Introduction There is a law of hospitality ministry that inevitably runs up against an indisputable frustration. The law is that of consistency. The frustration is flakiness. If a person intends to do real ministry of being hospitable they must do so regularly. The occasional dinner or party is a start but not a long haul.Continue reading “Your Guest is a Sinner”
Tag Archives: Puritans
The Marx Brothers Leading Worship
“Pause now for a strange interlude…” – Groucho Marx This is what runs through my head every time a song leader in a contemporary church lets off with a wail, an “OOOOOoooooo”, a “YEAAAAAAhhhhh”, or whatever else melodic filler shows up in a song. Likewise whenever there is a section of rapid improvised declarations overContinue reading “The Marx Brothers Leading Worship”
A Weapon of War
Introduction I was speaking recently with a friend over the course of a long day of driving and he made the observation that Christians are more interested in issues that loom large in the cultural eye but Biblically are small. The Bible does speak definitively about homosexuality, woman as ministers, social justice, etc. but it’sContinue reading “A Weapon of War”
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”
Nothing to Write
A general principal of this blog is to actively avoid hot takes. Responses to contemporary writings usually show up here about a month after the initial publication. And most commentary on current events has a roughly one year moratorium. The idea being that a response is better than a reaction. A post may be writtenContinue reading “Nothing to Write”
In the Heavenly Laboratory
Editors Note: This one has been fighting me and still feels a bit helter skelter, grace is appreciated. And hopefully the length will make up for the late publication. Introduction The other night a Papist friend, in the course of describing the premise to a novel, mentioned what he saw as a prophetic vision ofContinue reading “In the Heavenly Laboratory”
Modesty, or the Rule of Propriety
Introduction Part of the problem with words is they do not always stay where you last put them. Their meanings alter over time. Usually for the worst. They they become muddled by being turned to be synonymous with things they should not be. In the introduction of Mere Christianity, Lewis demonstrates this problem with theContinue reading “Modesty, or the Rule of Propriety”
Armchair Theologian Warning
“The Puritans made me aware that all theology is also spirituality, in the sense that is has an influence, good or bad, positive or negative, on its recipients’ relationship or lack of relationship to God. If our theology does not quicken the conscience of soften the heart , it actually hardens both: if it doesContinue reading “Armchair Theologian Warning”
Preaching with “Uses”
Introduction Some years ago Doug Pagitt, whom I was surprised to find is still a minor thing, caused something of a stir with the quote “Preaching doesn’t work.” The larger context was his book Preaching Re-Imagined which brought about a flurry of rebuttals. My favorite being Matt Chandlers delivered as a sermon at an ActsContinue reading “Preaching with “Uses””
No End to the Making of Books
In my usual tradition of arriving several years late to the party I will now weigh in on the people don’t read debate. I find most of this to be a preaching to the choir kind of writing, simply because the people who are most likely to read this kind of critique/complaint is most likelyContinue reading “No End to the Making of Books”
Southern Reformed Smoker 