I gave a talk one morning not long ago on the idea of contentment (cf. Heb 13:5-6). The dictionary definition of contentment is to be satisfied, desiring no more than what one has. It is the opposite of coveting, or the lust of the eyes. How many people have contentment in this world? It seems [...]
Archive for 2009
On Contentment
March 27, 2009On Friendship
March 27, 2009Does the Bible speak of friendship? Jonathan and David’s friendship is obviously in the Bible. The Greek word “philadelphia” (cf. Heb. 13:1) refers to brotherly love and is made up of two words, one for a kindness type of love (often associated with friendship love) and the other for brother. So, we have a friendship [...]
Mere Christianity?
March 3, 2009I remember as a teenager first reading C. S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity. I particularly liked the title and the concept of mere Christianity (i.e., those core beliefs that all Christians can and should agree on). As a teenager, I was ignorant of the fact that many Christians fought not only over the peripheral issues [...]
Blog Spotlight: Pulpit Magazine
March 2, 2009One of the many blog’s I try to follow is Pulpit Magazine, a publication from the ministry of John MacArthur and Grace Community Church. The reason I like this resource is because of its many excellent articles on theology and life. For example, on the topic of prayer the magazine recently ran a four-part series [...]
A Calvinist Evangelist?
February 27, 2009In a recent article, Keith Mathison tackles the oxymoron of a Calvinist Evangelist. Can there be such a thing? If I have heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times: “A Calvinist evangelist? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Calvinism undermines evangelism.” This accusation has been repeated so many times that few make the effort to [...]
Today is Ash Wednesday
February 25, 2009Occasionally this time of year, I’ll see students at the university where I work with an ash cross on their foreheads. Why do they do this? Bad hygiene? Today is Ash Wednesday and it has been traditionally set aside by many churches as a day of repentance and fasting. It occurs 40 days before Easter [...]
Remember the Gospel of Judas?
February 24, 2009Remember the furor over the Gospel of Judas a couple of years ago? You probably have not heard much about it lately? Why? Dr. Gene Edward Veith gives an update re: the saga. Do you remember the furor over the recent discovery of an ancient manuscript entitled The Gospel of Judas? The media reported that [...]
Can’t We All Just Get Along? Reflections re: Os Guinness
February 23, 2009Os Guinness visited Biola University today to talk about restoring civility to the public square. By civility, he meant “the act of showing regard for others” [1] and by the public square, he meant “a place of assembly for the people” [2], like the agora in ancient Greece. Guinness painted two extremes for the Christian [...]
Wanting to Want God
February 23, 2009O God, I have tasted Your goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want You; I long to be filled with longing; I [...]
The Power of the Gospel in Changing Lives
February 21, 2009Christ is in the business of saving people who, from our perspective, are the most unlikely to receive Him. The Gospel of Christ crucified is the most powerful message on the planet. I think this video attests to the power of this message. To see more videos like this one, please go to http://www.iamsecond.com
