One of my “soap-box” points, on which I am continually harping, is the importance of the pastoral implications and applicability of doctrine, and of theology. If there is a particular point about the nature of God and of our relationship with Him that is intellectually stimulating and recreationally pleasing to fondle, but has no true impact on my life, then I think that is a pretty fair description of what it means to “take the Lord’s name in vane” (No, it doesn’t mean saying “OMG!” as tiresome as that is). Continue reading
Simul justes et peccator (and how it relates to me and my marriage)
Filed under ALL, Christianity, Heaven and hell, Marriage, Theology
Why I am a Christian
Again, I am going to cross-post from Tough Questions Answered I thoroughly encourage you to visit Bill Pratt’s site, and interact a bit, it is the best in its class that I know.
I was asked point-blank why I believe the Christian account is true, by a lapsed Christian calling himself “Willy G.” I think my explanation should be on this blog. Continue reading
Filed under ALL, Christianity, Heaven and hell, Theology, Uncategorized
Visitor at my Front Door: A Rant
If you are not up for a rant, pass this one by!
10 Minutes ago I had a very interesting “front door” experience that I would like to tell you folks about; partly because I am worked up enough to want to gripe, and partly because some folks deserve to be talked about. I hope it helps someone, I know it will help me. Continue reading
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Thoughts about the Baptism of Infants
Bill Pratt, at “Tough Questions Answered.org” has an interesting post and poll asking about infant (or paedo) baptism
I encourage you to visit his site for this, and many other excellent discussions. But I wanted to bring at least some of my thoughts over here. In general, I am not fond of getting off into the “family squabbles” inside Christianity. I would rather stay with what sets us apart from those who are not Christian. But these internecine differences can point up more fundamental issues, such as how we read Holy Scripture, that are worth some thought.
Having spent my formative spiritual years as a Baptist, and my parenting (now grandparenting) years as an Anglican, this is an issue that has captured no little attention form me, and I think I have come to some terms with it. Continue reading
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Seizures versus Demons: a response to “Concerned”
My wife (Stephanie S. Sawyer) has written much about her experiences with epilepsy, including her first of two books, “Facing Me”.She has been a persistant and effective advocate for those afflicted with this disorder, and nationally recognized for “Making a Difference” in this cause.
She recently posted an article about one of her experiences with epilepsy in the church. That article is on SQUIDOO.COM, and is titled “Seizures versus Demon Possession: The Church’s Mistake”
She received this response from “Concerned”
Concerned wrote
if you will not accept or admit that you have a demon (seizure) you will not be delivered from these attacks.
My response was too lengthy for the format there, so I am posting it here, with a link from her site. Continue reading
Filed under ALL, Blogroll, Christianity, Epilepsy, Marriage
Interesting post on another blog:
Peter Lopez has a very interesting discussion going on his blog at Beauty of the Bible on the relationship between the exercise of Charismatic Gifts and the study of Theology.
Christian devotes of both camps have a tendency to distrust the other sphere, which I think is a shame. God is One. Those who have hold of His right hand may perhaps be understood for thinking that others (holding His left hand) have everything backwards, but they are not excused for thinking so. God is God, truth is truth however God reveals it to us.
We discard any of it to our loss, and at our peril.
Filed under ALL, Christianity, Theology
Predation and a Good God?
There is a particular fact about the known life forms in this universe that I find very distressing in view of my assertion that there is a creator God, who is Good. I don’t know if it is currently in fashion in atheist circles or not, but it has always appeared to me a pretty strong point for their side. That point may be summarized thusly:
If creation is at heart “good” why is it that all animal life, and even some plant life, lives only by the destruction of other life? Continue reading
Filed under ALL, Christianity, Theology
Thoughts on the Holy Trinity:
For quite some time, I have wanted to write at length concerning a subject dear to my heart. I’ve been drawn into several discussions with Muslims, Christians and seekers that touch on the ultimate reality of God, what is He like, and why does it matter. A couple of these conversations are here, and here. Of course, it is meaningless to say that “I worship God” if I neither know nor care who He is or what He is like. It would be like saying “I love my wife” without knowing, or caring to know, anything about her.
I am referring of course to that absolutely bedrock assertion of Christians that God is triune, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. In its fullness, it is maddeningly beyond our grasp, and yet if true, it represents the core and source of all that is, seen and unseen. Continue reading
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St. Patrick
On this day set aside in honor of St. Patrick , I am bringing forward this post of my favorite hymn. it is a translation of
It is one I definitely want sung at my funeral. My challenge (and it is a good exercise for anyone) is to examine and amend my life; and so live that my choice makes sense to that small band who would come to my funeral. I don’t want people saying “Say what! why did he pick THAT?” Continue reading
Filed under ALL, Christianity, Funeral, funerals
Good Things and Promises -a meditation on Abraham and Isaac
In my reading this week, I came across the story of the sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham in Genesis. In my margin, I found a note I had scribbled sometime before:
Do I trust in the promises of God,
Or do I trust God Himself?
Isaac represented all God had promised to Abraham about the future; Abraham had been clearly told that Isaac was the child of the promise, and was to be his heir. And now, Abraham was being asked to give all that up. In addition to all the purely human issue of a father sacrificing a child, Abraham was faced with a splitting of ways. He could deny the instruction, and hold on to the “promissory note” that Isaac was “the child of the promise” and trust that the promise could be trusted and relied on. Or he could take that promissory note, take all the promises God had made to him, take Isaac, and lay it all on the altar, and give it up as an act of worship and obedience.
He chose to trust God Himself, to value God even more than he valued the promises of God.
When I went to Grandma’s house, she gave me good things. Did I value Grandma because I got the good things, or were the things especially good because they came from Grandma?
May I too value Him who delights to give all things far above any of the good things He gives.
Amen
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Random Musings 