café de soiréecafé de soiréeMy reflections on life, faith, and theology, from a mostly Reformed perspective. Grappling with theological ideas, cultural and societal issues, and trying to make sense of it all. Hoping to provoke thoughts and raise discussions. Articles
Why We Declare, 'He is Risen!'
2008-03-23 13:36:00 "He is not here; he has risen!"• Luke 24:16"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the de...
Why We Need Sin to Have Good Friday
2008-03-21 15:27:00 USA Today ran an article yesterday entitled, "Has the 'notion of sin' been lost?" It's an interesting piece worth reading. It cites a number of well-known Christian figures, such as Pope Benedict XVI, Al Mohler, Mark Driscoll, Joel Osteen, and Michael Horton. The opening paragraph of the article reads as follows:Is sin dead? No, not by a long shot. Yet as Easter approaches, some pastors and theologians worry: How can Christians celebrate Jesus' atonement for their sins and the promise of eternal life in his resurrection if they don't recognize themselves as sinners?I spoke last week about Benedict's concern that people are losing the notion of sin (see "The New Path to Hell"). This is a real concern. Salvation from our sin through the grace of God and the atoning work of Christ is the absolute central doctrine of Christianity. To not understand sin and recognize it's significance in our lives and the world is a grave error. But our culture does not understand sin. T... More About: Friday , Good
Rural Relaxation
2008-03-19 18:20:00 City living is fine for me, but one thing I do not like about living here is that I have to drive at least twenty miles before I get to anything remotely close to being rural. I really liked that about where I was in Hamilton. Five minutes and I was out of the city, ten minutes and I was on seldom traveled dirt roads.I have never lived in a rural setting, but I have always loved it. Some of my friends told me I was country at heart. Perhaps that's true. And maybe it's just idyllic, but I could spend hours with the peacefulness, the sound of the breeze in the trees, the nature. In Hamilton, I used to go for a short drive through the rural areas when I need to relax or take a break. Sometimes I'd park on the side of the road and walk a little. If I had my camera, I'd take hundreds of pictures. But I can't do that here. Especially at $3.30 per gallon for fuel. I have to find new ways to relax.The next place we live I'll make sure I'm a little closer to the country. B... More About: Relaxation , Rural
You Know When, 3
2008-03-18 23:49:00 You know without a doubt that you are living in the 21st century when your 82-year-old philosophy professor answers his cell phone in the middle of class.technorati tags: philosophy cell phone professor
On the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, I
2008-03-17 15:27:00 I think I am going to start a series on the Lord's Supper . I've been gathering together a lot of thoughts on it.Scott Schultz is a colleague of mine at seminary. Scott marches to the beat of a different drum, and I mean that with a great deal of respect. He is challenging and provocative. It's a welcome breath of fresh air in circles that at times seem to have a tendency to value the status quo more than original thinking. Particularly on the subject of the Eucharist, Scott has given me a lot to think about. I do not think him and I would see eye to eye on every aspect of it, but it has given me occasion to think over the things that he says, and as a result, my whole thinking on the issue of the Lord's Supper.We celebrated Communion at our church yesterday. As they were distributing the elements, my wife took the bread and placed it in her lap as she waited for the pastor to lead us in partaking together. Normally I would not have thought anything of it, but yesterday I...
