Tried With Fire

Our worth is based on more than what we do. Respecting individuality is not the same thing as promoting individualism. Strengths are a double-edged sword. Competence can morph into pride. The pursuit of excellent can become perfectionism and judgmentalism. You don't have to be patient and kind if everyone gets it right all the time. So given how often the Word exhorts us to exhibit these traits, maybe we should stop expecting people to act as though they were untouched by the fall. Shame-based parenting stinks. It is never too late to say "I was wrong. Please forgive me." to your kids. The election cycle highlighted these issues - race, poverty/class, and immigration. How will the church respond? If Revelation 7 shows a picture of the body of Christ, shouldn't we expect people to be different? This is why I have a problem with application that promotes cultural norms and ignores these issues. I am not a fan of mysticism. Trusting in my perception of God ov...

There are many contrasts between our Lord’s first and second appearings, but the great contrast is, that, when He comes again, it will be “without a sin-offering unto salvation.” The end and object of His first coming was “to put away sin.” The modern babblers say that He appeared to reveal to us the goodness and love of God. This is true; but it is only the fringe of the whole truth. The all-important fact is, that He revealed God’s love in the provision of the only sacrifice which could put away sin. Then, they say that He appeared to exhibit perfect manhood, and to let us see what our nature ought to be. Here also is a truth; but it is only part of the sacred design of Christ’s coming to earth. He appeared, say they, to manifest self-sacrifice, and to set us an example, of love to others; by His self-denial, He trampled on the selfish passions of man. We deny none of these things; and yet we are indignant at the way in which the less is made to hide the greater. To put the secondary...

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These are not so much fixed goals but suggestions and reminders of the books that are still waiting on the shelf, the stack on the floor, and the pile on the kitchen table. I never thought I would be reading so much history and sociology. I used to think these subjects were dead bores with no practical application Not anymore. Listening: The New American Standard Bible Augustine's Confessions Finish listening to The Making of Asian America by Erika Lee Theological reading: On the Incarnation - Athanasius The Death of Death in the Death of Christ - John Owen (I've tried reading this so many times and gave up. Perhaps this year will be it.) Contemporary issues and the history behind them: The Souls of Black Folk  - W.E.B. Du Bois Heal Us, Emmanuel - various Disunity in Christ - Christena Cleveland The Search for Christian America - Mark Noll, Nathan Hatch, George Marsden (The dream team when it comes to American history from a Christian perspective...

Wars had raged unto the ends of the earth; men had slaughtered one another, heaps on heaps. There had been strife within as well as struggles without. Conscience had fought with man, and Satan had tormented him with sinful thoughts. There had been no peace on earth since Adam fell. But, now, when the newborn King made His appearance, the swaddling band with which He was wrapped up was the white flag of peace. That manger was the place where the treaty was signed, whereby warfare should be stopped between man’s conscience and himself, and between man’s conscience and his God. Then it was that the trumpet of the heavenly herald was blown aloud, and the royal proclamation was made, “Sheathe thy sword, O man, sheathe thy sword, O conscience, for God has provided a way by which He can be at peace with man, and by which man can be at peace with God, and with his own conscience, too!” The Gospel of the grace of God promises peace to every man who accepts it; where else can peace be found,...

Look inside, examine it against the Bible (just cited verses don't count), and then see whether it is worth reading or not. Many Christians do not distinguish between a likable personality and the content of that person's teaching... A vital skill for becoming a competent woman is learning how to read well.  We need to be alert and equipped, because Christian bookstores don't have genre labels like "fluff" and "I may look like I have my life together more than you, but I am about to wreck your theology." You would be troubled to hear that women in your congregation were uncritically going on dates with random guys they had met, wouldn't you? What would you do in that situation? You would want to spend some time helping them distinguish between attractive traits and harmful ones. This is what we want to do with the books they are reading as well. No Little Women: Equipping All Women in the Household of God , Aimee Byrd, P&R Publishing, ...

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It's my turn at Out of the Ordinary : During this time of year, it is more acceptable to bring up Jesus. I've seen plenty of nativity scenes in people's yards and even in front of businesses. (The fortune teller with the plastic creche out front broke the cognitive dissonance meter, though.) Even traditional Christian Christmas carols are being played on the airwaves. Many see the story of the baby in the manger as just that, a feel-good myth about love, joy, and peace on earth in sentimental but indistinct terms that don't offend anyone's sensibilities. But is that good enough? Many people say they believe in "Jesus," but sadly we live in a day when we need to press the issue and ask "Which Jesus?" Read the rest of the post here .

