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Prayer for 2008
2008-01-02 17:47:00
May this be our prayer for the next year.What will you do this year to bring peace to the world?technorati tags: peace 2008 peace pole World Peace Prayer Society

Pet Peeves No. 4
2007-12-29 00:09:00
Car manufacturers: this is (almost) 2008. If you are still producing cars that do less than 30 miles per gallon (7.8L/100km or 12.8km/L) at highway speeds, it's not worth advertising. I don't know who works in your marketing department, but this is not 1980 anymore, and that kind of fuel mileage is not a selling point.technorati tags: 2008 fuel mileage automaker car manufacturer 30mpg
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A Black Rose
2007-12-28 15:11:00
Here's a little lesson in floral symbolism. A while back, Dankku mentioned black roses on his blog, and it came up briefly again today. I recall him and I having a bit of a conversation about what the different colors of roses meant, and neither of us knowing if a black rose existed and what it would mean if it did. He discovered that a black rose was given to somebody who was going out to war but wasn’t expected to come back. It is also identified with hatred and death. The black rose also features occasionally in Goth subculture. In politics, it signifies anarchy, though it is rarely used for this purpose. The black rose is not natural, it is usually dyed to make it appear black. There are some varieties of red that are very dark, with an almost black appearance, however.On a side note, one might wonder if the late, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto gave herself a black rose when she left Pakistan on her self-imposed exile. Given the instability of the cou...
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Christmas Traditions
2007-12-27 21:48:00
I had a brief discussion with Ben today over on Facebook about Christmas traditions. It made me curious as to what other kinds of traditions people have. What about you? What are some Christmas traditions that you and your family have? Anything really unique?technorati tags: Christmas traditions Facebook
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The Gospel and Our Calling
2007-12-26 19:55:00
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised h...
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Support Your Pastors
2007-12-24 15:15:00
Sometimes I'll be sitting in church listening to my pastor preach, and then imagine myself as a pastor, and I come to the realization of how difficult the task of being a pastor can be. They have a lot of demands placed on them and a lot of expectations. It's really a 24/7 job. And this time of year can be especially busy for them. So make sure you support your pastors in any way you can---a word of encouragement, prayer; and if you're an elder or on the leadership team, make sure that you help the pastor out. Leading a church and tending a flock is not a one-man job.Make that your Christmas gift to your pastors, and make sure the gift keeps on giving. Merry Christmas, everyone.technorati tags: pastor church minister leadership Christmas
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History of Missionary Work in Alaska
2007-12-24 01:03:00
It's sometimes hard to come up with creative titles for these more historical and analytical posts I sometime write. But that's an aside, so let me get back into it. I’ve been reading through the book, Alaska n Missi onary Spirituality, and posting a bit about the “Christianizing� of Alaska, the efforts of both Orthodox missionaries from the 1820s and on, and later Presbyterian missionaries from the 1920s (read Post 1 and Post 2). As with most history, it’s difficult to get an unbiased view of the work there. If you read what I posted, it’s easy to praise the work of the Orthodox there, and to be sympathetic to the victimization of the native population. But we need to be fair to the work of the American missionaries as well. Certainly today I don’t think we would approve of their methodology; but they, as we are, were a product of their time. It’s always easy to condemn things in the past, but to be fair I think we need to somewhat gracious. The book I’ve be...
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Challenges for Orthodoxy in Alaska
2007-12-21 20:36:00
Reading further in the book I've been paging through, Alaska n Missionary Spirituality, I came to a part discussing the history of American efforts to assimilate the native populations.After Alaska was transferred to the United States, the influence of the Orthodox began to wane considerably. With the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, a variety of problems arose for the Alaska mission. All financial support ended, some Soviet officials began to lay claim to land titles in the state, and when the American mission declared itself administratively independent of the Russian Orthodox Church, they were labeled schismatics by the Moscow Patriarchate. It was only fifty years later that they finally gained their independence, establishing the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America.There were other problems as well. Mass migration of Eastern Europeans to the east coast of the U.S. meant that Orthodoxy ’s center in the country was shifted to the major cities of the East, leaving Alaska out...

Orthodox Missionaries in Alaska
2007-12-20 19:24:00
There is a significant population of Orthodox Christians in the state of Alaska , and this largely has to do with the efforts of Russian Orthodox missionaries in the state in the mid-1800s. In the library at RTS earlier this week, I saw the book, Alaskan Missi onary Spirituality, on the shelf between a number of other Orthodox-related books. I checked it out and paged through it over the last few days. It caught my eye because I spent a short time in the state in 2005, and pretty much fell in love with it. Also, in the city of Sitka I visited St. Michael's Cathedral, where I first learned about the Orthodox presence in the state.The original missionaries came from the Valaam Monastery originally in Finland (now Russian Karelia), and set out to start a mission in traditional Orthodox fashion:From the beginning the goal of the Valaam Mission to Alaska was to…establish an American Church, respecting and employing the languages and artistic culture of Alaska within the community of...
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To Look Up at the Sky...
2007-12-19 04:16:00
...and to see this---I cannot help but give a resounding "Amen!" to David's words of praise: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm 19:1).technorati tags: sunset photo David Psalm 19:1 general revelation

