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Here is a link to a great post by Kevin DeYoung summarizing the beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses of Two Kingdom theology and Neo-Kuyperians. I have been asked where I stand in all of this and I can simply say that I continue to work through the issue. I’ve been a Two-Kingdom [...]
Last fall, David Goldhill wrote an article that seemed to get a lot of attention. I finally read it this summer and now I’m finally posting about it. Sure, health care reform passed in March, but I don’t think anybody believes that will be the last word. Many liberals felt it [...]
Religion and Ethics Newsweekly had a story over the summer about a Cleveland company called Lincoln Electric. Check out the video in the link (a little less than 10 minutes) or see the transcript by clicking on the link. Do you think that this is a good business model? I wish [...]
Book Review of David VanDrunen’s "Living in God’s Two Kingdoms: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture"
By Rick Hogaboam On November 30, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Book Reviews, Christ & Culture, Covenant Theology, Debates, Ethics, Kingdom of God, Missional Thought, Philosophy, Theology, Vocation
Living in God’s Two Kingdoms: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture
Copyright © 2010 by David VanDrunen
Published by Crossway Books
PRELIMS: This book was provided by Crossway for my personal review.
First off, Dr. VanDrunen is a credible author on the points in [...]
Compassion Fatigue
By Scott Kistler On November 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Christ & Culture, Ethics, Ministry to the Poor, Missional Thought
Krista Tippett recently interviewed Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times. Kristof has become well-known for his writing about humanitarian crises around the world, and has praised the concern of evangelicals for some of these crises.
Tippett and Kristof discussed compassion fatigue and how Kristof tries to work around it by [...]
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a masterful document – I wish we Anglicans had something like it. Due to my Mom’s death, I read what it says about the treatment of the dead:
The dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity [...]
A week and a half ago, Mark Dever preached from Mark 12:13-17 in a sermon titled “Jesus Paid Taxes.” I listened to the sermon this morning as I walked the streets of Nampa on the way to the Flying M Coffee Garage. I suggest you listen to the audio from here:
“One of the consequences of our culture’s slide away from the true faith has been a marked rise in Christians making their peace with various forms of uncleanliness — in food prep, in personal hygiene, with tattoos, in dumping litter, in sexual practices, or how they keep their living rooms and yards. [...]
“I want a real chaplain who believes in a real God and a real hell…your uncertainty is making things worse…I need someone who will look me in the eye and tell me how to find forgiveness because I am running out of time!!!”
My story -
When I visited my dying grandpa, I was in [...]
Righteousness in the Sermon on the Mount
By Scott Kistler On July 29, 2010 · 2 Comments · In Biblical Studies, Christ & Culture, Discipleship/Sanctification, Ethics
The radical righteousness that Christ explains in the Sermon on the M0unt is tough to understand and just as hard to apply. Peter Leithart takes a shot in an article in Credenda Agenda. He notes some interpretations: Christ wanted to replace the law, Christ wanted us to have better attitudes while [...]
Rick Hogaboam's Sermon Notes on Galatians 2:10 "Remembering the Poor"
By Rick Hogaboam On July 21, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Biblical Studies, Ethics, Galatians, Politics
These are rough notes, designed really for self, but am posting as promised because I didn’t get to cover everything in the sermon:
Gal 2:10 “Remembering the Poor”
Galatians 2: 10 (ESV) — 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I [...]
Peter Leithart notes that appeals are often made to “civil society,” which he defines as “private and voluntary institutions distinct from both the bureaucracies of the nation-state and the economic institutions of the market,” as the counterbalance to state power or the market. Chuck Colson, whom I respect greatly, often refers [...]
Jennifer Knapp, Larry King, Ted Haggard, and Bob Botsford = Painful Television
By Rick Hogaboam On April 26, 2010 · 9 Comments · In Apologetics, Debates, Ethics, Homosexuality, Uncategorized
I watched Larry King Live on Friday night and was pretty disappointed with just about everything I was hearing, even from “Evangelicals” Ted Haggard and Bob Botsford. Here’s a summary of what disappointed me:
Jen Knapp – She is obviously still conflicted from her body language. It was unclear if she actually viewed her [...]
John Piper’s yearly Sanctity of Life Sunday sermon, “Born Blind for the Glory of God,” contained this powerful quote from The Weekly Standard:
With the development of prenatal genetic diagnosis, the drive toward eugenics has returned with a vengeance. Americans may heartily cheer participants in the Special Olympics, [...]
One of the hard things to sort out in the Christian life is how one should respond to need. At what point does giving to someone actually do harm? At the one extreme, you can take Matthew 5:42 ["Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow [...]
Amos 2:1-3
1 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom. 2 So I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid [...]
If you can’t be in DC this weekend, then go to virtualmarchforlife.com and create your avatar that will represent you in the walk beginning Friday, January 22nd.
Join the cause. Fight a good fight. Stand for justice!
