A Reminder of the Real Meaning of “Separation of Church and State”

Baby Blue's nice little article on the role of the local church vis à vis the beginnings of the Episcopal Church in Virginia are interesting for the current history of TEC, but they have a broader application: James Madison and Thomas Jefferson did not think so highly of the former established church's assertions either. And …

Jesus’ Method in Forming Disciples

From Abu Daoud: 1) He taught them with authority--We have the same Word, the same Spirit and the same authority. 2) He lived with them--he had daily contact. Discipling Muslims demand our daily time and togetherness. 3) He discipled in small groups or 3, 6, or 12. We make a mistake if we look for …

Reply to Kevin Walker on Salvation, the Nature of the Church and N.T. Wright

Kevin Walker had an excellent post on The Language of Salvation, which dealt with a passage from N.T. Wright.  His response to my comments was as follows: Thanks for commenting Don. I just started reading N.T. Wright, and I'm enjoying his work. My only beef is, like you said in your comment, that he almost …

Some Ray H. Hughes Sermons

I recently received an incoming link from a South African (I think) site called Katoikei's Jukebox to my page on Tom Autry. Much to my surprise, I found four Ray H. Hughes Sr. sermons posted on this site as well.  My Church of God readers know Dr. Hughes, former General Overseer, former president of Lee …

Bernie Madoff: A Disaster of Biblical Proportions–and Meaning

I've been doing a little "Rocky Mountain High" in Colorado the last few days so I've not been blogging much, but during that time the whole Ponzi scheme of Bernard Madoff has broken.  For most investors, smarting from the already gargantuan losses in the stock market, it doesn't have much impact (yet, at least.)  But …

Delayed for My Appointment

I usually refer to posts like this as a "blast from the past," but I think you'll see why I don't in this case.  I first posted this in 2005. One of the wonders of Christmas is that it's one of those things we do at the same time each year. As children, we're caught …

For a Church to Attract and Retain, It Must Have Distinctive Meaning

I've been saying this for a long time, but from the land of Starbucks this, in a book review: Wellman expected to discover that the Northwest's progressive social ethos and politics would be fertile ground for liberal Protestant churches. Instead he found the contrary. While it has strong liberal congregations, Wellman discovered that in general …

It’s Time to Get Back to Cabins in Heaven

This week's podcast is I Go To Prepare a Place for You, from the Family of God's album Honor, Wisdom, Glory and Praise.  The song features one of the better known passages from the New Testament: “In my Father’s Home there are many dwellings. If it had not been so, I should have told you, …

The Two Sides of Thanksgiving: The Strange Story of the Venite (Psalm 95)

Thanksgiving Day (in the U.S.) is coming up, and our ministers are gearing up appropriate sermons (I hope they're appropriate, at least) for the occasion.  So this is my contribution to raising the homiletical level, and perhaps it will edify you in the bargain. In 1534 Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, which transferred control …

Federal Air Marshals in Cuffs Teach Us a Bible Lesson

I'm sure that some of you budding theonomists guffawed at the following, from an old post of mine: Let's take a look at this: quote: I exhort therefore that above all things prayers, supplications, petitions, and giving of thanks, be had for all men: for kings, and for all that are in preeminence, that we …

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