It’s an endless battle, reviewing and revising our lives in order to be more productive. There are two ongoing issues with the productivity battle. First, our understanding of productivity often lacks a right definition because it is defined secularly. Second is that what works for one person may not work for another, and yet we often fail to maintain the freedom to adapt based on what works for our individual lives. As I look at all of the productivity ‘systems’ available to us today, there is a misused aspect that is continuously repeated: the inbox.
The inbox, whether physical or digital, is considered to be an essential to and desktop compilation. It is where ‘to-do’s in the form of invoices, messages, filing, and more are placed in order to be processed. Yet, the function of the inbox is beginning to change in this current era in which physical and digital…
In the opening chapter of Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design Ken Ham describes and defends Young Earth Creation, the primary argument is that this is the most faithful interpretation of Scripture. None of the other three contributors Hugh Ross (Old Earth Creation), Deborah Haarsma (Evolutionary Creation), or Stephen Meyer (Intelligent Design) find this argument compelling. All three take Scripture very seriously as the inspired revelation of God’s mission in his creation, as the word of God.
Hugh Ross finds the most agreement with Ken Ham. Like Ham, he finds concordance between Scripture and modern science, but disagrees that a young earth is the best interpretation. He brings up a number of counterpoints – but perhaps the two most significant are first, we should have some humility in our interpretations.
Ham’s core message is this: “The issue of the age of the earth for Christians comes down to…
Most days I moonlight as a lube technician/oil change guy. It’s how I pay my bills. It’s during this wonderfully flexible job that I hear some of the most uninformed people making crazy declarations they believe to be truth. They will stand on sinking sand and claim that they are perched on the mountain.
I was helping one customer when I recommended that something on his vehicle be serviced. It was the rear differential oil (for those of you who know what that is), and it looked like it had water in it. (For those that don’t know, you never want water in any of your vehicle fluids). When he realized what I was showing him, he declared with gusto, “Warranty will take care of that!”
Unfortunately, and this customer will soon find out, that isn’t how vehicle warranty works. And the same is true for our salvation.
This is another work in the “Christian Answers to Hard Questions” series published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. Here the author Vern Poythress looks at how Christians should interpret the first chapter of Genesis. Although the author is a New Testament professor I think Poythress is more than capable to write on this subject given his expertise in hermeneutics, linguistics, science and theology.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Purpose: Today we shall see the three seasons in our lives in which Christ is our shepherd so that we would trust in Him and have Him as our…
“Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.
8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.
9 “Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen,10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.
19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.
Exodus 27:1-2, 8-10, 19 (New International Version)
I recently received a copy of an intriguing book (due out next week) courtesy the publisher. Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design brings together leading proponents of Young Earth Creationism (Ken Ham), Old Earth Creationism (Hugh Ross), Evolutionary Creationism (Deborah Haarsma) and Intelligent Design (Stephen Meyer). Each is given the opportunity to express their own view and to respond to the essays provided by the others. Within the necessary length constraints each contributor was encouraged to put forth the strongest argument for their position. If you are interested in this issue – either personally or pastorally – this book can be an excellent resource.
The book begins with Ken Ham and his description and defense of young earth creationism (YEC). I would summarize his argument as four-fold.
(1) A young earth (ca. 6000 years old) is the straightforward and clear teaching of Scripture. He provides a number of…
This booklet is part of the series “Christian Answers to Hard Questions” published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. As the title for this particular work suggests this booklet looks at the question “Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin?” The author Brandon D. Crowe who presently serves as an Associate Professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. Crowe has written this helpful resource that is accessible for the layman.
Recapturing the Wonder: Transcendent Faith in a Disenchanted World by Mike Cosper (IVP Books; 2017)
Recapturing the Wonder by Mike Cosper tackles the very real difficulties that Christians in the West face to try to connect with and commune with a transcendent God, while all the world around us screams that there is no God or no better place other than the broken and disenchanted world all around us. Cooper makes a point of discussing the “disenchantment” of society in the West in anything outside our sense experiences, and that there is no absolute truth, and nothing to hope for after one dies. While fully and honestly admitting that life is very hard —- even for Christians (no “name it and claim it”) —- still, God’s grace can be easy at times to appropriate. This is the aim of Cosper’s book.
After a brief review of our post-modern and materialistic society and its impact on all people, including Christians, the author quickly launches into what he calls “pathways” to regaining our enchantment for the world around us, as well as the spiritual realm which is actually more real than what we can see and experience with our five senses.
The pathways that Cosper fleshes out are: One —- Re-enchanting Our World; Two —- Experiencing Grace; Three —- Bringing Scripture to Life; Four —- Withdrawing With God; Five —- Practicing Abundance; Six —- Throwing a Feast; and Seven —- Writing a Rule of Life. Cosper writes not as an expert in mastering these pathways, but rather as a fellow struggler who is learning how to live a transcendent life through wrestling with God, like Jacob did in the Old Testament. I believe a vast majority of believers struggle mightily in this area of living as God being the most real Person and true reality, and would greatly benefit from a book like this one. Highly recommended!
Life in The Presence of God: Practices for Living in Light of Eternity by Kenneth Boa (IVP Books; 2017)
Ken Boa is a prolific and most eloquent author in his former books, and Life in The Presence of God upholds those characteristics in spades. The theme if the book is to try to be a more practical and accessible resource to help Christians truly experience the presence of God on a daily and ongoing basis. Boa takes his inspiration from famous writers of the past who wrote about their own struggles to achieve a vital and ongoing sense of God’s presence; such as Brother Lawrence, Frank Laubach, and Thomas Kelly. Boa states that while these writings have much value to them for inspiration, they all lack one very vital element —- how to actually put into practice the disciplines and choices needed to draw closer to God and to have His presence as a normal occurrence in the life of believers. The author aims in this book to correct that problem and to try to focus on small and simple steps that grow gradually moe involved and fulfilling one time and consistent practice.
The book is divided into two parts: Part One provides the biblical basis for believers to strive for a near-constant awareness of God and His closeness; and Part Two provides the steps and building blocks to achieving greater awareness of God. Boa mentions the growing body of knowledge of his the brain works — how it remembers, how habits are formed, and the plasticity of the brain to learn or relearn tasks. Thus, the majority of the book shows how once can rewire their brain, learn to see the world through God’s eyes, reorganizing your time to make learning these skills a priority, the importance of confession and repentance to do away with any blocks in relating to God, and the very great importance that community has in helping us to shape our abilities to see ourselves and others through God’s viewpoint.
This book is written in an accessible and engaging manner, as Boa shares insightful experiences and anecdotes to strengthen his case. The book also allows readers access to online training guides. Boa is a most entertaining, yet deeply spiritual and practical all at once. This book is highly recommended for anyone who has despaired of their lack of closeness with God, and given real hope and tools to live in this world as a subject of the Kingdom of God.
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