Archive for the ‘Well Said’ Category

  1. Well Said…

    Posted on May 24th, 2013 by Cory Varden

    1. Tornadoes, Tsunamis, and the Mystery of Suffering and Sovereignty by Sam Storms: I’m inclined to think the best way to respond to the tragedy that struck our community today is simply to say nothing. I have little patience for those who feel the need to theologize about such events, as if anyone possessed sufficient wisdom to discern God’s purpose. On the other hand, people will inevitably ask questions and are looking for encouragement and comfort. So how best do we love and pastor those who have suffered so terribly?

    2. Church and Churches journal by 9Marks: It’s a strange balance that a pastor must strike. On the one hand, he must fight for his church. He will give it his best daytime hours, his prayerful nights, his affections and tears, his material comforts and sometimes his health, even his most precious friendships. On the other hand, a pastor should be willing to let it all go. Let it fire him. Let it close its doors if circumstances require. Let the church down the street run the victory lap, even as his congregation fades into the night.

    3. The Case for Marriage via Kevin Deyoung: In today’s cultural climate can you make a case for marriage in less than two minutes? Probably not. But we need many creative ways of getting the conversation started and making people rethink some of their assumptions. Here is one example from Ireland…

    4. Free Guide: Practical Ways To Be Missional from the Verge Network: Although the word “missional” has become quite a buzzword recently, it really just means that we live every day as missionaries. Jesus said that “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). That word “sent” is where we get the word “missional.” It simply means that we live as Jesus lived – as sent people who live everyday life with gospel intentionality.

     

  2. Well Said…

    Posted on May 17th, 2013 by Cory Varden

    1. Religion and Public Life in America by R.R. Reno: Religious liberty is being redefined in America, or at least many would like it to be. Our secular establishment wants to reduce the autonomy of religious institutions and limit the influence of faith in the public square. The reason is not hard to grasp. In America, “religion” largely means Christianity, and today our secular culture views orthodox Christian churches as troublesome, retrograde, and reactionary forces…

    2. Kermit Gosnell’s America — What His Trial Really Reveals by Albert Mohler: The trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell ended yesterday, with the infamous abortion doctor convicted of three counts of first degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter. The doctor’s abortion clinic, described by a Philadelphia prosecutor as a “house of horrors,” is no more, but the truth revealed in his trial remains. He is not the only one with blood on his hands…

    3. How Far Is Too Far? by Tim Challies: Everyone has had to ask or answer the question at one time or another: When it comes to the physical component of a dating relationship, how far is too far? Can we hold hands? Can we kiss? Can we do a little bit more than kiss? Should we even explore the physical relationship a little bit to ensure we are compatible?

  3. Well Said…

    Posted on May 12th, 2013 by Cory Varden

    Here’s this week’s episode of “Well Said”.  Better late than never, right?!  Intriguing discussion between Andrew Wilson and Rob Bell regarding Christianity and homosexuality.  There is much to be learned here from Wilson about how to engage in a civil discussion on this matter.

    You can read some additional insights from Trevin Wax on this by clicking here.

  4. Well Said…

    Posted on May 3rd, 2013 by Cory Varden

    1. Homosexuality, the NBA, and the Morality of Making Moral Judgments by Sam Storms: …Actually, not only does everyone have a right to judge, everyone has a responsibility to judge! In fact, everyone does judge, even if they think they don’t. Making moral judgments is simply inevitable.

    2. Broussard, Bigotry, and the NBA by Denny Burk: After the news broke earlier today that Jason Collins has come out as the first openly gay player in the NBA, I didn’t really plan to comment. But that all changed after watching Chris Broussard’s commentary for ESPN. After Collins’ announcement appeared, all the sports shows were abuzz with the news. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” hosted a discussion between two sportswriters: the openly gay LZ Granderson and the Christian Chris Broussard.

    3. Dear Mr. President (a letter from a mother trying to answer her children’s questions about abortion): I understand we view the world differently.  I understand you think a child burdens a woman, and that he/she breaks a woman down.  I think a child is the greatest gift a woman could receive, and giving birth is one of woman’s greatest powers. That doesn’t sound very politically correct, though.  I know the world is more complex than that.  I understand we are fundamentally different.