I am continuing to read The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind in bits and pieces when I get the chance. Every time I pick it up my assumptions are challenged. According to Mark Noll, the Enlightenment had a huge impact upon our country but not just in the secular sphere. American Christianity embraced it as well, which leads me to ask: - Is our propensity toward biblicism less biblical and more a product of the Enlightenment?  - Does biblicism afflict the American culture more than other countries because of our history? - Is our study of the Bible also influenced by this? Are we taking Enlightenment principles of studying the material world and applying it to the Word of God? Is this good or bad? What are the implications? This may not seem practical, but I want to know why I think the way I do and where it came from. Am I child of the Enlightenment (I think the answer is "yes") and to what degree? Just because I am a Christian does not automatically mean that my ...

Martin Luther   by   Simonetta Carr, illustrations by Troy Howell, Reformation Heritage Books, 2016, 32 pages. For ages 7-12. I was wondering if Simonetta Carr would write a children's biography on Martin Luther, and she has! And it's just in time for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation next year. This book traces Luther's life from his student days to becoming a monk, his pivotal role in the Protestant Reformation, and the subsequent years until his death. The author demonstrates her skill, once again, in being able to take a well-known figure in church history and condense his story so that it is appealing and understandable to the target audience. Beautiful illustrations and photographs augment the text and add visual interest. The book also includes a "Did You Know?" section containing interesting facts, a timeline of Luther's life, and excerpts from his small catechism. I've reviewed some of the biographies in the  Christian Bi...

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people.” Hebrews 8:10.  The human race in the order of history, as far as this world is concerned, first stood in subjection to God under the covenant of works. Adam was the representative man. A certain law was given him. If he kept it, he and all his posterity would be blessed as the result of obedience. If he broke it, he would incur the curse, himself, and entail it on all represented by him. That covenant our first father broke. He fell— he failed to fulfill his obligations—and in his fall he involved us all, for we were all in his loins and he represented us before God. Our ruin, then, was complete before we were born! We were ruined by him who stood as our first representative. To be saved by the works of the law is impossible, for under that covenant we...

More info on the nyckelharpa . And a folk encore: Vasen with Chris Thile:

Here is the list of my favorite books for 2016 in the order read/listened. Not quite half of my total "reads" were audiobooks. I am a fast reader and often skim past details, so listening helps me pay better attention. I used to play it safe in my choices, but I am branching out. I want to be a sound thinker, and that won't happen if my ideas are not challenged. Some books were unexpected delights like "A Man Called Ove," which I got from Audible on a whim. Others were convicting, took me out of my comfort zone, and made me stop and ponder. The last three are still in progress, but they merit inclusion on this list. A Belief in a Just World: A Fundamental Delusion - Melvin J. Lerner Neither Complementarian Nor Egalitarian: A Kingdom Corrective to the Gender Debate - Michelle Lee-Barnewall Unashamed: Healing Our Brokenness and Finding Freedom from Shame - Heather Davis Nelson Left: The Struggle to Make Sense of Life When a Parent Leaves - Jonatha...

"The choice is clear. Either affirm the creedal and confessional heritage of the doctrine of the eternal processions or affirm ERAS (Eternal Relationship of Authority and Submission). To opt for ERAS, however, is to overhaul entirely the doctrine of the Trinity, both the unity and the distinction of the divine Persons. Tritheism in some form most be adopted, and coequality and consubstantiality must be rejected. This, however, is a rather grim prospect, one which has no biblical or historical or theological warrant."   Stefan Linblad Some Christians may be thinking enough of the Trinity debate already and that there are better things on which we could be spending our time. As far as the latter, there is no dichotomy between caring about a right doctrine of God and caring about people. You can't have one without the other, and the first should be the impetus for the second. As far as enough digital ink being spilled over the Trinity, how much leniency should be allo...