I am utterly appalled and disgusted that any law could protect a woman, under ‘abortion rights’ or ‘reproductive rights’ or whatever you want to call it, that kills her own baby after it’s birthed, alive and well, JUST because it is still ‘technically’ stuck to the woman via umbilical cord and placenta still in tact [...]
Gene Robinson Quote
By Rick Hogaboam On November 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment · In Christ & Culture, Ethics, Heresy, Homosexuality
Was listening to NPR today and heard part of an interview with Episcopal Gene Robinson, who happens to be openly gay and in a relationship with another man. He was previously married to a woman and had two children with his former wife. Anyhow, this quote is not exact, but the best [...]
Kudos to James O’ Keefe and Hannah Giles for exposing what lies, unlawful, and treachery lies beneath the covers of ACORN. BUT, will the left media pay much attention to this? Will Obama speak out against this? Apparently, this is “just some smear campaign”. Wow, denial (or secrecy of corruption) is the quite the virtue [...]
Matt Harmon of Grace Theological Seminary posted “ten theses for further discussion” from his talk about the relationship between the kingdom of God and social justice. You can find them here and here. This is something that I’m quite interested in. Here are some that I thought [...]
American hermeneutics and slavery
By Scott Kistler On August 25, 2009 · Leave a Comment · In Book Reviews, Calvinism, Ethics, Hermeneutics, History, Slavery
After chronicling the Americanization of Calvinist and Methodist theology, Mark Noll in America’s God turns to American biblical hermeneutics, the way that Americans read the Bible, in Chapters 18-20. Noll argues that the American approach to Scripture in this period also came from both their Protestant heritage and their revolutionary/early national [...]
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I am not necessarily condoning waterboarding in asking this question. It is just a curious thing to me that the people who are most opposed to waterboarding (regardless of intent, etc) are seemingly the same folks who cherish abortion (even partial-birth abortion) as a “human right”.
Let me get this straight, some wish [...]
Should Christians Participate in MMA, Boxing, Football, Gambling, etc
By Rick Hogaboam On April 28, 2009 · Leave a Comment · In Ethics, Fatherhood, Questions & Answers, Sports
I was recently asked the following question regarding Paul’s illustrations involving boxing:
Just b/c the apostle paul made references to boxing/fighting doesn’t necessarily meant he ‘watched’ them, right? He could of just been knowledgeable of the art or strategies in the sport not necessarily promoting or suggesting it’s ok or good [...]
Opening Statement by Doug Wilson
Introductions of Doug Wilson and Christopher Hitchens.
I think that I first encountered the saying “All truth is God’s truth” when reading Mark D. Roberts’ Can We Trust the Gospels?. He explained that he felt nervous about studying the Bible from a secular perspective in a Harvard course, but that John Stott gave him this phrase to ease [...]
Ashley Judd, get a clue
By mimi On February 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment · In Abortion, Ethics, From the Heart, Politics, Uncategorized
I have enjoyed Ashley Judds’ performances on film but sadly, her recent confrontation of Sarah Palin has tainted my image of her sweet face. Are you kidding me?? Is she serious?? She’s going on about how “cruel and senseless” (“It’s time to stop Sarah Palin and stop this senseless savagery,” said Judd in a [...]
Thank you Brother Piper for your powerful words to the president. I stand with you in prayer for him and for what’s best for his daughters as well.
I made mention of this oath in a previous post, but failed to cite where this 4th Century B.C. oath made explicit mention of abortion. Here it is:
“I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a [...]
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
President Obama, I read your comments on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, where you wished my son and daughter well in their pursuit of a “world class education”. Thanks for your concern for my childrens’ pursuit of happiness, but I care, and I [...]
“On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.
While this is a [...]
On January 12, 2009 Samantha Heiges, age 23, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for drowning her newborn in Burnsville, Minnesota. If she had arranged for a doctor to kill the child a few weeks earlier she would be a free woman.
What are the differences between this child before and after birth that [...]
http://www.sovereigngracefellowship.org/topical/Life.mp3
I just want to thank the entire congregation for their overwhelming feedback to my sermon. R.C. Sproul has lamented that many pastors choose to ignore the issue of abortion for fear of splitting the church or hurting feelings. I rejoice that this issue of abortion has actually impassioned our church, from [...]
hi, you don’t know me yet but i want to say ‘hello’. i haven’t been born yet but i’d like to ask you to give me a chance. give me a chance to smile at you and to see you smile back. give me a chance to take my first breath in the world without [...]
What happened to American Patriotism and the gratitude of freedom, which is not really ‘free’ indeed. This freedom we have come to know and feed on has been at a great cost, of American lives & much sacrifice, that is.
I’m not a native born American. My family came here from Asia, legally. We went through [...]