     

  5. Well Said…

    Posted on April 27th, 2013 by Cory Varden

    1. Marijuana, Caffeine, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Battling Selfishness (Ask Pastor John): These were four themes featured in this week’s lineup of Ask Pastor John podcast episodes.

    2. “Submit is Not a Four-Letter Word by J.D. Greear: “Wives, submit.” I doubt I could come up with a more offensive statement if I tried. But there it is, in the middle of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. So what do we make of it? What is Paul up to in telling wives to submit? And what does it mean for a husband to be the “head” of his wife?

    3. Same-Sex Marriage as a Civil Right — Are Wrongs Rights? by Albert Mohler: We should have seen it coming. Back in 1989 two young activists pushing for the normalization of homosexuality coauthored a book intended to serve as a political strategy manual and public relations guide for their movement…

    4. Imagining How Planned Parenthood Might Respond to Gosnell by Trevin Wax: In light of the recent trial of the abortion doctor, Kermit Gosnell, Planned Parenthood continues to stand with women across the country in reinforcing the importance of access to abortion that is safe, legal, and common…

  6. Well Said…

    Posted on April 19th, 2013 by Cory Varden

    1. What Does God Say About the Boston Bombings by Jared Wilson: It is a dangerous thing to speak for God, but he has spoken for himself about such atrocities. I for one will not dare to say more than the following, but it’s quite enough, really, especially for those of us who lack the energy at this time to say much…

    2. 9 Things You Should Know About Female Body Image Issues by Joe Carter: Body image is the mental representation we create of what we think we look like; it may or may not bear a close relation to how others actually see us. Here are nine things you should know about female body image issues:

    3. Kermit Gosnell and the Politics of Abortion by Ross Douthat: The most rigorously pro-choice writers really did cover the Gosnell case more assiduously than the mainstream media, because they really do see it, not as an embarrassment to the cause of abortion rights, but a vindication of their worldview…

    4. Kermit Gosnell and the Gospel by Russell Moore: The Gosnell case is stomach-turning. Testimonies in court point to a sadistic man… They speak of a man who would prey upon the poorest and most vulnerable women in his community in order to destroy their lives and those of their children. It’s hard to think of the gospel in the midst of all that evil. But that’s just the point.

  7. Well Said…

    Posted on April 12th, 2013 by Cory Varden

    This week’s “Well Said” is focused on a particularly disturbing court case occurring right now that is centered around abortion, and for the most part is being ignored by the mainstream media.  Be warned that some of this can be difficult to read given the nature of the atrocities that led to this trial.

    1. 9 Things You Should Know About the Gosnell Infanticide and Murder Trial by Joe Carter: Kermit Gosnell, 69, is an abortionist on trial in Pennsylvania for murder and infanticide. Here are 9 things you should know about the Gosnell case…

    2. 8 Reasons for the Media Blackout on Kermit Gosnell by Trevin Wax: To put the Kermit Gosnell trial in perspective, consider other famous cases of child-killing. From Susan Smith to Andrea Yates, and most recently the horror of Newtown, we are accustomed to 24/7 news coverage of these types of tragedies. Not so with Dr. Gosnell. Here are the reasons why…

    3. Why the media don’t want you to see the horror of Gosnell’s crimes by Denny Burk: Here’s the bottom line. What happened in Gosnell’s clinic exposes not just his crimes. It also underlines the moral bankruptcy of pro-choice arguments that routinely and callously disregard the humanity of the unborn. The entire pro-choice position requires persons to ignore the personhood of unborn persons who die daily in those clinics. That reality cannot bear the light of day, and that is why Gosnell and every other perpetrator like him are enjoying a media blackout…

  8. Well Said…

    Posted on April 5th, 2013 by Cory Varden

    1. Twitter Goals and “Humble Brags” by John Piper:  Good words from Pastor John about how we ought to speak on the internet.

