Bible, theology, culture, etc.
14 Points from Genesis that emphasize male-female differentiation What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a woman? While it seems that this discussion is a fruitless endeavor that results in people only stating their personal preferences, we do find an objective perspective given to us in the first … Continue reading Men and Women in Creation
A pastor can affirm the Nicene creed, defend the inerrancy of the Bible, be a staunch Calvinist, point out the popular heresies of the day, passionately preach the gospel, study church history, labor to build up the church, sacrifice for the ministry, write position papers excoriating false teaching…and be totally blind to the heart of … Continue reading Metallically Harsh Preachers
"Deacons likewise must be dignified...Their wives likewise must be dignified," (1 Tim 3:8, 11, ESV) Does the Bible restrict the office of deacon to men only? Much of this depends on how you interpret 1 Timothy 3:11. Depending on what translation you read, the answer may differ. The English Standard Version cited above (as well … Continue reading Does the Bible Support Deaconesses?
Before Tim Keller wrote The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness, and before Dane Ortlund wrote Gentle and Lowly, there was A.W. Tozer writing The Pursuit of God. On a single train ride from Chicago to Texas, the Christian Missionary Alliance pastor wrote through the night, producing one of the Church’s most beloved meditations on communing with God. The book first released in 1948 … Continue reading Tozer on the Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness
In 1931, Helen Taft, the widow of the late president, William Howard Taft, unveiled a 13 ft. tall statue on the edge of the Potomac River in Washington DC. It was a monument to honor those who had died in the tragic sinking of the Titanic. More specifically, the monument was intended to honor the men who … Continue reading Chivalry ≠ Chauvinism
In 1789, those loyal to the monarchy in France gathered together on the right side of the president of the National Assembly, while those pushing for revolution gathered to his left. One deputy, the Baron de Gauville, explained: “We began to recognize each other: those who were loyal to religion and the king took up positions … Continue reading Right and Left Are Illusions: A New Analogy for Our Differences
In the 2004 movie I, Robot, (based on the Isaac Asimov series) Will Smith plays a homicide detective in the not-too-distant future where humanoid robots are an everyday part of life. Dr. Alfred Lanning, a leading roboticist, allegedly commits suicide, but leaves behind a holographic recording of himself that specifically requests Smith’s character to investigate what has happened. … Continue reading Asking the Right Question in Our Bible Reading
One question came to my mind often: How did so many Russian and Ukrainians keep their faith strong over decades of communist oppression of believers?...Often, in interviews, I would simply blurt out: "How did you (or your family, or your church, or your people) learn to live like this? How did you learn to die … Continue reading Persecuted Faith
1 It was on a Friday morning That they took me from the cell, And I saw they had a carpenter To crucify as well. You can blame it on to Pilate, You can blame it on the Jews, You can blame it on the Devil, It's God I accuse. It's God they ought to … Continue reading “Friday Morning” by Sydney Carter
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6dpBs0pER3HmIkrqW6nsBc?si=bb8779ba0e804a2e It’s your first day at a high-end career. You are still getting familiar with everything when your boss sends you out to go order supplies for an upcoming job. You read off a list of what is needed and place the order with the vendor while he scribbles it down a clipboard. He then … Continue reading Not My Hand (1 Sam 26)
Marc Sims 