Apologies to the Obama's "potential" grandchildren
By mimi On November 4, 2008 · Leave a Comment · In Abortion, Ethics, From the Heart, Hogaboam family, Philosophy, Politics, Suffering
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Obama,
I want to express to you that my child is NOT a “punishment” to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNzmly28Bmg
Let me give you a little background, if I may. In my junior year in high school, I made a mistake. The mistake was having premarital sex. Well, as a result (or [...]
Hey all, Mike Huckabee is collecting signatures at his website (http://www.huckpac.com/?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=1947) for a “Sanctity of Life Act”.
I pray that it will get approved to force the Supreme Court to give one more look at the issue of abortion and revisit Roe V. Wade. It would be very unlikely with [...]
A Sit Down with MMA Prospect Cody Ziemer
By Rick Hogaboam On October 13, 2008 · Leave a Comment · In Discipleship/Sanctification, Ethics, Sports
I had the opportunity to sit down with Cody Ziemer last week and chat about his fighting career. He attends the church I pastor, Sovereign Grace Fellowship, and is a rising star here in the Idaho Fight League. He recently just won a fight out of state and has an upcoming [...]
Here’s a link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26872774/
A cardboard cutout of Obama was hanging from a tree with his head hung in fishwire and the words “Act Six Reject”, which is a scholarship program for minorities. I am saddened but not surprised at the story. More than an assault of Obama, it is [...]
i just don’t understand it. How can the same woman, who has given birth and expresses as much joy as she does in her children, still believes a woman should have the right to abort a baby? Do you not realize that very same child you aborted or allow to be aborted could be the [...]
I’d like to add to my post about earthly causes vs. the unborn. Although I love and appreciate the benefits and beauty of animals and our natural resources, ie. trees, flowers, grass, etc and protecting it’s value, I would not trump it’s value over human life.
If you had a choose between saving a cat about to die caught on a rope in a tree, an “endangered” Loulu tree of Hawaii, or saving a baby in the womb from being chopped up and sucked into a vaccuum and thrown out like last weeks left overs, the option should be obvious. How is it that the same groups [...]
Cameron Strang, the publisher of “Relevant” magazine, and son of Stephen Strang (publisher of “Charisma” magazine and books), has had ongoing dialogue with Barack Obama about issues of faith and public policy.
I want to say right away that I am grateful for such dialogue. It rarely hurts to have a talk, unless [...]
Senator Barack Obama stated at the Saddleback Forum that he would work to reduce the number of abortions. I was hoping that Pastor Rick Warren would follow up by asking a question I have long wanted interviewers to ask, “Why is reducing the number of abortions a good thing?”. I [...]
The PCUSA church has suffered recent decline in membership (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-06-25-presbyterian-decline_N.htm). So what do they do in response to this decline?
The denomination’s General Assembly, meeting in San Jose, Calif., voted 54% to 46% Friday to drop the requirement that would-be ministers, deacons and elders live in “fidelity [...]
NPR has recently published a very informative article analyzing the recent legal battles prompted by an increasing number of states acceptance of same-sex unions (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91486340).
Among some of the noteworthy cases, a photographer was penalized for discrimination for failure to take on a same-sex wedding inquiry…a Christian [...]
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1720049,00.html Time magazine listed 10 of the most influential ideas at work in changing the world. The #1 idea was “Common Wealth” , and the article by Jeffrey D. Sachs essentially highlights the need for all people to transcend certain differences for the common good to eradicate poverty, starvation, climate [...]
My initial post (http://endued.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/music-review-of-lecraecalvinist-rapper-getting-crunk-referencing-john-owen-john-piper-and-morewow/) of a music review of rapper LeCrae has generated an interesting conversation centering around…Mark Driscoll. Anyhow, here is [...]
Nancy Gibbs offers some concise thoughts and concerns with the emerging dilemma surrounding frozen embryos in the March 3rd issue of Time Magazine (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1715279,00.html).
In the article, she references a recent book, “Embryo: A Defense of Human Life”, authored by Robert George and Christopher Tollefsen (http://www.amazon.com/Embryo-Defense-Robert-P-George/dp/0385522827). The [...]
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Friend's Sites
- "Baseball and Faith" – Steve Cornell
- Alan Burrow (Pastor of The King's Congregation in Meridian, ID) – "Faith Working"
- Ben Howard Photography
- Blazing Hope Youth Family Ranch
- Dr. Sam Storms – "Enjoying God Ministries"
- Joe Lamay – Pastor of Sovereign Grace Fellowship (South Bay, CA) and fellow El Segundo Baseball Alum
- Joel Wilhelm – "A Living Text"
- Jonathan Griffiths (Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Nampa, ID) – "Reflective Musings"
- Michael Mulconery (Elder at Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Nampa, ID) – SGF Sunday School
- My Wife's Blog – "Beloved Stranger"
- P. Andrew Sandlin (Pastor of Church of the King in Santa Cruz, CA)
- Pastor Nick Smith's Blog – "Sylvan Manor"
- Scott Kistler – "Tempora Christiana"
- William Farley (Pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship in Spokane, WA) – "The Raven"
