At ends and at beginnings, my mind is usually overrun with thoughts about the past, present, and future; failures and successes; regrets and resolutions; time and eternity; and a lot more. This can be both good and bad. I thought about developing some thoughts about redeeming culture, specifically the custom of making New Year’s resolutions. But I … More Not About Me: Thoughts on a New Year
I’ve always thought that the account of Simeon in Luke 2:21-35 is a very precious and moving story. I’ve read it and been stirred by it at all times of the year. But of course, it’s particularly striking around Christmas. Simeon was an elderly man who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he wouldn’t die until he had seen … More All I Want for Christmas: Simeon’s Hope
Lord-willing, I finish my Master of Divinity degree in one week. That’s hard to believe. I haven’t really reflected on the reality of it yet, but it’s a significant process that the Lord has brought me through. My foremost concern going into seminary was that my heart would grow cold, I would learn to treat the … More Master of Divinity
The great hope of all Christian labor and perseverance is that one day every knee will bow before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the king of the universe and the rightful ruler of the world. If I didn’t believe this — and if God wasn’t faithful to remind me of it often — I would … More Every Knee Will Bow
I think there are at least a couple different ways to think about holidays like Thanksgiving. On the one hand, I’m grateful for the reminder to give thanks for the immeasurable blessings that God has poured into my life. On the other hand, I wish I weren’t so oblivious to God’s grace and so consistently … More Thinking about Thanksgiving
I think it can be very arrogant and ignorant to read about the failures of people in the Bible and to talk about those people as though they’re completely dense or slow or idiotic in light of the foolish things they did or the obvious responsibilities they neglected. Treating historical figures condescendingly is easy for any sinner to … More Take Heed Lest You Fall
I am becoming more and more convinced that if you ever stop thinking while you’re walking through this world, you’re done for. Anti-God, anti-Bible, pro-self, pro-sin worldviews are everywhere, and they’re pumped into us (especially through media, entertainment, and technology) like an I.V. for the mind. If you take one mental pit stop at the … More Worldview Everywhere
About ten minutes ago I finished a long and thought-out post about rejoicing in the midst of trials instead of simply rejoicing in hindsight. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot over the past few months. I felt that it was worth it to stay up later to write it, even though I knew … More Harder to Live
Today was RD Day Away, a day when the Deans’ Staff gets off campus and relaxes together. We went to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley in the morning and early afternoon, Malibu Beach for the late afternoon and sunset, and a local fish restaurant called Froggy’s for dinner. It was a refreshing day … More Signing Your Life Away
Welcome to Raw Christianity. This site is new in that it’s freshly designed and newly launched. But it’s really just a continuation of my old blog. I’ve taken everything I ever posted at the old site and transferred it here, so this blog looks like it’s been around since 2004. I’ve been working on this … More Welcome to Raw Christianity
Tonight I find myself honestly wondering when the word “preach” became a Christian cuss word. As in, “We shouldn’t preach at people; we should just love them.” Or, “I just want to talk; I don’t want to preach at you.” Or, “Yeah, nobody really likes him; he just preaches at people.” I’ve used the word … More I Don’t Want to Preach at You
Cindi and I were going to spend some time together at 9:00 tonight after I finished my reading for tomorrow morning’s seminary class (Apologetics & Evangelism). I was pretty baked, though, after a long week and an hour and a half of Cornelius Van Til and other philosophically-oriented writers. She could tell, so she asked me … More In Praise of My Wife
I read an email this afternoon from a missionary couple that our church supports. They served in South America for decades and then moved back to the States to work among the growing Hispanic population in the northwest. As their main prayer request, they simply wrote, “Pray for us… we need to reach out more.” I … More Titles, Positions, and the Measure of a Man
WOW Saturday is done. I just finished walking around the dorm checking in on the guys and they seem to be doing fine. Everyone’s exhausted, but that’s Week of Welcome for you. Even after just the first day. Before the mayhem began this morning, I was reflecting on the providence of God in placing each … More WOW Saturday: Housing Providence
Sorry for the proliferation of links and negligible posts lately. My two seminary classes have been taking up all my time. Having the four-day weekend is about the only thing that saved me, I think. I’m realizing how easy it is to grow complacent in walking with God. The dynamic pursuit of true spirituality can quickly fade … More Let’s Get Out of Here: Thoughts on Complacency
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” — 1 Timothy 1:15 There is a difference between believing in the total depravity of man and believing in the total depravity of yourself. The former is always easier, for … More Foremost of All
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