-
An Exercise in Thanksgiving
Read more: An Exercise in ThanksgivingDon’t worry, this exercise won’t involve an hour sweating on the stair-master… Today, many of us in North America[1] prepare for the annual traditions associated with plump and tender turkey, cranberries and gravies of countless varieties, and yammy, applely, and pumpkin side dishes with enough to cover a table with enough calories to power the…
-
Entwined Intimacy
Read more: Entwined IntimacyWhen Karl Barth, one of the sharpest and most significant theological minds of the 20th century, was asked towards the end of his life to try to summarize all that he had learned and written in his volumes of writing and career in academia, he responded with this: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the…
-
Adoration of Adoption
Read more: Adoration of AdoptionNovember, for those unaware, is National Adoption Month. For many American’s, adoption has transformed lives in many powerful ways. And for those of us who know the Lord, adoption is certainly one of the most powerful realities true about us today. In fact, J.I. Packer goes so far as to say that his summary answer…
-
Contentment: Reflections on one of our Missing Virtues
Read more: Contentment: Reflections on one of our Missing Virtues“The Problem with Contentment is that we always want more of it.” There is much that could be said about our chronic compulsive need for contentment. Indeed, our narcissism and incessant hunger for more than we have is the result of an insatiable appetite of covetousness. As Francis de Sales warns, “as long as your…
-
Leading with Love: Exploring Textual and Historical Criticism in 1 Thessalonians 2:7
Read more: Leading with Love: Exploring Textual and Historical Criticism in 1 Thessalonians 2:7Raise your hand if you love textual criticism! As I look at the kind of responses and readers we see here at the Two Cities, it might actually be the case that a couple of you raised your hands (or at least raised your eyelids). Certainly, the blogosphere isn’t the normal medium through which the…
-
Changing the World
Read more: Changing the World“Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world.” This quote, posted by Mark Zuckerberg in tribute to Steve Jobs on the day of his passing last week, makes a pretty incredible statement: Steve Jobs qualifies to be remembered as a person of such influence, that he can go down in history as…
-
Journeying with Jobs: Finding Biblical Encouragements from the Life of a Legend
Read more: Journeying with Jobs: Finding Biblical Encouragements from the Life of a LegendOn October 5th, the world has begun to mourn the loss of one of its most creative innovators, tenacious entrepreneurs, and iconic figureheads in the passing of Steve Jobs. From the petri-dish of creativity that was a silicon valley garage, Jobs constructed a company that competes with Exxon-Mobil for the largest market capitalization. Obama has…
-
“Forgotten Christian Virtues: Rolling in the Ash and Sizing-On the Sackcloth”
Read more: “Forgotten Christian Virtues: Rolling in the Ash and Sizing-On the Sackcloth”“I am trading my sorrows, I am trading my shame I am laying them down for the joy of the Lord… I am trading my sickness, I am trading my pain, I am laying them down for the joy of the Lord!” “Yes Lord, Yes Lord…” And “Yes Lord…” ad nauseam. Most of us are…
-
We Think as we Worship
Read more: We Think as we Worship“They sing” wrote Pliny the Younger. When describing the life and the rituals of this most bizarre new “religion” that was springing up throughout the 1st Century Roman world, depicting the phenomenon and germination of a new people called “Christians.” This profound quote was brought to my attention by Cherith Fee Nordling, in her penetrating…
-
Call in the Understudy: Does Justification Play too much of a Leading Role on the Stage of Soteriology
Read more: Call in the Understudy: Does Justification Play too much of a Leading Role on the Stage of SoteriologyOver the last few decades, our precious protestant friend Justification has received a lot of tough press and some heavy abuse. Stendahl, Sanders, Dunn, and Wright have all added their contributions to the theological boxing tournament seeking to knock out an understanding of justification (esp in Pauline Literature) that may be more informed and conditioned…