That's what's on the street: Enter George Conger, the ambitious evangelical cleric from Central Florida. Is he qualified? Eminently so. He is by far away the most credentialed of all the candidates with a good track record in his own diocese. However, there is no love lost between Conger and his bishop, Greg Brewer, who …
Our Goal in Life is Really, Truly to be Happy
Barna's people find such a statement depressing: While focusing on career data and a shifting workforce, Barna's vocation project found something troubling in the church, Christians are pursuing happiness instead of Christ."It's not a sustaining framework to just chase after happiness, that's so circumstantial," said Dr. Stephanie Shackelford, author of You on Purpose."I think what …
Continue reading "Our Goal in Life is Really, Truly to be Happy"
East Germany’s bitter lessons for Cuba
“Homeland or Death — We Shall Overcome!” Cuba’s state motto still reflects the country’s combative self-image. Over sixty years have passed since Fidel Castro marched his revolutionary forces into Havana — now, it seems, many Cubans are tired of the permanent struggle they are asked to undertake in the name of socialism. It is likely…East …
Welcome to fully automated luxury gnosticism
Is in-person human contact now a luxury good? You might be forgiven for this impression, at least in elite coastal America, after seeing the photos from New York’s $30,000-a-ticket Met Gala last week. In one already-notorious image Carolyn Maloney, a Democratic representative for New York City, sports a gown that trailed multiple banners bearing the…Welcome …
Continue reading "Welcome to fully automated luxury gnosticism"
Winning the Lost is Better Than Counting Them
Recently I commented on a post by Dr. Larry Chapp on his back and forth with Ralph Martin on the number of people who will end up in Hell. My response to this was as follows, from Bossuet's Elevations: As far as the number of people who are going to Hell, probably the best response …
Continue reading "Winning the Lost is Better Than Counting Them"
Modern Pentecost’s Use of an Anglican’s Missionary Method
In this interesting article about Assemblies of God missionaries to Latin America Melvin and Lois Hodges, this observation: Melvin and Lois Hodges teamed with veteran missionary Ralph Williams, who practiced English missionary Roland Allen’s philosophy of indigenous principles. While ministering in Nicaragua, Hodges was given an opportunity to put into practice these principles, which Allen …
Continue reading "Modern Pentecost’s Use of an Anglican’s Missionary Method"
“I did not take pen in hand to teach you the thoughts of men…”
It's one of Bossuet's most famous quotations, and in my opinion his best. It comes from his discussion of the nature of the Magi, some of which is here: The Magi, are they absolute kings or dependent on a greater empire? or are they only great lords, which gave them the name of kings, according …
Continue reading "“I did not take pen in hand to teach you the thoughts of men…”"
John Shelby Spong Goes to Meet God
It's done, per the notice on the right. Rather than endure the accusation that he can no longer defend himself, I'll stick with stuff I've already posted, some of which goes back to the beginning of this website/blog. I'll start with John Shelby Spong, Surrender Monkey: John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, is …
Missing the Signs: The Religious Motivations of the 9/11 Attackers
America is reeling from President Biden’s chaotic abandonment of American citizens, our Afghan allies, and religious minorities in Afghanistan. Twenty years ago this very week, America was also reeling when two jetliners smashed into the World Trade Center, a third slammed into the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania as its valiant passengers overpowered their …
Continue reading "Missing the Signs: The Religious Motivations of the 9/11 Attackers"
After 9/11, the Ministry Remains
Today of course is the twentieth anniversary of the 11 September attacks on the World Trade Centres and the Pentagon. I've done this before but I'm going to post again the slide show/video I made for the Church of God Chaplains Commission about that event and the ministry response the church made, presented at the …
Positive Infinity 