“They shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23 Again, as you gaze upon the mystery, consider what an ensign of good will this must be to the sons of men. When the Lord takes manhood into union with Himself in this matchless way, it must mean good to man. God cannot mean to destroy that race which He thus weds unto Himself. Such a marriage as this, between man and God, must mean peace. War and destruction are never thus predicted. God incarnate in Bethlehem, to be adored by shepherds, foretells nothing but “peace on earth and mercy mild.” O you sinners who tremble at the thought of the divine wrath, as well you may, lift up your heads with joyful hope of mercy and favor, for God must be full of grace and mercy to that race which He so distinguishes above all others by taking it into union with Himself. Be of good cheer, O men born of women, and expect untold blessings for “unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.” If you look at riv...

This has been parenting week at Out of the Ordinary . Not planned but rather providential. Diane posted earlier this week on cutting the proverbial apron strings. Now it's my turn to write about learning to let go. As a parent, I believe that my daughter's salvation was of the Lord. Not because of what I did or did not do as a parent, thank God! I also believe that her keeping and growth are in His hands as well. But what if the path He has placed her on includes suffering, struggles, and questions? This is where it gets hard and where it can be hard to let go. That maternal instinct in me wants to reach out and grab the wheel, as it were, and steer her toward what I think is the smoother road. But there comes a point when Mom can't make everything all better anymore. Read the post here.

This land is your land, this land is my land From the California to the New York Island From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters This land was made for you and me I grew up singing this song by Woody Guthrie. The fact that my dad, a naturalized citizen, could teach this to his students (he was a  music teacher) was a testimony to the great American melting pot. I took it for granted that I was an American by birth and that this was my land. But it wasn't always this way. If you don't dig into history, you can believe the myth that the United States opened her arms wide to receive immigrants from all nations and from all backgrounds. In reality, we have a history marked by xenophobia. When I listened/read about the events that led up to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 , I was shocked. This was my country , but my people were persecuted, driven from their homes, and even killed based on race. I am not placing blame on anyone today. Those responsible are ...

One of the questions that comes up regarding ethnicity/race is "Aren't we supposed to be colorblind?" I think the  following exposition of Galatians 3:28 by Michelle Lee-Barnewall may help answer that question. This passage focuses on the complementarian vs. egalitarian debate, but gender isn't the only distinction the Apostle Paul mentions. [W]hile Jesus's treatment of women was indeed groundbreaking, the notion of "equality" may not be the most accurate lens through which to try to understand the importance of his actions... Instead it may be more important to understand the issue according to the idea of "inclusion." 1 In this new community, distinctions are not eliminated as much as they have become irrelevant for determining who can be "in Christ" because now believers are children of God through faith rather than the law. 2 The three pairings in Gal. 3:28, which also include male and female and slave and free, represente...

This doesn't happen very often, but every now and then I will read something and think, "This puts into words exactly what I have been thinking and feeling for most of my life." The first time was when I read the essays in "Are Women Human?" by Dorothy L. Sayers. This is the second time. As a member of a minority group everywhere in my country except among family or through the self-conscious effort to find other Asian Americans, I alternate between being conspicuous and vanishing, being stared at or looked through. Although the conditions may seem contradictory, they have in common the loss of control. In most instances, I am who others perceive me to be rather than how I perceive myself to be. Considered by the strong sense of individualism inherent in American society, the inability to define one's self is the greatest loss of liberty possible. We Americans believe in an heroic myth from the nineteenth century, whereby moving to the frontier gives a ...

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil; where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:17-20.  The text concludes with this very sweet reflection, that though our hope is out of sight, we have a friend in the unseen land where our hope has found its hold. In anxious moments a sailor might almost wish that he could go with his anchor and fix it firmly. That he cannot do, but we have a friend who has gone to see to everything for us! Our anchor is within the veil—it is where we cannot see it—but Jesus is there, and our hope is inse...

