–Originally published on FWB21 December 20, 2012– “If I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I would still plant an apple tree today.” –Unknown Tomorrow, 12/21/2012, is supposed to mark the end of the world. Assuming the Mayans were wrong and nothing happens, this will be my fifth time to survive the end of the world (that I know of). But, assume the world does end tomorrow: Christ returns in His glory and brings an end to time. What then? Does that change what we’re doing today? For Christ-followers, the answer should be NO. We should already be living in light of Christ’s imminent return (as his disciples have for generations), finding a balance between planning for […]
A Storm’s a Comin’
–Originally published on FWB21 November 12, 2012– I’ve sensed it for a while, but now I’m certain of it: there’s a storm brewing somewhere in my future. It’s as though I can feel the warm winds picking up and see the dark clouds way off in the distance. I do think the saying holds true in life: you’re either in the middle of a storm, just coming out of one, or about to enter one. I feel like we’ve been moving from storm to storm for the past three years, and I can sense there’s another one coming. This weekend I had the privilege of attending the East Coast Ladies’ Retreat in Goldsboro, NC. The theme for this year was […]
Wife = Helper
–Originally published on FWB21 October 5, 2012– The foundation of the husband/wife relationship and roles is found in Genesis 2:18-25. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper […]
City Life: A Call to Action
–Originally published on FWB21 November 12, 2012– Culture is shaped in the city. It’s true, you know. What happens in NYC, Chicago, and L.A. has a far-reaching impact on places like Dickson, Tookiedoo, and Indian Trail, but what happens in those small towns generally stays in those small towns. With few exceptions, culture shift flows from the city outward to the more rural areas. I just got back from my first trip to New York City where I saw this truth with my own eyes. I am no longer shocked by things I see on T.V. or in the news because I have seen the source from which they flow. The vibes and currents I felt as I wandered about […]
The Legacy Path, by Brian Haynes
“Discover intentional spiritual parenting.” The Legacy Path, by Brian Haynes, is a guide for parents who wish to pass on their faith to the next generations but who may lack the skills to do so. After building a strong foundation upon biblical views of life and success in chapters 1-4, Haynes lays out seven milestones by which we can guide our children through life. With each milestone, he gives core competencies which parents should seek to instill in their children as they approach the next milestone. Practical suggestions for faith talks and milestone celebrations are plenteous, as are the extra resources available online. As parents who fluctuate between “we’ve got this parenting thing down pat” and “we don’t have a […]
The Hunger Games: A Call to Think
Because of all the buzz about The Hunger Games with the movie release this weekend, a friend of mine asked me to blog about it. I have read the trilogy, and literarily I could write a tome on the subject. But I don’t think that would be helpful here. There is something you must know about me: as a Christ-follower, I can’t read anything without intellectually and spiritually engaging with it and analyzing it in light of scripture. Now, my B.A. in English certainly aids me in the process, but I am convinced that this mental engagement should be true of every Christ-follower, regardless of education. Here is my previous blog post explaining why. Now, one might argue that the […]
Critical Thinking
–Originally published on FWB21 December 18, 2011– We believe in the inerrancy of scripture. To explain why is not the purpose of my post, but the inerrancy of scripture is an important foundation to understand in light of what I am going to say about the discipline of critical thinking. We should read the Bible historico-grammatically; that is, to say, within view of its historical and literary contexts in order to find the author’s (and Author’s) intended meaning. Now, this is probably a “duh”-statement for many of you, but I have been surprised over the years to find out just how many people do not do this (or know how to). If we do not understand the circumstances in which […]
The Radical Disciple, by John Stott–audio
The Radical Disciple, by John Stott, is divided into 8 chapters covering different aspects of discipleship: non-conformity, Christ-likeness, maturity, creation-care, simplicity, balance, dependence, and death. The audio version, which was supplied to me by ChristianAudio for review, is read by Grover Gardener. In my opinion, his narration style is perfect for this type of book. Stott does a fantastic job of articulating real abandonment in the pursuit of Christ. His chapters on non-conformity, balance, and death alone made the book worth reading. The problem with listening to an audio version is that there are so many quotable sentences that I found myself wishing for a hard copy to refer back to. Because of Stott’s style, there are also sentences where […]
The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends, by Chad Eastham
The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends, by Chad Eastham, is the best book on teenage relationships I’ve ever read! Candid, funny, and insightful, Eastham really knows how to connect with teens–and tell them what they need to hear. A proper view of God and self and relationships is SO important during the crazy teenage years, and this book gives just that without being preachy. Eastham challeges teens to use their God-given brains, explaining that people can do things well, or they can do them poorly. Dating is no exception. As a twenty-something mother who dated well, I still wish I’d had this book as a teen! There is so much helpful, insightful information here that I had […]
Justified by Faith Alone, by R.C. Sproul
Justified by Faith Alone by R.C. Sproul is a short little book, but packed with great insight and tight logic. It is written on a pretty high level of vocabulary, so I wouldn’t recommend it to the person who is only casually interested in the subject. It is more like a college professor lecture than a devotional book written about faith. If you are looking for an academic look at the subject, you will not be disappointed. The book is written as a recap of the struggle the reformers faced with the Roman Catholic Church. Although much of the book is rooted in historical arguments, Dr. Sproul mentions many contemporary issues that stem from the distinction evangelicals have in sola […]