A common argument is made that churches should do things with excellence, it is usually assumed to the glory of God but somehow that part keeps getting left out. What usually follows this statement is an explanation as to why the lighting should be programmed rather than just turned on, that a new and betterContinue reading “For Your Consideration”
Tag Archives: Calvinism
Gullible is not a Good Look
Introduction I am trying to be charitable, so I do not intend to throw around words like lazy, or cowardly. But is it just me or are a lot of pastors gullible? The ongoing issue at hand is the “deconstructors.” as I just said this is an ongoing issue, so obviously growing that The GospelContinue reading “Gullible is not a Good Look”
The Stories He Told
This is the final installment of this series. The previous posts can be found here, here, here, here, and here. Introduction I am still digesting the final episode of Mike Cosper’s Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. But am pretty sure my conclusion will not change too much after further pondering. The finale was, inContinue reading “The Stories He Told”
Writing a Risk
There are three things in the Bible Belt that are verboten for those of us in para-church ministry to do: drink alcohol, smoke, or be a Calvinist. Not only do I do the first things I am the third as well. As a result what you read here is something of a risk, both toContinue reading “Writing a Risk”
Dat was Da Wabbit
Introduction Allow me to illustrate our current Evangelical moment though the metaphor of Elmer Fudd. Either side of the conservative or progressive debate is much like the titular character in his Viking garb from What’s Opera Dock. Furiously hunting the rabbit yet completely failing to recognize him every time he is directly in front ofContinue reading “Dat was Da Wabbit”
I Need to Listen to Sam More
It was a dark and clear night. Caleb and revived the fire to a proper blaze, and we all sat back with our double scotches satisfied from the feast we had just consumed. And once again Sam, in his slow, teacherly way pointed out what a rare thing it is that we have with ourContinue reading “I Need to Listen to Sam More”
Older, Restless, and Reformed
A few weeks back I was going through my library culling books whose usefulness had expired. Their shelf life was short simply because they were back from the heady days where evangelicalism was grappling with the Emerging/Emergent Church. And as I was doing this it hit me. I kind of miss those days of theContinue reading “Older, Restless, and Reformed”
The Troglodyte Ventures Forth
Today brings no puttering around the TULIP garden, but some housekeeping with three brief announcements. First, in an effort to drag myself further into the world wide web, the Instagram account associated with this blog is being relaunched. Originally it was run by my co-conspirator due to my deep hatred of those meddling kids overContinue reading “The Troglodyte Ventures Forth”
Not a New Problem
Introduction Doug Wilson has aptly pointed out that one of the failures of Reformed Protestantism is not reading our histories and biographies. Outside of a few of us nerds old books are not read. More disturbingly it appears that many of our pastors can not be bothered to even read any books, instead relying onContinue reading “Not a New Problem”
Wilson’s Gay Sermon
I like Doug Wilson, a lot. I am profoundly grateful for his sermons on fathers in the home and in the church. His lecture on Calvinism and Lewis is what pushed me over the edge into Reformed theology. I can not listen to The Romance of Protestantism without weeping. When he is on he isContinue reading “Wilson’s Gay Sermon”
Southern Reformed Smoker 