Six Biblical Emphases That Also Happen To Be Political

Certain biblical themes are increasingly becoming political—at least in many people’s minds. But keep in mind that all six of the biblical themes I will list below were biblical long before they became political (in the sense most of us think of politics). Furthermore, all of these themes are clear and emphasized in the Bible. … Continue reading Six Biblical Emphases That Also Happen To Be Political

Teenagers and Parental Hypocrisy: Seven Suggestions

I raised four daughters. That is to say, together with my highly-committed and sensible wife, Trudi, I raised four daughters. I must admit, though, that sometimes it feels like they raised me. Nothing highlights one’s sinful tendencies more effectively than raising children. Every parent reading right now knows what I mean. The relationship between teenagers … Continue reading Teenagers and Parental Hypocrisy: Seven Suggestions

25 Questions a Christian Woman Should Ask Herself When a Man Starts to Show Interest

(Note: Trudi and I wrote this blog post together.) We’re not relationships experts. Certainly not. But we raised four daughters and we’ve talked to a lot of college-aged women about relationships over the years. Here’s a list of 25 questions we sometimes share with Christian young women who are evaluating the possibility of a relationship … Continue reading 25 Questions a Christian Woman Should Ask Herself When a Man Starts to Show Interest

Remember Those Who are Mistreated

Last night I read through a recent issue of Voice of the Martyrs magazine (about 15 pages). It is my practice—a personal discipline if you will—to read through every new issue of this magazine. In all honesty, I am often a bit reluctant to do so, but the reason I open and read is because … Continue reading Remember Those Who are Mistreated

Seven Favorite Christian Books of 2023

Welcome to 2024! As we enter a new year, I want to share my seven favorite Christian books of 2023. Note that my very favorite books of the year are at the bottom of this list, so you’ll want to keep reading. #7 The Spirit Said Go: Lessons in Guidance from Paul’s Journeys by Mark … Continue reading Seven Favorite Christian Books of 2023

Why December 25 for Christmas?

One popular but less-likely theory for why we celebrate Christmas on December 25 is that Christians piggy-backed their Christmas celebration on the Roman pagan Sol Invictus festival (the Unconquered Sun), which was established in A.D. 274 by the Emperor Aurelian. In some modern Christian circles, the claim that the date of Christmas was borrowed from … Continue reading Why December 25 for Christmas?

Humble Sarcasm: 1 Corinthians 4:8-13

“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence,” quipped Oscar Wilde.[1] If Wilde is correct, then the Apostle Paul must have been quite intelligent since Paul used sarcasm in 1 Corinthians 4:8-13 to move the Corinthians toward repentance. What? (…you might be thinking…) The Apostle Paul used sarcasm? Sarcasm is … Continue reading Humble Sarcasm: 1 Corinthians 4:8-13

A Simple Way to Filter the Daily News

My old plan was to listen alternately to a politically-right radio program followed by a politically-left radio program during my ten-minute daily drive to and from work. I thought this discipline might help me recognize and appreciate varying perspectives. But it didn’t work. The viewpoints I encountered on the radio were too extreme. The depth … Continue reading A Simple Way to Filter the Daily News

Do Bible Readers Make Meaning?

What is the “locus” of meaning in a biblical text? In other words, where does meaning come from?—where should we look to find meaning? This is a foundational question for interpreting the Bible (or any text, for that matter). Three possibilities have been suggested: The author The text The reader Throughout most of history, people … Continue reading Do Bible Readers Make Meaning?

How 1776 Shaped 2023: My Favorite Book of the Year

I think I just found my favorite book of the year. At least it’s my favorite of 2023 so far. Andrew Wilson’s new book, Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West, is outstanding. I spent every extra minute I had over this past weekend reading it. In truth, I had trouble putting it … Continue reading How 1776 Shaped 2023: My Favorite Book of the Year