Category: Practical Theology
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Rethinking Saeed Abedini’s Plight
Read more: Rethinking Saeed Abedini’s PlightFirst it was Youcef Nadarkhani and now it is Saeed Abedini. For over two years now, certain media elements, Fox News in particular, have been on an unrelenting binge of feeding the United States public news of two Christian pastors jailed in Iran. As my wife and I have been in the process of support…
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The Problem with Using Hypothetical Situations to Form Actual Beliefs
Read more: The Problem with Using Hypothetical Situations to Form Actual BeliefsAnyone who has spent significant time in Christian circles has either heard or pondered the problem of the un-evangelized individual. The problem is usually phrased as a question: What happens, hypothetically, to someone who dies without ever hearing about Jesus Christ? There is a story behind this question: An all good, all loving, all powerful…
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On Sinkholes and Suspicion: Part Two
Read more: On Sinkholes and Suspicion: Part TwoIn my last post I talked about the reality of sinkholes, the absolutely terrifying natural phenomenon in which what was once stable ground gives way and forms gaping chasms. Reports of sinkholes swallowing people from the face of the earth have been regular fare for news coverage recently. And for me, the actuality of yet…
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He is Risen Indeed!
Read more: He is Risen Indeed!It was Easter Sunday in 1972. My grandfather was preparing to sing an Easter cantata with his church choir when he suffered a stroke and collapsed. On the following Sunday, he went to be with the Lord. I never met my grandfather, but I’ve heard countless stories from my mother about what a wonderful man…
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A Mindful Lent
Read more: A Mindful LentOn this Holy Monday, I cannot help but to remember this past Lent with joy. These past few weeks have been some of the most peaceful days I’ve had in a very long time. In short, my goal for Lent was a bit secular in nature, as it was to be more mindful. I hung…
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Reflections on Unconditional Love
Read more: Reflections on Unconditional LoveThe concept of unconditional love is among the best-known and most-beloved of all Christian doctrines, and for good reason. God’s love for his children is unmerited; there is nothing that we can do to earn God’s love so there is nothing that we can do to be separated from it either. Nevertheless the more I…
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On This Day in History
Read more: On This Day in HistoryI want to tell you a story. Five years ago today, I got dropped off on Biola University’s campus to catch a ride with a stranger to the Bay Area for Spring Break. My dear friend Sarah and her parents had graciously invited me to spend the week at their home on a vineyard in…
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On Sinkholes and Suspicion: Part One
Read more: On Sinkholes and Suspicion: Part OneI can be the sort of person that gets a bit lost in my own thoughts. I work from home, primarily on the computer, while my wife is at work and my kids are at school. Often as I am going through the routine tasks of my work week, I’ll have CNN or NPR playing…
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Confessions of a Codependent
Read more: Confessions of a CodependentInstead of writing something myself this week, I wanted to share-with her permission–a post from my dear friend Adria Murphy. When I read this, it spoke words of truth and comfort to that fearful part of my heart that is always unable to understand or accept that God loves me unconditionally, forever. Hopefully, this will…
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How Majestic is Your Name
Read more: How Majestic is Your Name“O LORD our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” (8:1-2) Recently I’ve been participating in a Hebrew reading group and we…