Francis Schaeffer once said, “We are surrounded by a world that says “no” to nothing” (True Spirituality, p. 216). In fact, it is countercultural to say “no” to anything, which is well illustrated in Eden when Adam and Eve wanted to put themselves at the center. But, after becoming a Christian, we are now enabled [...]
Archive for the ‘Christian Life’ category
On the Centrality of Death
January 19, 2011On True Spirituality
January 17, 2011Spirituality is big business today. Just one episode of Oprah will demonstrate this. But what is true spirituality? Here are some thoughts stimulated from Francis Schaeffer’s book True Spirituality. Who Can Truly Understand True Spirituality? Let’s begin with this statement – it is impossible to know anything about true spirituality without first being a Christian. [...]
On Being a Christian
January 16, 2011Bill Mounce on what it means to be a Christian: What is a Christian? What is a simple, straight forward, easy-to-understand answer that makes use of all biblical data? For me, it is Jesus’ gate and path analogy. Being a Christian is a being a follower of Jesus. You start following at the gate, continue following as [...]
On a Tragic Loss
January 12, 2011Tricia Williford shares the unbelievable story of the death of her husband just days ago. She begins her story this way… My husband died on the morning of December 23, 2010. The following is my personal account of his final hours, the story I must write. Please be advised, these paragraphs are graphic, detailed, personal, [...]
On Identity
January 4, 2011I have a confession to make… I let my identity get wrapped up in my earthly titles instead of my heavenly title. I saw this anew when I resigned from being Pastor of Adult Ministries at Christ Community Church on December 21, 2010. I felt (and still feel to some degree) disoriented. Who am I? [...]
On Blogging
January 3, 2011It is interesting to see the differences between the websites/blogs my wife follows and ones I follow. Hers are autobiographical and personal in nature. She loves to read about families and their lives, including their successes and struggles. For example, she follows a blog called life{in}grace, written by a woman named Edie. In a recent [...]
On Pride
December 31, 2010Pride is my greatest problem. Is there anything I think or do that is not tainted with the sin of pride? It is a hunger for recognition and glory and it is a sickness in my soul. Last summer I preached a sermon about pride from Philippians 2:1-11. I think it is the forgotten topic [...]
On Contentment
March 27, 2009I 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 [...]
On 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 [...]
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 [...]
