Today, Lord, was the first day that I actually considered that the making of nuclear weaponry could have been a sin.  In the past, influenced by just-war theory, which may still be right, I justified the making of the atomic bomb as necessary for the war effort.  And indeed, perhaps it was “necessary” on a … More The Forbidden Fruit of Nuclear Weapons

As you may know, Spring Branch Academy is a Christian high school sponsored by Countryside Bible Church.  It has an ambitious curriculum and aims to prepare students for their life vocations by instilling wisdom and inspiring worship.  That is our heart!  These things you may know, but do you know why the church should have … More Why Should a Church Have a School?

In April, I had a very enlightening conversation with a friend that resulted in a new insight for me as a Christian educator in modern America: I am in a losing battle. The conversation began with my recommendation of Christopher Caldwell’s excellent article, “The Roots of Our Partisan Divide” (Imprimis, February 2020).  Caldwell claims America … More Hope for Educating in a Losing Cultural Battle

Lord, today was the first day that I actually considered that the making of nuclear weaponry could have been a sin.  In the past, influenced by just-war theory, which may I still believe is right, I justified the making of the atomic bomb as necessary for the war effort.  And indeed, perhaps it was “necessary” … More The Forbidden Fruit of Nuclear Weaponry

The conversation is classic.  I’ve heard it many times. The Baptist claims, “I know my loved one’s in heaven.  He prayed the prayer as a child to receive Christ.” The Wesleyan responds, “But how can you be so sure?  The man did not live a godly life.  Swearing.  Avoiding church.  Not even claiming to be … More Once Saved, Always Saved

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” Psalm 19:1-3 Ponder this claim for a second.  Day to day, night to night, you live in a noisy universe, where … More Secular Education in a Noisy Universe

Recently, I have told that riding a motorcycle into Yosemite Valley in California can be a philosophical experience.  On your left is El Capitan, one of the world’s largest granite cliffs, rising off the valley floor to a height of three thousand feet—truly, a “rock” in the old Hebrew sense of the phrase.  On the … More The God of Yosemite

The idea of contextualizing the gospel is not new to me.  In his book Center Church, Timothy Keller cites a wonderful example of contextualization from the gospel narratives.  In Matthew, the sower casts his mustard seed in a “field” (Mt 13:31); in Luke, the seed is sown in a “garden” (Lk 13:19); and in Mark, … More Contextualizing the Gospel

How should we think about Robin Hood’s ethics of robbing from the rich to give to the poor? On the surface, Robin Hood is robbing the rich.  Stop the sentence right there. But what if the rich obtained their riches wrongfully, at the hands of the poor?  Surely giving back to the poor what is … More Thoughts on Robin Hood

Three times the apostle Paul says that the Law was added to increase sinning. Now let that statement settle in.  To increase sinning.  Not stop it.  And added.  As if tacked-on to God’s program. Really, the Old Testament and New Testament would have matched up well simply as Promise and Gospel.  In the Old Testament, … More Strength Rejoices in the Challenge…and Fails