Category: Practical Theology
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Angelology, Political Division, and a Criticism of Friendship
Read more: Angelology, Political Division, and a Criticism of FriendshipDuring my sophomore year of college, I looked up the entry in a theological dictionary on “angelology.” It suggested that we know very little about angels, and that the best places to get acquainted with the theology of angels were Augustine’s City of God, Anselm’s Why God Became Man, and select writings from Pseudo-Dionysius. That…
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On Become-NG
Read more: On Become-NGI recently got married to Stanley Ng last August 6, and it has truly been a whirlwind. Despite the stressful prep time before the wedding, I thoroughly enjoyed our wedding day. It was an amazing and joyous day, full of tears and much laughter. Celebrating such a momentous occasion with the people we love was wonderful,…
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My Most Difficult Month
Read more: My Most Difficult MonthLately I’ve absent from Two Cities due to some intense life stuff. I wrote this blog trying to process a few things last week. My Facebook friends know the insane details of our difficulty with Melodie’s illness. This is the flip side of what has been happening in my life: Last month was, perhaps, the…
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Depression, Anxiety, and Theology
Read more: Depression, Anxiety, and TheologyI am a Christian who struggles with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, and Jesus Christ has something to do with it. To reconcile the resurrection of Jesus Christ with the persistent rebellion of my body and mind is an absurd thing. It has become abundantly clear that I cannot understand the whys and hows of…
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10 Years A Calvinist
Read more: 10 Years A CalvinistTen years ago this month (September) I first became a Calvinist. I’ve never discussed here at The Two Cities how I became a Calvinist so I thought I’d use this anniversary of sorts as an opportunity to reflect on that. It all happened at the beginning of my Sophomore year at BIOLA University. During my first year…
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Becoming “fit” for joy
Read more: Becoming “fit” for joyFour weeks ago, I was one of four people standing in front of Biola’s Heritage Cafe, laughing in the low sun of late morning. Before taking a brief walk, Jessica and I had stopped to enjoy some time with Stewart and Erin, two good friends who had met to mull over C.S. Lewis’ essay, Education…
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Becoming friends with God and Abraham
Read more: Becoming friends with God and AbrahamWhy is Abraham called a friend of God? Here are some ideas: Isaiah says it, and James says that “doing good” has something to do with it. (Isa. 41:8; Jas. 2:23) Augustine describes friendship as a “sharing of the counsels of the heart.” (Edward C. Sellner Like a Kindling Fire: Meanings of Friendship in the Life and…
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Robbing Ourselves of Joy: Entitlement or Grace?
Read more: Robbing Ourselves of Joy: Entitlement or Grace?“You deserve to be happy.” “You deserve someone who treats you well.” “You deserve to be taken care of.” “You deserve the best in life.” Problem: These don’t seem to be happening with much consistency. If there was any cry under which modern culture united, it would be the one that preaches humanity deserving to…
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The Deadly Implications of Reading Scripture
Read more: The Deadly Implications of Reading ScriptureReading scripture has deadly implications. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before…
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The ‘Blurred Lines’ of Plagiarism, Ownership, and Christian Practice
Read more: The ‘Blurred Lines’ of Plagiarism, Ownership, and Christian PracticeI recall as a first year law student attending a lecture on music copyright by Clyde Spillenger. The professor played a recording of Sweet Georgia Brown by Bernie and Pinkard (the “Harlem Globetrotters song,” if that helps). He then played a folk recording of Hava Nagila (that one Jewish song that you know). He asked students to…