Just a brief note on why this blog was "dark" for awhile. First, we traveled to northern CA to be with my wife's family for Thanksgiving. Then, we returned to find out that a short-sale offer we made on a home was conditionally accepted, but there are a bunch of complications, including the fact that the listing agent on the home would like us to rent the home prior to consummating the purchase (which is subject to the bank's approval). This has led to a scurry of activity. But I'm (mostly!) back now.... … [Read more...] about Blog was “Dark”: Thanksgiving Travels and Possibly Moving
Archives for 2009
The Source of Worry, Fear, and Anxiety
Brian Borgman writes: The Bible leaves us no room for debate. The source of fear, worry, and anxiety is unbelief. The unbelief is specific, laid out for us by Isaiah and Jesus. When we fail to believe that God is for us, will take care of us, has our future in his hands, and is with us right now, we cave in to fear, worry, or anxiety.....When we are gripped with anxiety and fear, we are making an evaluation. Our souls are speaking, and our innermost being is expressing what we believe and whom we do not believe. How do we handle these emotions that can overwhelm us? We put a stranglehold on … [Read more...] about The Source of Worry, Fear, and Anxiety
The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition and Interpretation
This sounds like a fantastic book, from a wonderful Hebrew professor. While reading this book John Piper tweeted "I feel like a greedy miser over a chest of gold." He went on to say: To all pastors and serious readers of the Old Testament—geek, uber geek, under geek, no geek—if you graduated from high school and know the word “m e a n i n g,” sell your latest Piper or Driscoll book and buy Sailhamer. There is nothing like it. It will rock your world. You will never read the “Pentateuch” the same again. It is totally readable. You can skip all the footnotes and not miss a beat. That's … [Read more...] about The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition and Interpretation
CT Interview with Michael Horton
Mark Galli of Christianity Today interviews Michael Horton about his pair of books, Christless Christianity and The Gospel-Driven Life (both with Baker). Their first interaction: What is at the core of the temptation to practice a Christless Christianity? When the emphasis becomes human-centered rather than God-centered. In more conservative contexts, you hear it as exhortation: "These are God's commandments. The culture is slipping away from us. We have to recover it, and you play a role. Is your life matching up to what God calls us to?" Of course there is a place for that, but it seems to … [Read more...] about CT Interview with Michael Horton
Generational Investment in the SBC
Owen Strachan quotes Walter Price from a recent address given at the California Southern Baptist Convention:I am not here today to claim the demise of the CSBC. It hasn’t happened…yet. What I am here to say is, ‘There’s an iceberg off the starboard bow and we better wake up.’ What is the iceberg? You already know. You saw it yourselves when I asked you to stand by age groups. The time has come for someone to sound the alarm. I do not purport to speak for the younger generation. They are eloquent in speaking for themselves. But the signs that I see are not encouraging. For all intents and … [Read more...] about Generational Investment in the SBC
Definition of bureaucracy
Matt Perman tells us, in 22 words, how to know if we have a bureaucracy. … [Read more...] about Definition of bureaucracy