It was the end of November when Elizabeth II gave a speech on the anniversary of her accession as Queen. At the outset she stated that the year had been an Annus horribilis, a dreadful year. The marriages of three of her children ended in divorce. Windsor Castle had a huge fire. This was years... Continue Reading →
Who rewrites the Bible? Probably we all do!
“We can’t interpret the Bible according to our own personal taste! Or twist it to conform with today’s culture! Or invent our own meaning!” Most of us evangelicals would say Amen. And we all could list Those People Out There who rewrite the Bible to fit their own ideas of truth. And then we go... Continue Reading →
What Would a Mother Do? [Studies in Thessalonians]
(please feel free to use this for a sermon on Mother’s Day, adding in stories of mothers you know) Let’s take a stroll past the Mother’s Day card rack: For Mother For Mother, Sentimental For Mother, Loving For Mother, Humorous (that category is potentially hazardous) For Mother, Respectful (these seem to be very carefully worded)... Continue Reading →
Advice for a teenaged young man
A few weeks ago, a young Christian friend of mine turned 13. His mom asked some of us to write out words of counsel for him. Here are things I wish someone had told me at age 13, given in no particular order and no with aim to be comprehensive: At this stage, your brain is keyed... Continue Reading →
I’m a Dad – what does God want me to do?
What exactly is a father supposed to do? Ask a dozen people and you’ll get two dozen answers. As a Christian, I believe that God wants me to walk a certain path that the rest of the world doesn’t follow, and that includes how I should live as a father (or a husband, or teacher,... Continue Reading →
Can stay-at-home Dads be “real men”?
I guess I came in late for this controversy: from 2008 there’s a YouTube clip of a famous preacher and his wife, responding to the question: “What are your thoughts on stay-at-home dads if the woman really wants to work?”[1] “Too many guys take too little responsibility” was part of the answer, one with which... Continue Reading →