Thanksgiving for a Pastor

Introduction Lately I have been venting my spleen about music ministers*, and while I can’t say it wasn’t fun, It would be healthy to balance my grievances with some gratitude**. As such I would like to take the time to express my deep appreciation for Chris Bennett the pastor of the church I am aContinue reading “Thanksgiving for a Pastor”

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”

Is Mark Driscoll Leading Your Praise Team?*

One of the charges leveled in The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill was that in preaching the now famous/infamous “Who the Hell do You Think You Are!?” sermon out of 2 Peter everything was planned before hand and replicated at each service. A more honest commentator would have readily conceded that this kind ofContinue reading “Is Mark Driscoll Leading Your Praise Team?*”

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”

The Stories He Tells Part 3

Introduction* I really respected Kevin DeYoung’s position that it would be best to wait until the conclusion of Mike Cosper’s Rise and Fall of Mars Hill before he rendered judgement. I spent a lot of time pondering DeYoung’s thinking. He sees Cosper has having a broad story to tell and upon completion stepping back toContinue reading “The Stories He Tells Part 3”

Counterfeit Churches

Introduction My Thursdays are usually filled with a whiskey tasting and cigar smoker with my lads. Recently we tried a selection of Taiwan’s whisky Kavalan. All three bottles were astoundingly good, like an Isla they exploded across the palate but instead of smoke it was fruit. However, there was a cold, calculated clinical feel toContinue reading “Counterfeit Churches”

The Stories He Tells Part 2

And the truth comes out! The fifth episode of Mike Cosper’s podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill* didn’t even bother to hide it’s goals in attacking complementarianism by attaching it to Mark Driscoll. Early on Cosper even admits that the subject matter of the episode seems to have nothing to do with theContinue reading “The Stories He Tells Part 2”

Shoot the Foxes

Introduction Solomon warns us in his song, to beware the little foxes that gnaw at the roots in the vineyard of love. Little foxes are an excellent metaphor for small slights, that chip away at the foundation of relationships. There is nothing new under the sun and as just as in the days of ChristContinue reading “Shoot the Foxes”

The Stories He Tells Himself (Or Mike Cosper’s Ax to Grind)

Lets just jump in and admit that there was already very little chance that I was going to be a fan of Christianity Today’s new podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Four episodes in and I think I can put my finger on the major problems. It is customary to, on the frontContinue reading “The Stories He Tells Himself (Or Mike Cosper’s Ax to Grind)”

The Forgotten Category

Introduction For a society that prides itself on tolerance for a vast range of ideas and opinions. The prevailing morality is distinctly black and white. As Captain Jack Aubury would say, “What a fascinating modern age we live in.” Christians struggle with this in many ways. Calling out sinners in the style of Bunyan seemsContinue reading “The Forgotten Category”