The Face of America
2008-03-17 15:17:00 This past Friday I sat in a chair at a local government office for around two hours. Most of the time I spent conversing with a 67-year-old Colombian man. He made an interesting point. He has been in the United States for 33 years and is a naturalized citizen. But he says that people do not consider him an America n. "I have all the documentation," he says, "pero people don't see me as an American. Porque, sabes qué, I don't look like an American."I thought about that a little bit. Here I am, not even having been in the United States for a year, and everyone I interact with assumes I am just an American. I have only had one person identify me as a Canadian without my telling them that I was. I'm white, I don't sound like a foreigner, and I am completely familiar with the culture. I don't stand out. I'm not different. For all intents and purposes, I am an American. Even those who know I am Canadian do not think I am really any different.This was interesting to me. ... More About: Face
Pet Peeves No. 7
2008-03-14 20:57:00 This one has to do with books, and is threefold. First, poor bindings that crack and break after you've only read seventy pages; second, margins that are smaller than ¾-inch, because I like to make notes in the margins; and third, lousy paper that yellows far too quickly.Publishers, I'm more than willing to pay an extra $2 so that my book is not characterized by any of the above.(Rick, I can hear you agreeing emphatically.)technorati tags: books More About: Peeves , Pet Peeves
Short Reflection on a New Home
2008-03-14 18:31:00 I was enjoying a coffee with a friend yesterday afternoon, and reflected a little bit on having moved away from home. I lived in Hamilton, ON for eight years, and especially the last four or five years there were especially formative in my life. So to pick up and move 1255 miles (2020 km) away from there was a significant step. But it was different than just going on my own. I was married now, and we were going to start a new life together.It only took a few weeks before our apartment felt like home. We had our stuff set up, rearranged the rooms a couple times, and that was that. It took a little longer for the area to feel like home. But I realized yesterday that it really is feeling like home now. Seeing palm trees everywhere is not a novelty anymore---in fact, I hardly notice them at all. Stepping outside in shorts and a t-shirt almost all winter long is just how things are (though, I must admit, I do occasional smile when I think about what I left behind). The stores a... More About: Home , Reflection , Short
GoingToSeminary.com
2008-03-14 02:33:00 Some time ago, a friend of mine pointed me to a new website that had appeared online. The site had to do with going to seminary. GoingToSeminary.com is published by a seminarian himself, who goes by the pseudonym, Justaguy. He began his seminary studies recently, and decided to put together a website about his journey, and share the wisdom he had learned so far about that journey. He turned it in to a very helpful resource for men and women choosing or attending a Christian theological seminary.I have been very impressed with the site so far, and encourage you to check it out. He has been running a competition this month that is geared towards promoting the site. My contribution was to make a short video, something of a commercial or an advertisement for the site. A rudimentary camera, rudimentary editing program, and a rudimentary filmmaker, but I think the end result is alright.Be sure to support the site. Visit GoingToSeminary.com.technorati tags: seminary online resource ...
Think on This
2008-03-12 03:15:00 This is worth writing down and reflecting on.Please understand that it is no small matter to have the true God as your God.-- Peter Martyr, Commentary on the Apostles' Creed, §1(NB: quoted in The Peter Martyr Reader, eds. John Patrick Donnelly, S.J., Frank A. James III, and Joseph C. McLelland, 8).technorati tags: Peter Martyr God
On the Observance of the Sabbath, VI
2008-03-11 05:01:00 If we understand the Sabbath to be a creation ordinance (Gen. 2:2-3) rather than a Mosaic ordinance (Ex. 20:8-11), and also understand it to be the destiny of man (that is, our eschatological rest, as per Heb. 3:7-4:13), then the implications of what it means to observe that day should be relatively clear.I emphasize should. I am still confused. More to follow. I know I said I'd leave the issue to rest, but I can't.(Observance of the Sabbath series: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).technorati tags: Sabbath creation Mosaic Law
The New Path to Hell
2008-03-10 18:53:00 • Environmental pollution• Genetic manipulation• Accumulating excessive wealth• Inflicting poverty• Drug trafficking and consumption• Morally debatable experiments• Violation of fundamental rights of human natureThe Catholic Church has decided to add these other seven sins to the current list of seven deadly sins. This comes from the Vatican at the end of a week-long seminar for priests, in which the social face of sin was discussed. According to the BBC, the move is designed to address the fact that sin was more than just an individual problem, also having broader societal implications; and to encourage people to make confession again, as the percentage of people doing the sacrament of penance is on a continual decline. Pope Benedict, in response to the move, said,We are losing the notion of sin. If people do not confess regularly, they risk slowing their spiritual rhythm.The point is well taken, but in an age of increasing distrust of and disdain for institutional... More About: Hell , Path
Let the Words of My Mouth...
