Worth pondering, particularly as we enter the New Year. A few of my favorites: 5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. 6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live. 7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life. 15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings. 25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces … [Read more...] about Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions
Archives for December 2007
ReThink – An Engaging Reflection on Student Ministry
Over Christmas I was able to finish reading reThink by Steve Wright (with Chris Graves). Wright has served as a student pastor for more than twenty years. In the introduction, Wright explains: "This book was born out of deciding to rethink student ministry. We started by asking some tough questions, searching the Bible for its framework for ministry, looking at the latest research and being honest about the problems of student ministry." Though the book is written primarily for other student pastors, I found the book helpful as a young father, a college professor and an involved church … [Read more...] about ReThink – An Engaging Reflection on Student Ministry
Tapping into God’s Mercy
I was blessed this morning by a good word from Life as a Vapor: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Faith. The object of our faith is primary, not the size. Piper notes: "In Luke 17:5, the apostles pleaded with the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' And the Lord said, 'If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you' (v. 6). In other words, the issue in your Christian life and ministry is not the strength or quantity of your faith, because that is not what uproots trees. God does. Therefore, the smallest … [Read more...] about Tapping into God’s Mercy
The Rising Popularity of Plastic Surgery: A Concerning Trend
In an article entitled Mommy Wants Her Body Back, Newsweek magazine recently reported that "More older women are getting breast surgery than ever before, in the hopes of reclaiming their pre-pregnancy figures." But the phenomenon is also growing among younger women, with some parents willing to provide cosmetic surgery as a graduation or prom gift, as Dr. Albert Mohler and a Today's Christian Woman roundtable have noted. That reminded me of a concerning story I just heard the other day: a group of women in their 40's, 50's, and 60's chose to pose immodestly for a 2008 calendar whose proceeds … [Read more...] about The Rising Popularity of Plastic Surgery: A Concerning Trend
Albert Mohler on “The Kite Runner” movie
Dr. Mohler pens an excellent review and synopsis of the movie The Kite Runner, based on the the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini. The upshot is that the movie is generally faithful to the book, and provides a context for discussing the inability of Islam to provide true redemption. Here's an excerpt: The background worldview of the film and the novel is, of course, Islam. Given that fact, several thoughts have been framed in my mind since reading the novel several years ago and seeing the movie just recently. The thoughts concern the contrast between Islam and Christianity brought … [Read more...] about Albert Mohler on “The Kite Runner” movie
Romney Attacks Huckabee with False, Misleading Claims
I'm trying not to blog too much on Romney vs. Huckabee. This is the Christmas season, and there are plenty of other things going on besides Republican primary politics. But I find the recent Newsweek article on Romney's false and misleading attack ads compelling. Let me explain. For better or for worse, negative attacks are effective in political battles, particularly when used in the latter stages of a tight race. The key, it seems, is to identify your opponent with weakness on a certain issue: Willy Horton effectively eliminated Michael Dukakis in 1988, who was thereby branded as being … [Read more...] about Romney Attacks Huckabee with False, Misleading Claims