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I am thankful for: - A hot mug of tea as I finish up the last bit of work. - Enjoying the stillness of the morning before it's time to start cooking a simple Thanksgiving meal. - A few days of rest and quiet at home. - Family and friends who are greatly loved and appreciated. - Many tears shed and many lessons learned so far this year but with the assurance that God is working all things for good. - The means of grace through the local church that keep me grounded. - Jesus' call for the weary and heavy laden to come to Him and find rest for our souls. (Matt. 11:28-30) Happy Thanksgiving! Photo credit: By Ireen Trummer (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18. “All power is given to Me in Heaven and on earth.” We believe in this power and we rest in it. We do not seek any other power. There is a craving, often, after great mental power—people want “clever” men to preach the Gospel. Ah, Sirs, I fear that the Gospel has suffered more damage from clever men than from anything else! I question whether the devil, himself, has ever worked so much mischief in the Church of God as clever men have done! No, we want to have such mental vigor as God pleases to give us, but we remember that text, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” The world is not going to be saved by worldly wisdom or by fine oratory—brilliant speeches and poetic periods win not souls for Christ! The power to do this is the power that is in Christ. And the Church of God, when she is in her right senses, does not look for any other power. I mean that s...

Philosophy has its uses...

I was going to write a review of  Hidden Figures but it's hard writing a review when you only have an audio version. Even though I listened to it twice, I can't go back to a particular page, but I can share what I remember and the thoughts and questions it has raised. Hidden Figures tells the story of the African American female mathematicians who helped the US win the space race and provided the math know-how for aircraft design during WWII. These women worked as human computers - solving advanced mathematical calculations with only their brains, data tables, and rudimentary calculators before the advent of the modern computers that we know today. One of these women was Dorothy Vaughan . Dorothy was a wife, mother, and public school teacher in Farmville, Virginia. She declined the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree in mathematics to become a teacher, one of the few professions open to black female college graduates. At that time, Virginia was in the bottom 25% for U...

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” 1 John 3:14 So, Brothers and Sisters, if we can say that we love God’s people, as God’s people, because they are God’s people , that is a mark that we have passed from death unto life! Do you love them for Christ’s sake ? Do you say to yourself, “That is one of Christ’s people. That is one who bears Christ’s Cross. That is one of the children of God and, therefore, I love him and take delight in his company”? Then that is an evidence that you are not of the world. If you were, you would love the world, but, belonging to Christ, you love those who are Christ’s and you love them for Christ’s sake.  Another is you love them for the Truth of God’s sake. We are but earthen vessels, yet there is the excellency of the treasure of God put within us, so, when you can say, “I love that man because of the Truth of God he preaches. I do not care about his talents, but I do care about his Gospel”—when you ca...

My pastor has been preaching through the book of Revelation. We're still in the first few chapters where Jesus is commending and correcting the churches. While these letters were written to real churches in existence in John's lifetime, these letters are for all true churches throughout time. These letters are for us. For me. In the letter to Ephesus, Jesus commends this church, but He also admonishes them that they have lost their first love. This could mean love for God, love for believers, and love for the lost. According to my pastor many commentators have different views as to which love. But who amongst us would dare say that we love God, believers, and the lost as we should? Who doesn't need to grow in all three areas? My mind is still reeling from the election. My heart is also grieved for believers and unbelievers alike as we seem to more divided than ever. So my prayer for myself and for the church is that we would regain our first love. - Love for God that...

I didn't bother following the election returns on social media last night and fully expected to wake up to a Clinton presidency. I am stunned. I voted for an independent candidate rather than casting an anti-vote, so I'm not quite sure how to process my feelings. However, I will say this: America has become even more polarized in the last 8 years, and I fear it is will continue to head in that trajectory. This election has also amplified the fact that American "Christianity" sees itself as political force. Hence all the big names making sure we knew how to vote if we were to be "good evangelicals." Unjust laws should be changed but laws can't change people's hearts. If we put all our eggs in a political/high court basket, we will be sadly disappointed. Things will only change when the church begins to address issues like race, misogyny, poverty, and the sanctity for all life down at the local level. Absolutely preach the gospel, but the gospel app...

The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind. 1 The following quote from The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind isn't meant to point a finger. I freely admit to being too terrified to read the front page of a newspaper after 9/11. I was also the kid who looked out the window to see if the moon had turned bright red, if my parents were late getting home, for fear that they had been raptured and I was left behind. Within weeks of the outbreak of this conflict [the 1991 Gulf War], evangelical publishers provided a spate of books featuring efforts to read this latest Middle East crisis as a direct fulfillment of biblical prophecy heralding the end of the world. The books came to various conclusions, but they all shared the disconcerting conviction that the best way of providing moral judgment about what was happening in the Middle East was not to study carefully what was going on in the Middle East. Rather, they featured a kind of Bible study...

