Category: Practical Theology
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Thorns and Roses (Guest Post)
Read more: Thorns and Roses (Guest Post)I have always found the spiritual life intimidating at best. How do I ascend to those vast heights of knowing God when I live, not exactly in the Valley of the Shadow, but at least on the Plain of the Ordinary? I am often rendered immobile in my spiritual walk by a haunting complex which…
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Perceiving Productivity
Read more: Perceiving Productivity“What is the meaning of life?” The age old question, if asked of myself, or many a believer, will likely result in a prompt answer along the lines of “the Gospel,” “the worship of God,” or “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” But “What is the purpose of today?” is a question that…
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The Shaping Influences of Family Worship (Guest Post)
Read more: The Shaping Influences of Family Worship (Guest Post)You will look in vain for a section of the Bible entitled “Guidelines to Christian Parenting.” There are a few texts and they are extremely important and they fall under the general heading “Families that serve the Lord and live for him do these things.” With regard to children, parents are to instruct their children…
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The Earth is Ours (Part 2)
Read more: The Earth is Ours (Part 2)Last week, I talked about my obsession with Human Planet, the BBC series that brings the triumph of manly dominion to our TV screens. I’ve since finished the final two episodes (in all their high-definition glory) and although I’m impressed, even moved, by how well the series depicts our God-given rule over the earth, the…
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Parents: To Love Your Children, Love God First (Guest Post)
Read more: Parents: To Love Your Children, Love God First (Guest Post)There has seeped into the church culture a “new normal” with regard to children “growing up Christian.” I say “new normal” because I can only imagine it has not been this way in past generations of believers. Nothing in Scripture seems to support the idea that children growing up in a Christian home will “graduate…
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The Earth is Ours (Part 1)
Read more: The Earth is Ours (Part 1)I have a new addiction. Every night before bed, when no one is watching, I sneak into a dark room, turn on the television, and pop in another episode of Human Planet. Six episodes into an eight-part series, I’ve soaked up every second. This is no ordinary nature show. Whereas its predecessor, BBC’s Planet Earth,…
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Actualization through Acting ? Can the Fiction in Drama and Role Play Actually Help us See Reality better?
Read more: Actualization through Acting ? Can the Fiction in Drama and Role Play Actually Help us See Reality better?As most readers are aware, I am currently a seminary student. Most people think this probably means a lot of reading. Lots of writing. Lots of Greek and Hebrew. And… they’re right. But, this training involves some other activities. Activities such as what I will be doing this weekend. On Saturday, I and the eight…
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Filthy Rags and True Righteousness
Read more: Filthy Rags and True RighteousnessWe came, we cleaned, we conquered. This weekend our small group, armed with Clorox and Windex, stormed the church, leaving no cranny unclean. For a few months now, we’ve brainstormed ways to become more engaged members of the congregation, and adding our names to the cleaning rotation seemed a good place to start. Saturday was…
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A Little Child Shall Lead Them (Guest Post)
Read more: A Little Child Shall Lead Them (Guest Post)In a recent staff meeting, the children’s ministries director told us that a family was “leaving our church for another place where their children could connect.” The presenting complaint was that the pre-teen and teenaged children could not understand the Sunday sermons. Therefore, they had a find a church where the preaching on Sunday suited…
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Happy Valentine’s Day! (Guest Post)
Read more: Happy Valentine’s Day! (Guest Post)As I have grown older I believe I am able to better discern situations, and make a decisions based on what God’s will is for my life. Many people call this a “conscience”… or maybe just common sense. Some people say that they just do what “feels right”, and all of these things describe this…