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For Want of a Nail

For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. The more the I read the story of the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound, the more that I think of the verse above. The verse above is meant to teach us... [Read more]

Osama bin Laden dead and gone

“I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” — Mark Twain Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they... [Read more]

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Prophetic voice and confession – Keith Green

One of the things that has impressed me as I have been remembering Keith Green in a couple of the lasts posts, was the remarkable humility that the man had. You can see it in a song like, “Create In Me a Clean Heart.” The lyrics are: Create in me a clean heart Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me (2x) Cast me not away from thy presence, O Lord And take not thy Holy Spirit from... [Read more]

To Obey is better than Sacrifice – Keith Green and works

Thinking of Easter Song and the bells got me thinking about Keith Green and the songs that he sang, in general. Keith Green’s theology came out of the old Pentecostal Holiness tradition. Many forget that the early Jesus People movement was not simply reacting against what they saw as sterility in worship and/or dress, but to sterility in the Christian life. In fact, it is hard to call it a movement... [Read more]

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Memories and children

All children grow up. But, we who are parents spend so many years raising them that sometimes we forget that there was a time before we had children and that there will be a time after our children are grown. We may be parents until the day we die, but we only raise our children for part of our life. Yet, those years of raising children have cherished memories that are hard to let go. At each stage... [Read more]

Orthodoxy and para-Church organizations

Fr. Ernesto’s subject from yesterday will continue tomorrow. There is little doubt that parachurch organizations now have a large part in providing many services and/or evangelism and/or missions that the Church is supposed to be doing. This sometimes places the Orthodox in a difficult position. On the one hand, it is difficult for us to support organizations that may very well lead a person... [Read more]

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Some thoughts on Thanksgiving and Ebenezer Scrooge

Today is a day when we stop to thank God for what he has given us over the last year. It is a day steeped in cultural symbols and celebrations. But, it is a day that is fast fading as a family day in favor of the Ebenezer Scrooges that are so in vogue right now. And, sadly, many Christians in this country are pushing that train all the way to the station without even realizing that they are doing it.... [Read more]

Death and “till we meet”

Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus’ feet; Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again. So goes the refrain from an old hymn. Whenever I counsel someone on death’s doorstep, it leaves me thinking for a couple of days. Today, I found myself remembering this old hymn. It is a wonderful hymn, and if it is not Celtic, it ought to be. I found myself thinking... [Read more]

Advent is coming up.

Advent begins in nine days. Advent is the English name descended from the Latin name for the season. It is called either the Nativity Fast or St. Philip’s Fast. And, like Lent it is 40 days long, but it is a lighter fast than the Lenten fast or the Dormition Fast. But, this is not about the fast, but about some Western traditions associated with the fast. When I was a child, I ended up with a... [Read more]

God’s grace to parents

I got a sad and humorous chuckle when I read the cartoon above. I agree with grandma in the cartoon a little more than I agree with mom. I do not see myself as a great parent. I will still, in my darkest moments, look back and wonder how many things I could have done different to raise our children better, to be a better husband, to be a better father. No, I do not live my life in those thoughts.... [Read more]