“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they ... Read More

Hey friends and family, this is a provocative and beautiful piece by one of my dear friends. Enjoy! Pixels and Prayers I wake to my screen’s soft glow,a portal to endless voices,their currents tugging at my thoughts.Notifications scatter like seeds,but what do they grow? Here, in this digital garden,every click is a choice,every scroll is a journey.Do I wander aimlessly,or ... Read More

Fall is my favorite season that, for me, culminates with Thanksgiving. Amidst its vivid and profound themes of color, beauty, and change, are fun things like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day—one of my daughter’s and my favorite holiday traditions and something we now share with her two boys as well. As I write ... Read More

“Vocation is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deepest need.” Frederick Buechner This post is a repost from 2021 and one of the reasons I’m sharing it again is because I just listened to an excellent 36-minute podcast interviewing Mr. Palmer that seems to have been done right after or near last week’s election. He is now ... Read More

Our Mantua Creek EPC church plant just finished hosting The After Party, a six-session course about politics, partisanship, division in our day, and how these affect us. I was so encouraged by the content and the diversity of folks who attended. We had fifteen live, three online, and eight of those who attended live were not from our church. Two ... Read More

I’ve never been a contestant on Survivor or a castaway like Tom Hanks, but when it comes to Christian cancel culture and politics, I’ve been voted off the island a time or two, and in ways that have left me feeling exhausted. Indeed, much of my ministry these last ten years has been not only to the de-churched, often the ... Read More

We mentioned last week that Ben Sasse left politics because he felt his evangelical conservatism was better suited in this season for building a virtuous, image-bearing educational institution. Sasse’s perspective and pivot call to mind another lens that might give us a better handle on how thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers are different, or at least more than, “the sum ... Read More

For in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16, NRSV For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, ... Read More

Hey Friends, I’m in the middle of 4-5 weeks of 6-7-day work weeks, full of out-of-state travel, mostly related to carpentry and fundraising. Gratefully, I’m in good spirits but would appreciate your prayers for strength and steadiness. Although it’s a busy season, God has given me several tangible encouragements lately, and I love the fall. I’m also really excited about ... Read More

Hi Friends, a couple of good reviews were posted this week here, and I have added questions for small group discussion below. I also formally added these questions to the books for purchase; they should be live within the next few days. Please let me know if you have any others that you think would be good to include. Thanks ... Read More

Hi All, This has been a busy week but I at least wanted to touch base with some of the fruit from Christian Nationalism: A Constructive Conversation: Thanks so much for your help in promoting the book! Also, if you’ve purchased a copy and read it, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. This helps so much and below are ... Read More

As I continue to prepare Mantua Creek for a baptismal service on 9.15 and make some updates to Baptism and Its Significance, this week we’ll explore this question: How did the Baptist perspective on baptism offer an important corrective to the Church at a key moment in history, but then go too far?“ Derek Radney, Pastor at Trinity Church (PCA) ... Read More

“A strange view held by many Baptists: Only immersion counts as real/valid baptism, but grape juice instead of wine will suffice in communion.” -Derek Radney, Pastor at Trinity Church (PCA) in Winston-Salem, NC In preparation for a Mantua Creek baptismal service on Sunday, September 15th hosted by our parent church, Ashland Church, I’m adding some updates to the constructive conversation ... Read More

Hi All! Christian Nationalism: A Constructive Conversation is now available for purchase! It represents the most important thing I’ve wanted to say to the American church in this cultural moment. It’s also intimately tied to my journey as a national leader in the pro-life movement for six-and-a-half years, as well as my present work as a church planter. You can ... Read More

One more week till release! And I’ve included another excerpt from “Chapter 4: Danger #3: The Domination Problem” below. In many ways, whether we see Christian nationalism’s desire for political domination (primacy of place) as a problem or not comes down to whether or not we’re comfortable with living in a liberal democracy where all American citizens, not just Christians, ... Read More

Hi Friends, it’s only two weeks till the release of my new booklet Christian Nationalism: A Constructive Conversation. I appreciate your prayers and please enjoy this and next week’s section from Chapter 4 titled “Danger #3: The Domination Problem.” In his excellent book, titled “Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?”, historian and Messiah University professor John Fea details why ... Read More

“When ‘success’ is measured by ‘numerical growth’ we have abandoned what the gospel says flourishing is.” Scot McKnight, New Testament Everyday Bible Study: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (Grand Rapids, MI: HarperChristianResources, 2023), 98-99. This year, I’ve been taking our Mantua Creek Church family through the pastoral epistles and Scot McKnight’s new concise commentary has been optional reading. ... Read More