    2. Leading the Church While Leading Your Family by Bob Johnson: Serving the church is not merely a job; it is an all-consuming responsibility that can threaten a family. The emergency hospital trips and the frantic calls from a heartbroken spouse never come when you are sitting at home, caught up on your to-do list, bored stiff, and hoping for a crisis to break the monotony. For most of us, our bodies may be home, but our full attention is slow to arrive.

    3. How Tim Keller Made Peace with the Wrath of God by Amy Hall: We see the height of God’s costly love in what He did to give us grace, but you can’t know the beauty of this grace—the very concept of grace will be meaningless to you—if you reject the rightness of His justice.

    4. Planned Parenthood, Infanticide, and the Return to Paganism by Derek Rishmawy: Our persuasive efforts in cultivating a culture of life must not be confined to the political or intellectual realm—it must be rooted in a persuasive practice of life in the Church itself.

  9. Well Said…

    Posted on March 29th, 2013 by Cory Varden

    1. Underwear, Discernment, and Truly Bright Young Things by Jeremy Pierre: No one should be surprised that Victoria’s Secret is now targeting “tweens” with their new Bright Young Things line. In our market culture, it no longer feels all that wrong for our preteens to don underwear (yes, I use that antiquated term intentionally) that draws attention to their private parts (that ancient phrase is intentional, too) with exaggerated cuts and printed suggestions.

    2. A Letter to Victoria’s Secret From a Father by Rev. Evan Dolive: Recently I read an article that Victoria’s Secret is launching a line of underwear and bras aimed at middle school aged children. The line will be called “Bright Young Things” and will feature lace black cheeksters with the word “Wild” emblazoned on them, green and white polka-dot hipsters screen printed with “Feeling Lucky?” and a lace trim thong with the words, “Call me” on the front.” As a dad, this makes me sick.

    3. Old Testament Law and The Charge of Inconsistency by Tim Keller: I find it frustrating when I read or hear columnists, pundits, or journalists dismiss Christians as inconsistent because “they pick and choose which of the rules in the Bible to obey.” What I hear most often is “Christians ignore lots of Old Testament texts—about not eating raw meat or pork or shellfish, not executing people for breaking the Sabbath, not wearing garments woven with two kinds of material and so on. Then they condemn homosexuality. Aren’t you just picking and choosing what they want to believe from the Bible?”

    4. Why the Arguments for Gay Marriage Are Persuasive by Kevin Deyoung: For a long time, homosexuality seemed weird or gross. Now it seems normal. More than that, it fits in perfectly with the dominant themes and narratives shared in our culture. Gay marriage is the logical conclusion to a long argument, which means convincing people it’s a bad idea requires overturning some of our most cherished values and most powerful ideologies.

    5. Why Christians Should Read Fiction by Russell Moore: I’ve found that most people who tell me that fiction is a waste of time are folks who seem to hold to a kind of sola cerebra vision of the Christian life that just doesn’t square with the Bible. The Bible doesn’t simply address man as a cognitive process but as a complex image-bearer who recognizes truth not only through categorizing syllogisms but through imagination, beauty, wonder, awe. Fiction helps to shape and hone what Russell Kirk called the moral imagination.

  10. Well Said…

    Posted on March 22nd, 2013 by Cory Varden

    1. The Antidote to Materialism from Francis VanDelden: What is the antidote to materialism?  Generosity.  Easily sharing the things we have, and giving money and possessions away reminds us that they are temporal and God-given.  It helps us hold them loosely and treasure Christ more than riches.

    2. Rob Bell, Homosexuality, and the New Cultural Acceptance from Owen Strachan: This shift is altogether unsurprising. The new mark of being culturally acceptable is affirming homosexuality as virtuous (not merely okay, but virtuous, even exemplary). This is the litmus test. I don’t think many of us expected that it would so quickly fill this role, but it has.

    3. An Open Letter to the Church from a Lesbian from Hunter Baker: To the churches concerning homosexuals and lesbians: Many of you believe that we do not exist within your walls, your schools, your neighborhoods. You believe that we are few and easily recognized. I tell you we are many. We are your teachers, doctors, accountants, high school athletes. We are all colors, shapes, sizes. We are single, married, mothers, fathers.