Bible, theology, culture, etc.
In reading of the relationship between Jonathan and David, one is struck by their depth of affection and commitment to one another: As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul...Then Jonathan made a covenant with … Continue reading Homosexuality and Friendship: Jonathan and David
You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire … Continue reading Art Explained: Augustinian Zeal
"Ecstasy and delight are essential to the believer's soul and they promote sanctification. We were not meant to live without spiritual exhilaration, and the Christian who goes for a long time without the experience of heart-warming will soon find himself tempted to have his emotions satisfied from earthly things and not, as he ought, from … Continue reading The Necessity of Ecstasy and Delight for Godliness
The man waddles over to hand dryer, punches the button, and runs a black comb through his grey hair while the hot air pours over his body. He is short and round. Were he wearing a pin-striped suit, he could pass as some sort of mafia don. But he isn't wearing anything. And there he … Continue reading In Praise of Naked, Fat Guys (Sort Of, Not Really)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ID0MeRNhF7YzcDDv77c0M?si=f9b2d7fa34df4d9d I have always found this short Christmas reflection/parable from the late Frederick Buechner so arresting that, despite me disagreeing with much of what he writes elsewhere, I can't help but love this: The lovely old carols played and replayed till their effect is like a dentist's drill or a jackhammer, the bathetic banalities of the pulpit and … Continue reading The Uninhabitable Terror of Christmas
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WVK7oJoeGrEY8hb7bcGQI?si=2f202367fab74464 In a portion of C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian, Aslan awakens the Ancient Greek god of wine and feasting, Bacchus (Dionysius, to the Romans). There is a great romp and feast of the finest grapes, leaving all with "sticky and stained fingers...and, though mouths were full, the laughter never ceased." After all are satiated and satisfied, Susan turns to … Continue reading Bacchus Baptized: How Can Christians Drink Wisely?
As those who bear God's name, who are filled with the Spirit, drunkenness should never be something we make peace with or make light of. We want to rightly enjoy God's good gifts, feasting and celebrating with what Calvin called an "honest and moderate liberality." But drunkenness perverts God's good gift into debauchery, danger, and destruction.
While recently reflecting on George Herbert’s poem, The Agony, I was reminded of an excellent sermon my former pastor, Ryan Fullerton, preached from the book of Proverbs on a Biblical perspective on alcohol. In the sermon, Ryan looked at how the Bible describes alcohol both as a good and dangerous gift from God. Here, I want to briefly summarize … Continue reading The Blessing of Wine
In my sermon from two weeks ago, I reminded our church of the critical role courage plays in the Christian life. We currently live in a culture of "safetyism" that promotes safety as the highest good, and risk/danger as an unequivocal evil. I was reminded of the wonderful character transformation of Bilbo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Bilbo is a typical … Continue reading Bilbo’s Bravery and Christian Courage
But the greatest hope, of course, comes by holding forward the gospel and praying for God to transform hearts so that enemies become brothers, sinners become saints, and the heart is transformed by the Holy Spirit, not merely restrained by the sword of the State.
Marc Sims 