“Christianity is the electric current of our national life. Turn it off, and the light will fade. If we care about the future of our country, we must renew the influence of biblical faith in America.” Josh Hawley in February 2024. Unfortunately for Josh Hawley, Yale graduate and U.S. Senator from Missouri, his face and fist have become synonymous with ... Read More

When I worked as a leader at the center of national pro-life ministry for six years, I couldn’t talk openly about the dangers of Christian nationalism without being canceled. This meant that, if I still wanted to tell the truth and steer folks in healthy directions, I had to find creative ways to do so. Without naming Christian Nationalism or ... Read More

I want to thank those who’ve contributed to the definition below and continue to invite others to send any push-back or enhancements: Christian Nationalism is a subtle form of idolatry that blends patriotism with Christianity in such a way that Jesus is no longer our first allegiance but some vision of a great America. It begins as a well-intentioned desire ... Read More

“Normal Christian political engagement is humble, loving, and sacrificial; it rejects the idea that Christians are entitled to primacy of place in the public square…” Paul D. Miller, professor of the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University and a research fellow with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. I appreciate the feedback I got last week on my working ... Read More

I was finishing tiling her floor when my friend, Margaret, asked me “What is Christian nationalism?” She had seen the term referenced in this Mantua Creek story of impact from last year: “When we first started coming, I was questioning if there was a place for me in the evangelical church. I was discouraged by the rise of Christian Nationalism ... Read More

“Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2, NRSVUE This year, at Mantua Creek, we’re going through the pastoral epistles and Philemon. Last week my study of the text above was so surprisingly ... Read More

I’m not a fan of single-issue voting, especially the kind that seeks to intimidate and impose one person or group’s convictions on another. Like other forms of fundamentalism, it tends to oversimplify reality, ignore a forest of other issues, dumb people down into clones, alienate upcoming generations who prioritize differently, and judge others who don’t think as they do. As ... Read More

As a minister of the gospel serving at the center of the pro-life movement, I often used the phrase “non-political” to distance myself from unhelpful associations with white Republicanism and single-issue voting. Additionally, as a “never-Trumper,” I did it to protect myself from being canceled by many in my own network. I say this last statement not to disparage those ... Read More

Note: Hey friends, I’m excited to share that I’m working on a new booklet in the Constructive Conversation series on Christian Nationalism. This week’s post is related to that, as was last week’s, and, I expect, several more over the coming months. If you want a simple definition of Christian nationalism, think of it as a subtle form of idolatry ... Read More

“O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless. With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.” Psalm 60:11-12, NRSV One of the more troubling but deeply revealing emails I received while serving at the center of the pro-life movement was from a dear mom whom I’ll call Sarah. Choosing ... Read More

Believe it or not, my greatest crisis of faith came thirty years ago while I was immersed in discussions and study related to God and the Bible at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. One day, as I wandered the nearby campus of Westminster Presbyterian Seminary, a solitary PCUSA school with several attractive stone buildings, I even seriously questioned the existence ... Read More

“In him was life, and the life was the light of all people…the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” John 1:4,9 (NRSV) For the last four months, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about John’s famous prologue (1:1-18). Throughout the Christmas season, this passage loomed large and now, as we enter Holy Week, I continue ... Read More

Hey Freinds, I’m excited to let you know about a new chapter in the Genesis 1 & Science booklet that’s part of the constructive conversation series. It’s 100% devoted to responding to Ken Ham and common young earth creationist (YEC) objections. There are also quite a few smaller updates throughout the resource, as well as two fresh reviews that you ... Read More

Many feel that David Bently Hart’s That All Shall Be Saved: Heaven, Hell, and Universal Salvation is the best case in our day against an everlasting hell and for universal salvation. Although I can’t tackle these important questions here, I do want to take issue with Hart’s oversimplification of God’s fatherhood in the quote below, as well as his misapplication ... Read More

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…” Zechariah 4:10a, NLT Hi All, It’s been three months since my last ministry update and quite a bit has happened on the Mantua Creek front. Some of you may remember that, as part of beginning year four of our six-year plan, we had a significant ... Read More

8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument, 9 also that the women should dress themselves in moderate clothing with reverence and self-control, not with their hair braided or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for ... Read More

“I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” 1 Timothy 2:12-14, NRSVUE When people abuse God’s word people get hurt. Indeed, the ripple effects reach far into the future. ... Read More

