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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