Guess Who?

You might want to take a look at George Grant's September 9 blog posting at Grantian Florilegium.

Of course, time will tell if there will be any other similarities.

C.S. Lewis on Social Morality

A Christian society is not going to arrive until most of us really want it: and we are not going to want it until we become fully Christian. I may repeat "Do as you would be done by" till I am black in the face, but I cannot really carry it out till I love my neighbour as myself: and I cannot learn to love my neighbor as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him. And so, as I warned you, we are driven on to something more inward--driven on from social matters to religious matters. For the longest way round is the short way home.--C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

Readings in Progress

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)

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.

Ben Stein's Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

On Sunday, April 27, one of First Christian Church of Owensville’s adult small groups that I facilitate viewed Ben Stein’s movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The movie highlights what happens when respected scientists and science professors, regardless of their religious or non-religious backgrounds, question Darwinism or suggest the possibility of Intelligent Design.

It will be interesting to see what part this movie will play in the great origins debate (or non-debate). Go see it and take a friend with you.