said, “Oh my Sunday School teacher Miss Deb taught me.”

And, it wasn’t just that one lesson. I continue to be impressed by how much Miss Deb teaches pre-school children. So, with my daughter as a data source, I decided to conduct a study on what I think makes Miss Deb an effective teacher.

Here are my conclusions:

First, Our Sunday School program has chosen good curriculum. We use Desiring God’s Sunday School materials, an excellent Word-centered curriculum. Good teaching begins with good content.

Second, Miss Deb prepares throughout the week. I know from talking to her that she doesn’t wait until Sunday morning to prepare.

Third, Miss Deb deeply and prayerfully loves the children. My daughter, and the other pre-schoolers Miss Deb teaches knows that she treasures them.

Pray for Sunday School teachers who use Christ-centered curriculum, prepare for Sunday morning, love the little children. God will use teachers like these to store up treasure in heaven.