Oneness Embraced by Tony EvansEnding Overcriminalization and Mass Incarceration by Anthony BradleyThe Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan RahBe the Bridge by Latasha MorrisonOvercoming Racial Gridlock by George YanceyColor of Compromise by Jemar TisbyThe Servant King by TD AlexanderFrom Eden to New Jerusalem by TD Alexander168 Hours by Laura VanderkamThe Systems Mindset by Sam CarpenterWork the System…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.16.6 | God’s Providence Over People
Since we know that God made the world primarily for humanity, we must also look view God's providence through his care for humanity as well. The prophet Jeremiah says, "I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). Solomon also…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.16.5 | God’s Providence Extends Over All Things
God put everything that exists into motion. God also puts into motion everything which looks like it comes about spontaneously or moves according to a "built in" impulse from nature, like day and night, summer and winter. God has assigned certain laws to govern the movement of these things so that they are consistent day…
How to Figure Out What to Write (And Do) Next
What should I do next? Have you ever asked that question of yourself? If so, you're not alone. Pretty much every writer, or really any kind of knowledge worker, has faced that problem says Paul Silvia in his book, How to Write Alot. He writes, "We rarely get to write only one thing ... While…
The Betrayal of Busyness
Quotes from Eugene Peterson in The Contemplative Pastor: The word busy is the symptom not of commitment but of betrayal. It is not devotion but defection. The adjective busy set as a modifier to pastor should sound to our ears like adulterous to characterize a wife or embezzling to describe a banker. It is an…
Culture and Leadership: My Story of Coming to Grips with Change
My wife was the first woman to pray during Sunday morning worship service in the history of our church. It was Mother's Day 2014 when my wife ascended the steps on the stage during the worship service, walked over to the microphone and prayed for the mothers and the women who desired to be mothers…
What was the zenith?
Decline narratives of American culture are so interesting to me. They seem to raise more questions than answers. Decline narratives typically go something like this: America's culture is decline. It used to be much better, but now it's not. So my question is this: What was the zenith? What was the "high point" or best…
Don’t Sink: Focusing on the Mission of Christ
Poet Mary Oliver has said, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” While Oliver was not a Christian, she was certainly right in her assertion. What you focus on becomes what you love. The formative nature of focus is why the author of Hebrews tells us to “Fix our eyes on Jesus” (Heb 12:1). But focusing…
Bringing Order to the Chaos of Home
Many parents I've talked to over the last six months feel like their home life is a tornado of chaos. While COVID has definitely exacerbated the stress and the feeling of chaos, it really has only pointed out what was already there for many families: life feels out of control. Trying to manage all of…
The Checklist Manifesto Summary and Application
In his book, The Checklist Manifesto, Atul Gawande wants to eliminate mistakes through the power of a checklist. Gawande points out that people make a lot of mistakes, usually because of ignorance or ineptitude. People may not know what to do or they may fail to apply the knowledge they do have correctly (8). Further…
Raising Lazarus 