Doctrines of Grace – Southern Reformed Smoker

Theology is too Hard

Introduction “Is it possible to be astonished and, at the same time, not surprised?” – Josiah Bartlett, Here Today (The West Wing) I find that to be an apt way to react to most evangelicals profession of faith and simultaneously complete and total lack of interest in theology. Sure some have a few pop theologyContinue reading “Theology is too Hard”

Calvinism by the Rules of Comedy

Introduction The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery makes the interesting point that the plot structure of the Bible is a U shaped comedy plot. It begins in paradise, descends into chaos, and ascends in paradise. Or to use the literature maxim, “In a tragedy you die, in a comedy you get hitched.” Comedic principals and instinctsContinue reading “Calvinism by the Rules of Comedy”

Vogues of Virtues

Editors Note: This post was contributed to by D.W. Syme. Introduction I can recall the time in churches when Maranatha! music was all the rage. Everyone was wanting to put on their own God With Us contada. And now I doubt anyone even knows what I write of. Judgement Houses were also huge in theContinue reading “Vogues of Virtues”

Great Commission Southern Baptists

I would like to break from form for just a bit. What is to follow is a random layman assortment of thoughts and observations on the potential split happening in the Southern Baptist Convention. There is no order to these, and I doubt that any of my musings on this subject will cause anything toContinue reading “Great Commission Southern Baptists”

Thankful for 2020

Editors Note: This post is a tad shorter and a day behind the publishing schedule. The reason being that what I had intended to post was just not up to snuff. Instead here is a new musing for the end of the year. I think it might be something of a new tradition that JohnContinue reading “Thankful for 2020”

Hospitality for the Long Haul

Hospitality is a long term commitment. Anything that is a command of God is a long term commitment. Sanctification slowly changes and improves us, forming us into the image of Christ. All of God’s commands are given for His glory and our good. Hospitality comes with numerous blessings from God to us, and is alsoContinue reading “Hospitality for the Long Haul”

The Puffed up and the Invisible Rabbit

(Part 2) Introduction Screwtape calls it, “The blessed word, adolescent.” It is one of his favorites to conjure up and distract from actual immaturity. The idea that Lewis, though Screwtape, wishes to convey is that posture in which a, usually young, man takes to task a person or an idea that he believes that heContinue reading “The Puffed up and the Invisible Rabbit”