2008-03-08 16:06:00 This is a little more of a personal reflection as I am preparing to teach the adult Sunday school class at church this weekend. I have not done a significant amount of speaking or leading discussions on biblical and theological topics. I have previously led a Bible study, a youth group, and various discussions for a couple of different groups in college. I am now assuming the leadership of a small group, and this coming Sunday will be my second time leading Sunday school at church. Usually I look forward to these opportunities. I think that God has gifted me to teach, although I maintain a very acute awareness that I continually need to learn how to teach more effectively. But every time, as I am working on the lesson for whatever I am presenting, I am struck by a number of things.First, I am humbled. As I study in preparation for whatever it is that I might be sharing with the people gathered to hear, I am reminded of the sheer greatness and power of the Word of God. I am ov... More About: Words , Mouth
Only in Greece?
2008-03-07 14:51:00 Galaxy 92FM, a rock radio station in Athens has used some of the world's most notorious dictators to promote their station. Hmm. Interesting.*photos courtesy of sloganmakertechnorati tags: Hitler Stalin Mao radio Athens rock More About: Greece
Edwards on 18th Century New England
2008-03-07 01:56:00 The area of New England is characteristically one of the areas of the United States where the gospel is least present. It appears that this is historically the case as well, as is illustrated in a letter between Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield in February of 1740. Edwards, in requesting Whitefield to visit his church at Northampton, makes these observations:Indeed I am fearful whether you will not be disappointed in New England , and have less success here than in other places: we who have dwelt in a land that has been distinguished with light, and have long enjoyed the gospel, and have been glutted with it, and have despised it, are I fear more hardened than most of those places where you have preached hitherto.--- quoted in Jonathan Edwards: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought, by Stephen J. Nichols (55).technorati tags: Jonathan Edwards George Whitefield Northampton New England More About: Century
Global Cities and the Global Mission
2008-03-05 19:09:00 Loughborough University in England has been credited with coining the term "global city." The Wikipedia article on the subject defines a global city as "a city deemed to be an important node point in the global economic system...the linkages binding a city have a direct and tangible effect on global affairs through more than socio-economic means, with influence in terms of culture, or politics." More specifically, a global city will usually have the following characteristics (which I've paraphrased from the Wikipedia article):• International, first-name familiarity; whereby a city is recognized without the need for a political subdivision---for example, "Paris" instead of "Paris, France."• Active influence on and participation in international events and world affairs, such as New York City and being home to the United Nations.• A fairly large population (the center of a metropolitan area with a population of at least one million, typically several million).• A major inte... More About: Cities , Global , Mission
Piper Slams the Prosperity Gospel
2008-03-04 21:00:00 (HT: JT)technorati tags: Piper prosperity gospel health and wealth YouTube More About: Gospel , Prosperity , Prosperity Gospel
Why I Love Music
2008-03-04 15:42:00 Where words fail, music speaks.-- Hans Christian Andersentechnorati tags: music More About: Music , Love
Bavinck on the Relationship of God and Sin
2008-03-03 17:53:00 There is a school of thought that, in seeking to understand the existence of sin and evil, has postulated that it is a necessary existence. Immanuel Kant held such a view, as did F.W.J. Schelling. In contrast to this view was the eminent Dutch theologian, Herman Bavinck. He said that for Schelling, a life without sin would be "an existence without content, an empty abstraction without opportunity for struggle and victory or conflict and reconciliation" (Reformed Dogmatics, III, 57). As the problem of evil is wrought with such difficulty that our intellect fails to fully comprehend it, this particular strain of thinking is welcome and accepted by a great many people. Bavinck acknowledges that there is, in fact, some truth to this conception.Nevertheless, he gives no allowance for the notion that evil must necessarily exist. Among other things, to affirm the necessity of sin attributes the authorship of sin to God. Indeed, for Schelling, "in order for there to be no evil, God hi... More About: Relationship
Pet Peeves No. 6
2008-03-03 15:23:00 I have a particular disdain for the font Comic Sans MS. It's ugly and unprofessional. What is worse is when someone sends you an email in that font or blogs in that font and the font color is either blue or purple.Indeed, "the typeface has been used in countless contexts from restaurant signage to college exams to medical information. These widespread abuses of printed type threaten to erode the very foundations upon which centuries of typographic history are built" [source].Please stop. It's just wrong.Join the campaign to ban Comic Sans.technorati tags: font comic sans More About: Peeves , Pet Peeves
