Saturday, July 26, 2008

Declaring the Richness of Christ in Life

"We are long on devices and programs. We have too many of them, and they get in the way. What we really need are preachers who can stand in simplicity and manifest and declare the richness of Christ in life. There isn't anything on earth that begins to compare with that for human benefit and human interest." --Dallas Willard (From "A Cup Running Over" in The Art & Craft of Biblical Preaching. Zondervan, 2005.)

Privileges of Christian Citizenship

"Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."--Apostle Paul (Philippians 1:27-30; NLT)

"Here indeed is conviction of sin: a person gripped by the awfulness of eternal loss. It arises from seeing a church standing for Christ, standing for eternal things, enduring worldly loss and disrepute for the greater riches found in the Spirit and, throughout all, standing united." --J.A. Motyer (Philippians. Inter-Varsity Press, 1999)

Friday, July 11, 2008

Elite Education's Disadvantages

While reading one of my favorite blogs, Wilbur Blog, by Greg Wilbur of King's Meadow, I was referred to a fascinating article in The American Scholar titled "The Disadvantages of an Elite Education" by William Deresiewicz. His thesis: "Our best universities have forgotten that the reason they exist is to make minds, not careers."

After reflecting upon the article, I concluded that I've been quite blessed with the majority of my post-secondary education being well-grounded. My bachelor's degree from Johnson Bible College was most definitely from a biblical world view and my graduate work that included Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Grace Theological Seminary, and The Center for the Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean allowed me to continue to pursue my education from that framework.