The Church Has Problems
2007-12-17 19:46:00
I know as an insider how disillusioning it can be to see how deep and widespread the ignorance of Orthodox Church members can be concerning their own faith, how low their levels of personal commitment sometimes are, and how bigoted they sometimes act toward other Christians. On the other hand, I have witnessed the hubris of some evangelical Christians, which is often tied to historical amnesia and an idolatrous self-confidence in their own exegetical skills. I've also been a deeply wounded casualty of the broken promises and highly unethical behavior of certain evangelical leaders. But I must quickly add that the good in both communities far outweighs the bad.-- Bradley Nassif, in Three Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism, 28.Well put, I think. But these are certainly issues not limited to Orthodox and evangelical churches alone. There are problems in each and every church. We're all sinners. But we have grace and the promise of Matthew 16:18; ergo, Nassif can conf...
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Frame and Pagitt on Applying Theology
2007-12-14 21:59:00
When I read John Frame 's book, Salvation Belongs to the Lord, for the first time back in March, I quoted parts of his conclusion here. Having just read it again in finishing up a class, I'm reminded... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Phase One Complete
2007-12-13 15:39:00
At about 2:30pm on Tuesday afternoon, I completed my first semester at RTS. It's been a whirlwind. It seems at this point that the semester has flown by. And yet I've read what feels like a... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Filioque
2007-12-10 21:13:00
As I've taken church history courses in the past, and discussed the various church councils and creed formations of the first few centuries of the church, one of the things I've wondered about is if... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.

Classical Music Aficionado
2007-12-08 05:39:00
I’m not altogether sure about the influence of music on the senses of an animal, but I’m sure they do react in some way. I have noticed this with my cat. I am quite certain that she loves classical... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Making Sacred Space
2007-12-05 19:59:00
I just finished a paper for class on the importance of church architecture. In the process of researching and writing, I came across this, which I think is great:Probably the best illustration of... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Pet Peeves No. 3
2007-12-04 22:36:00
This one is for those of you who use Facebook. When it comes to updating your “status� on Facebook, you are relatively constrained by the permanently affixed “is� that is placed after your name. ... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Wonder of the Cross
2007-12-01 15:25:00
God has reconciled us to Himself through the Cross of Christ. This is not to say one thing - it is to say everything...The Cross is the explanation of everything else, while no one other thing can... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.

A Tribute
2007-11-30 00:40:00
From left to right: Adam, Andrew, Rafik. Three amazing guys who I am blessed to know and even more blessed to call my friends. All currently in or on their way to seminary, where I am convinced God... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Pet Peeves No. 2
2007-11-28 22:29:00
When the lead guitarist's 2nd-string (b-string) is slightly out of tune for the entire chapel service, and he finally tunes it after the dismissal. An out of tune b-string may just be the most... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Olen juuttunut mutaan.
2007-11-28 21:06:00
I've reached the point where I'm going along, the pavement has ended, the road is getting a little rougher, and suddenly I'm stuck in a giant bog of mud. The ratio of work to be done and time to... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.

Orthodox Worship
2007-11-27 14:39:00
Fr. Stephen Freeman is an Orthodox priest in Tennessee. He was formerly an Episcopalian priest before he converted to Orthodoxy. I’ve been reading his blog, "Glory to God for All Things," for some... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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More Music to Stir the Soul
2007-11-27 01:24:00
This guy is absolutely incredible. Hat-tip to my good friend Andrew for this one. Even if you don't like opera, watch this video. It will blow you away. The piece is "Nessum Dorma," an aria... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Yes, That's Exactly What You Think It Is
2007-11-26 17:47:00
I must admit, this is a rather unusual site for a Canadian. Is this visual proof of the Second Amendment? Photo taken here. technorati tags: valdosta georgia gunshot gun Second Amendment... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.

Worldview
2007-11-21 22:37:00
If you float around in the circles I do for a while---like maybe for a couple of hours, give or take---you are bound to hear this statement, or at least some variant of it:In the total expanse of... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.

I Had to Chuckle
2007-11-21 22:36:00
I recently pulled a study Bible off the shelf that I used to use before I got the Bible I use now. I opened it up to discover this rather humorous note. I have no idea who wrote it and put it there... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.

Words to Ponder
2007-11-20 19:15:00
Doctrine means nothing if it is not followed by doxology. -- Frank A. James, III My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Pet Peeves No. 1
2007-11-19 18:48:00
People who spend $40,000-plus on an SUV or other high-priced vehicle, and $0 on maintenance and upkeep. As if $40,000 wasn't enough of a waste of money already, they subsequently devalue the vehicle... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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Pros and Cons
2007-11-17 06:09:00
I don't have a running list of pros and cons for Florida. Maybe I should. A tick for the "Con" side: coffee shops that close at 9:00pm. What's that all about? (Hmm, maybe that deserves two ticks... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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On the Observance of the Sabbath, V
2007-11-16 14:08:00
This will be my final thought on this issue, and after this I will leave it to rest (no pun intended). [Earlier posts: one, two, three, four]. I want to leave it off with a question for... My personal blog discussing things about life, faith, and theology. Trying to provoke thoughts, raise discussions, learn and grow.
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