Pet Peeves No. 5
2008-03-02 04:50:00 While apartment living is just fine for me, there is one major drawback that affects a gearhead like me: it is very difficult to do any work on your own car.This means more often than not relying on the grease monkeys at your average oil change center to do an oil and lube service for you. Their service might be alright, but I cringe a little every time someone I don't know touches my car, and even more so when they politely ask you to wait in the waiting area, from which---and I suppose it is only a coincidence---you cannot see the service bay.Not being able to give the car the regular TLC it deserves frustrates me. I do not like to neglect my vehicle. It causes me great distress. She ought to have much better than that.technorati tags: oil change car automotive More About: Peeves , Pet Peeves
Os Guinness on America's Future
2008-02-29 17:07:00 A fellow Canadian, Tim Challies, interviews a Briton, Os Guiness, on the challenges facing America in the coming years. Among other things, Guiness says,Over the last generation, as the culture wars have intensified and in direct reaction to the perceived extremism of the religious right, we have seen a mounting American equivalent of the European repudiation of all religion, at least among the educated classes (for example, the new atheists). If this reaction hardens in concrete, it spells disaster for Christians and for the U.S.This was interesting as it tangentially relates to my post a few days back, "Is America Still Blessed?" Also, the perspective offered with the Canadian-British dialog is interesting. Read the rest of the interview here.technorati tags: Tim Challies Os Guinness America culture wars More About: Future
Kuyper Hammers it Home
2008-02-28 23:48:00 I know it's a long section of quotes, but I ask that you read the entire thing. It is worth your while. This is the concluding remarks to Abraham Kuyper's speech, "The Problem of Poverty," that he delivered at a Christian social congress in the Netherlands in 1891. Hear the words, imagine the force and conviction with which he would have delivered these---of course, I don't know what he sounded like, but I imagine an impassioned imploring of the crowds at this point.And, naturally, only a Dutchman could use the illustration of a dike effectively.The goal that God has in view will never be reached by means of legal measures designed to improve social conditions. Rules alone will not cure our sick society, the medicine must also reach the heart of rich and poor. Sin is such a tremendous power that it mocks all your dikes and sluices, and in spite of our legal regulations, it will again and again flood the field of human life with the waters of its passion and selfishness....Be... More About: Home , Hammers
Is America Still Blessed?
2008-02-26 08:09:00 I firmly believe that God directs history by his sovereign hand, and to that end, I believe that when he so directed the formation of the America n nation, he bestowed his hand of blessing upon it in abundant ways. To be sure, the history of the United States since its inception is rife with problems, struggles, and rebellion against the God to whom it pledged its trust. And, as I've stated many times before, while certainly blessed in a multitude of ways, the United States is simply another nation on the world stage, and has no paradisaical characteristics which elevate it over and above other nations of the world. But the fact that many people on earth would be inclined to label this a "promised land" is testament to the notion that this is a great nation that has been richly blessed. However, a good friend of mine maintains that God is withdrawing his hand of blessing from this country. He has only mentioned the idea in passing to me, so I have not been able to hear him flesh... More About: Blessed
I Think I'm Breaking the 10th Commandment
2008-02-26 00:47:00 I don't gawk at cars nearly as much as I used to, but my goodness, this car is beyond words. It's phenomenal! And absolutely gorgeous. For a taste of how spectacular this car is, watch this Top Gear clip.technorati tags: ferrari f430 Top Gear More About: Breaking
Prayer as Communion with God
2008-02-25 15:39:00 This is an example of why I feel there is so much to learn from the perspectives of Orthodoxy.The purpose of prayer is nothing other than communion of God and man. Salvation itself is the restoration of this communion. The Christian life is to be a continual growth in communion with God. Thus our life of prayer is not an occasional intercession thrown out at the universe on behalf of some matter about which we have concern---but is rather a continual relationship in which we give ourselves to God and receive God again to ourselves [source].I think it is perhaps quite difficult to find someone who understands the mystery of prayer more than a devoted Orthodox Christian.More posting to come once I am finished my battle with acute viral nasopharyngitis (a battle which, by the way, I am winning).technorati tags: prayer Orthodoxy More About: Prayer
Who is Your Jesus?
