Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dialogue with Robert Prater, Part 5

I’ve edited several of Robert’s paragraphs from his comment posted earlier today. This is no disrespect. Rather, I just don’t want to unduly test the readers’ patience. The full text of his comment is still posted. <snipped introduction> First of … Continue reading

Posted in Grace, Instrumental Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

How to Argue Like a Christian: Abusing the Language

Another reason that we in the Churches of Christ have trouble working things out amongst ourselves is our abuse of the language. In fact, a stranger to our publications would often be mystified by our use of words. Liberal For … Continue reading

Posted in How to Argue Like a Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Dialogue with Robert Prater, Part 4

I’m stating my point a different way this time, as it’s obvious that Robert is not hearing what I’m trying to say. I earlier wrote a post pointing out that it is inadequate for those in the conservative Churches of … Continue reading

Posted in Grace, Instrumental Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

How to Argue Like a Christian: Slander, gossip, and swimming pools

This story is told by a campus minister friend of mine. In anticipation of fall semester, the minister wrote congregations around the state inviting students coming to attend the University of Alabama to participate in his student ministry. He pointed … Continue reading

Posted in How to Argue Like a Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Renewing Our Worship: Epilogue

In a few of the earlier posts in this series, I mentioned the 30-hour fast our teens had undertaken to help children dying from starvation. They made streamers of 26,000 paperchains — the number of children dying each day from … Continue reading

Posted in Renewing Our Worship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

How to Argue Like a Christian: Camels noses and compromises

At a Sunday morning assembly, the elder making the closing announcements asks the members and visitors to pass in their attendance sheets. At no one’s request, a seven-year old girl named Katie gets up to help pick up the sheets. … Continue reading

Posted in How to Argue Like a Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Blue Parakeet: The Story and Its Plot (Expanded)

McKnight explains that the Story of the Bible is held together by 5 themes – * Creating Eikons (Genesis 1 – 2): Theme is Oneness * Cracked Eikons (Genesis 3 – 11): Theme is Otherness * Covenant Community (Genesis 12 … Continue reading

Posted in Blue Parakeet, The Blue Parakeet, Uncategorized | Tagged | Comments Off on The Blue Parakeet: The Story and Its Plot (Expanded)

The Holy Spirit: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I get emails — I have been reading through your blog material for quite some time now and I appreciate you so much. You are addressing so much and reaffirming to me that I am doing the right thing by … Continue reading

Posted in Holy Spirit and Providence, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

How to Argue Like a Christian: False Dichotomies

Your wife walks in the door fresh from the local dress shop. “Just look at this beautiful dress I bought!” she says. You notice that the dress is indeed very beautiful — too beautiful! “Ahem. It looks really nice,” you … Continue reading

Posted in How to Argue Like a Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged | 11 Comments

It’s (Almost) Friday! The Franchise Agreement

The other day, we elders were chatting about the possiblity of canceling Wednesday night services for part of the summer.The volunteers in our children’s ministry are worn out, and the school year has gotten so long that the summer is … Continue reading

Posted in Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | Tagged | 30 Comments