Ask of Me and I shall give You the heathen for Your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Psalms 2:8, 9. Observe , dear Friends, the wonderful contrast between the violent excitement of the enemies of the Lord and the sublime serenity of God Himself. He is not disturbed though the heathen so furiously rage and their kings and mighty ones set themselves in battle array. He smiles at them—He has them in derision. You and I are often downcast and depressed and our forebodings are dark and dismal, but God sits in His eternal peacefulness and serenely overrules tumult and rebellion. The Lord reigns and His Throne is not moved, nor His rest broken whatever may be the noise and turmoil down below. Notice the sublimity of this Divine calm. While the heathen and their princes are plotting and planning how to break His bands asunder and cast His cords from them, He has ...

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I was cautiously optimistic when I read Pastor Jason Meyer's sermon " Fooled by False Leadership " last year. Meyer spoke on the issue of domestic abuse in Christian homes because of hyper-headship. Many Christians only acknowledge physical violence as abuse, if that, and have a very limited understanding of abuse in general. In addition John Piper (Meyer's predecessor) is probably one of the last people I would ever send an abuse victim to for advice , hence the caution. However I was pleased to read the following statements and several charts detailing different forms of abuse and naming them abuse . If these are the numbers for physical and sexual abuse, imagine how much bigger the problem is if you add mental and emotional abuse. Let me put this in layman’s terms. Do not say insensitive, misguided things like, “If it doesn’t leave a physical mark, then it is not abuse.” and Emotional abuse is a pattern in the use of words and actions to assault, reorder, and...

1. He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase, To added affliction He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men, For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again. 2 When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, Our Father’s full giving is only begun. Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932) Annie Johnson Flint's life behind the words.

I am reposting a piece I wrote in 2013 at Out of the Ordinary: "We like happy endings and success stories, so it's easy to think experiencing triumph is the epitome of the Christian life. The prayers were answered. The sin was conquered. The problem was solved. We don't have much stamina either, so the quicker God moves, the better. If He comes through according to our expectations, hallelujah! But what if He chooses otherwise? What if the battle with sin is lifelong or the circumstances don't change? If I am only willing to share my struggles when they are over, I could be waiting a very long time trying to hold out on my own." Read the rest here .

A few years ago, I read a novel based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice . In this case, it was told from a housemaid's point of view. There were a few storylines that were over the top in my opinion, but my main objection was that this book burst my bubble. I didn't want to know about how hard a servant's life was in the Regency Era. I didn't want to think about lack of plumbing or chamber pots. I preferred to imagine Austen's works through the lens of modern film adaptations with their beautiful costumes, dancing, witty dialogue, and actors with historically inaccurate perfect teeth. But history is not as nice and tidy as a novel or a film. Sometimes it is easier to edit my intake because I don't want to face the toll sin has taken on mankind since the fall.  Being a self-revisionist may shelter my sensibilities, but nostalgia, no matter how pretty, is no substitute for the truth. As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot learn from history are...

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4. Was there ever a better reason given under heaven for being fearless than this—that God is with us? He is on our side! He is pledged to help us! He has never failed us. He must cease to be what He is before He can cast away one soul that trusts Him. Where, then, is there room for terror? The child is confident because his mother is with him—much more should we be serene in heart since the omniscient, the omnipotent, the immutable God is on our side! “Whom shall I fear?” Whom shall we select to honor with our dread? Is there anybody that we need to fear? “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns?” Christ has died and risen again and sits up yonder at the right hand of God as our representative—who, then, can harm us? Let the heavens be dissolved and the eart...

This is a quote from Divided by Faith : [W]hite evangelicals view the race problems as (1) prejudiced individuals, resulting in poor relationships and sin, (2) others trying to make it a group or systemic issue when it is not, or (3) a fabrication of the self-interested. Given that issues of inequality, systemic injustice, and group conflict are not part of their assessment, we did not expect to hear these addressed as part of the solution. And we rarely did. What we did hear from many was what others have called the "miracle motif." The miracle motif is the theologically rooted idea that as more individuals become Christians, social and personal problems will be solved automatically. What is the solution to violent crime? Convert people to Christianity, because Christians do not commit violent crimes. What is the solution to divorce? Covert people to Christianity, because Christians are less likely to get divorced? What is the solution to hate problems of race? ......