2008-02-22 07:25:00 A few days ago, I spoke about the need to move from asking the question, "What do I believe?", towards asking, "What does a Christian believe?" ("Don't Ask What You Believe"). Something else related to that came up as I recently read H. Richard Niebuhr's influential work, Christ and Culture.Much like picking and choosing our beliefs, the figure of Jesus Christ can become one that we shape and mold to fit our own wants and needs as well. It is perhaps not the best example, but if you've seen the movie Talledega Nights, you might recall Will Ferrell's picture of Jesus being the perpetual "sweet baby Jesus" (YouTube clip here). To him, that was how he needed to picture Jesus, it was the way in which he best understood him. While it's crass, it does illustrate a point: we make our Jesus who we want him to be.Niebuhr points to the problem directly, and says, "So great, however, is the variety of personal and communal 'belief in Jesus Christ,' so manifold the interpretations ...
Kosovo, Castro, and the Importance of History
2008-02-20 17:18:00 Some of my most enjoyable reading and learning is the study of history. I find history to be very real, something I can relate to. Even in my mere twenty-five years on this earth, significant things have happened that have shaped the world in which I live; for example, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the introduction of the personal computer, the emergence of China as a potential major world power, and a host of other events with varying degrees of global impact.Just in this last week, two more major events have unfolded that will likely be recorded in various history books: the declaration of independence by Kosovo , and the resignation of long-time Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro .Having learned some about the history of the Balkans in a couple of courses in college, I realize the significance of the Kosovar declaration of independence. Of course, I do not realize its significance to the same degree as a Serb or an Albanian, but enough to check the... More About: History
I Finally Found What I Was Looking For
2008-02-18 14:57:00 Once or twice I've mentioned here my desire to find a good coffee shop here in my area, and up until recently, I had not really found that place yet. I enjoy Panera Bread a lot (especially the free coffee refills), but it's not quite what I was looking for. Things have changed now, however, and my friend, Matt, gets a big high-five for introducing me to two new places. One of them, Cup o' Soul, is a Christian coffee house with exactly the sort of environment I've been looking for. We hung out there for a couple hours on Saturday enjoying some good coffee and doing some work. It's a great environment and the coffee house itself is set in a great neighborhood.Across the street a few buildings down is the other coffee shop he told me about, but I haven't been to that one yet. However, he tells me they have the best coffee in all of Orlando. That's pretty promising. That will be next to check out.I'm going to need my share of coffee this week as I try to battle my way th... More About: Finally
Don't Ask What You Believe
More articles from this author:2008-02-15 15:37:00 Fr. Stephen Freeman offers the following thoughts in his latest post:My experience, with regard to the Orthodox faith, has been not so much my keeping the faith - but the faith keeping me. I recall reading, in my late teen years, C.S. Lewis’ autobiography, Surprised by Joy. It is clear that when Lewis relates his conversion to the Christian faith, he no longer asked the question: 'What do I believe?' but rather asked the question: 'What is a Christian to believe?' Thus, he turned his attention to Scripture and to the Fathers of the Church. The universal quality of his Christian writing is that he simply speaks from the depths of the Christian faith rather than from the depths of his own delusions and imagination. Becoming a Christian means learning what it is to be kept by the faith rather than simply joining an organization and then setting about picking and choosing one’s personal doctrines.There is not much to add to that. Our faith is not something internal and unique t... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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