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On requesting intercessory prayers from the saints

Are there any Biblical and historical quotes that appear to demonstrate that both the Apostles and the Early Church Fathers expected that the saints and angels would be aware of what we are doing and would intercede for us? And is there anything that says that we should revere them and remember them with special days? Funny you should ask. Revelation 5:8 – “Now when He had taken the scroll,... [Read more]

Sacramental, Attractional, Missional, what is the Church? – Aslan knows!

The author of another blog asked several of us a question. “What is the way to go to be the church Jesus is building: Sacramental, Attractional or Missional? And in what mixture? For what reasons?” I answered as follows: In the last book of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle, the Pevensie children, after their death, are heading to Aslan’s country and have an odd realization.... [Read more]

St. Andrew, Apostle and First-Called

Feast: November 30  [The acts of this apostle's martyrdom, though rejected by Tillemont, &c., are maintained to be genuine by Nat. Alexander, Hist. t. i. and by Mr. Woog, professor of history and antiquities in Leipsic, in learned dissertations, published in 1748 and 1751. The authority of this piece being contested, little stress is laid upon it, and the following account is gathered from the... [Read more]

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The Secret of Father Brown

There is a wonderful series of stories published by G.K. Chesterton that have to do with a Roman Catholic priest in England who solves mainly murder mysteries. His name is Father Brown.  It is a series that I highly recommend and has been published in its entirety by Penguin Books in the past. Unlike Sherlock Holmes, Fr. Brown does not solve criminal mysteries by deduction, but rather by knowing... [Read more]

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Salvation, Justification, Works 03

“Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision.” — G.K. Chesterton I replied to a comment made on something I wrote on another blog and I thought the answer was worth posting here as well, with a couple of additional comments. I can remember being a guest preacher at a church where they allowed people to “share”... [Read more]

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe — Aslan is Eastern Orthodox

Aslan Warning: If you have not read C.S. Lewis’ book, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe then this post will not make sense to you. In the midst of all the discussion that has been going on over justification, salvation, sanctification, etc. on this blog and on other blogs on which I have posted, I found myself remembering one of my favorite books, C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and... [Read more]

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Semper Paratus

When I lived in Port Huron, Michigan, my wife and I were friends with some men (and their wives) who served at the Coast Guard station there. They were wonderful men and heroes, every one. One of them had even won a medal for diving in after a crewmate who had fallen of the ship on which they were stationed. When other sailors were heading to port to beat a storm, these men were heading out into the... [Read more]

Salvation, Justification, Works 02

I periodically struggle with God just like Jacob. Too often I want God to listen to my theology instead of my listening to God's revelation. Below is a follow-up email that I sent. Obviously, I have taken out any personal notes and simply put in the meat of the ongoing discussion. ==== I have been enjoying the discussion on Sola Fide immensely. It has been very exciting to be able to review theology... [Read more]

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Salvation, Justification, Works 01

I regularly have to remind myself not to be like the dude in the picture, but to realize that there are many things I do not know and many attitudes I need to change. Below is something I posted on another blog. It is in the middle of the conversation between various bloggers, but I think it expresses something of my thoughts. ==== Joe M made a good point. There are enough Scriptures in the New Testament,... [Read more]

Saints for 12 November

You may not know that for the Eastern Orthodox the day begins at sunset rather than at midnight. This means that as I am writing this, it is already 12 November for us, at least liturgically. In practice, of course, we observe the days as this culture prefers it, starting at midnight. But, when we celebrate a liturgy, we keep it to the older pattern. So, for us, Vespers is the first liturgy of the... [Read more]

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