Hi Friends! I’m so excited to share the great piece below by my good friend Scott Carr Jr., who writes his own blog at reimaginefaith.org (check it out!) and attends Mantua Creek Church (EPC). Last week, while I was speaking at another church, he shared the below with our group and I received so many positive comments on it. Indeed, ... Read More

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going. Heb. 11:8, NRSVUE It’s hard to wait… This is true for any of us whether we’re two or 82. Whether we’re looking for employment or the next chance ... Read More

Happy New Year, Friends! 2 Timothy 1:3-18 is my favorite passage to meditate on as I begin a new year, partly because of the simple, memorable, three-point outline below.[1] In an effort to share it with you as clearly as possible, after some introductory remarks related to 3-5, I’ll offer some reflective thoughts and questions after each point and relevant ... Read More

“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, NRSVUE) We know well that worship is at the center of the Christian celebration of Christmas. As ... Read More

The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.Day to day pours out speech,and night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words,whose voice is not heard. Psalm 19:1-3, ESV Hi All, Updates to the Genesis 1 and Science booklet in the Constructive Conversations series are now live and ready for some good ... Read More

Hi All, This ministry update is dedicated to the Mantua Creek church plant. Before reading further, please take a moment to download and scroll through our updated prospectus: As I said in my August ministry update, “God has opened and closed doors consistent with continuing Mantua Creek and taking it into its next season. This is where I’ve settled personally: For ... Read More

“Sin is basically ingratitude, and in Christianity, religion is grace and ethics is gratitude.” -Klyne Snodgrass ‘Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is ... Read More

“Then he [the angel] said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6, ESV Below is a favorite by Abraham Kuyper from his devotional classic The Practice of Godliness. It’s been a great reminder in my struggles that “waiting on ... Read More

The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? is a rigorously researched book that’s getting a lot of attention right now and says we’re at a crossroads: One path is to keep “fighting for power and influence in society.”  The other is to “embrace our position as exiles, exercising our ... Read More

Last Sunday I handed out a half sheet of paper to my friends in our little church plant (the pic above is about half of us) and asked “How has Mantua Creek impacted your life?” I gave everyone ten minutes and below are some of the responses I got. As you read through them, I hope you’re as encouraged as ... Read More

Hey friends, here’s a provocative devotional thought by the late Bible teacher A.W. Pink that I’ve gone back to many times over the years. I’ve been thinking on it afresh in recent weeks and I hope it brings perspective and strength to you today as well: “Ponder the incident; visualize the scene before your mind’s eye. It was not an ... Read More

Calvinism and especially certain Cavinists get a bad rap these days and, although some of that reputation is deserved, sadly most of our culture’s perceptions are based on stereotypes rather than serious study. But before I share a few thoughts on that, let me start with a 30,000-foot view. I’m a Christian in the Protestant tradition who believes wholeheartedly that ... Read More

O Lord, God of my salvation,    at night, when I cry out before you,2 let my prayer come before you… For my soul is full of troubles…6 You have put me in the depths of the Pit,    in the regions dark and deep.7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,    and you overwhelm me with all your waves…I am shut in so that I cannot escape…18 You have caused ... Read More

We saw last week that Psalm 137 acknowledges and gives legitimacy to the voice of trauma. We also learned that we can take even our darkest emotions to God and that he is big enough to handle our anger, hates, and desire for vengeance. But how does this mesh with the Christian concepts of justice and forgiveness? These are great ... Read More

1 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? ... Read More

“The Lord GOD helps me; therefore, I have not been disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame…” Isaiah 50:7, NIV Carpentry Well, I never thought I’d be taking this path at 57, but this “carpenter—theologian” has taken up his tools again as a way to 1) support ... Read More

One of my heroes of the faith is Fleming Rutledge, an 86-year-old priest in the Episcopal Church. Her masterful work The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ was named book of the year by Christianity Today in 2015—an amazing achievement for a 78-year-old! As a pastor who regularly leads communion, as well as a sinful guy who just wants ... Read More

One of the main contentions of Young Earth Creationism (YEC) is that “the belief in millions of years totally contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture.”[1] Last week we responded to one example YEC advocates Ham and Hodges gave in support of this (see here) and this week we will look at a second related to “disease:” “Evidence of diseases like ... Read More

I get frustrated with young earth creationists’ critiques of evolutionary creationism. They’re often full of contradictions and consistently based on uninformed, overly literal interpretations of ancient texts. Here’s a quick example of the kind of contradictions I mean from a recent review of my Genesis 1 and Science in the Constructive Conversation series: “Since evolution cannot be demonstrated by the ... Read More

1Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the ... Read More

We mentioned in part one that storms come in many shapes and sizes. Again, whether yours feel minor or soul-destroying, I hope that one or more of these remaining insights from the relational storms that I’ve gone through recently will be healing and helpful. Forgive. Some hurts are unintentional and come from people who really do love us. Moreover, even ... Read More

One standout memory from the global pandemic was hearing Brittany Howard’s powerful, bluesy voice reimagine the classic “You’ll Never Walk Alone”: “When you walk through the storm hold your head up high and don’t be afraid of the dark… Why? Well… in the song it has something to do with “the golden sky” at the end of the storm and ... Read More

For some of you who read this blog regularly, thanks for your patience as I’ve had to reflect and navigate some challenges over the last few weeks. Here’s our latest: Care Net: Unexpectedly, last month, I found it necessary to resign as Executive Director of Church Outreach and Engagement. Although I’ve been honored to work alongside some amazing people over ... Read More

Journeying home from a walk in the woods, I took an alternate route and came to a place where I had to cross a stream. Too wide to jump, I found a spot where others had made a bridge. There were broken branches, pieces of full trees, all now mostly rotted. I put my foot lightly on one log but ... Read More

In honor of Gordon Lightfoot’s passing on Monday night at 84 (a year older than my dad), I’m reposting this first part of a three-part series I wrote in 2020. My deepest sympathies to his family, fans, and friends. And I’m so grateful my son Tim and I got to see him live last year on April 5th in Phoenixville, ... Read More

Hey All, I wanted to share a couple of sessions from Care Net’s recent Men’s Summit in Dallas at Tony Evan’s church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. The most compelling part for me personally was a discussion that featured the stories of five post-abortive men. There were several reasons for this. For one thing, the comradery and chemistry among the men was ... Read More

When we go through pain and difficulty often our default is to think God doesn’t love us or that we don’t have enough faith. Nonsense like this is associated with the Accuser of our souls and popular heresies like the “health and wealth,” or prosperity gospel. Contrary to these intrusive lies, here is what the Bible teaches: 1Therefore, since we ... Read More

Recently I was asked by a regular subscriber “Why the Carpenter and Theologian? Because of Jesus or are you a carpenter?” In her asking this question, I realized that there are probably many others who have never read the five introductory pages found in the “About” section of this blog. For this reason and because it’s been almost six years ... Read More

You may or may not have seen it but “the Disney movie Encanto took the world by storm with its visually stunning animations and emotional music. The visual aspects of the movie propped up a powerful story of generational trauma… the movie features songs written by Hamilton genius, Lin-Manuel Miranda. One of those songs, ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno,’ quickly ... Read More

Hey Friends, I just published a new “constructive conversation” booklet this week called Genesis 1 & Science: A Constructive Conversation. It’s available as a paperback and eBook. The first in this series, you may remember, was Baptism and Its Significance. My thanks to Connie Molitor for the great new covers that connect this series with this blog (notice the mustard-colored ... Read More

Hi Friends, This is the last in the “Spread the Love” series and this one is about our Mantua Creek Church plant. It’s also the first time in my six-plus years of doing this blog that I’m sharing a video to better speak to you heart-to-heart.

Hey friends, the press release below is going out to several news outlets Tuesday and you can download the PDF version here. Also, besides this, here is another great article that Care Net posted this week that you can share on social media. Again, I so appreciate your prayers and tangible help in getting the word out. Happy Valentines Day ... Read More

Hey Friends, I’m calling February “Spread the Love Month” because I have several opportunities that I want to invite you to help or partner with. The first is related to getting some reviews up for Irreplaceable: Recovering God’s Heart for Dads. I have a press release being written that I will be sharing in the next couple of weeks, however, ... Read More

January marks my sixth year at Care Net and our Church Engagement team is now in the process of revisioning our strategy for a new season. In synch with this, I’ve been thinking a lot about the church’s role in championing the forgiveness of sins. The below—something sent to me personally about a year ago—is one of the heaviest emails ... Read More

Last week I wrote about our church’s core values and I thought I’d follow-up with a list of eight core values that correspond to Saint John’s messages in the book Revelation to seven real first-century churches. These are God’s core values for healthy churches if you will, and, as you’ll see, certainly have great relevance to our hearts and churches ... Read More

The folks above are my friends and the people I’m blessed to pastor in this season. This week I finished writing our church plant’s core values and I thought you’d find some of our priorities thought-provoking, challenging, or encouraging: To all who are weary and need rest,To all who mourn and long for comfort,To all who feel worthless and wonder ... Read More

“Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.” Ecclesiastes 11:5, NLT It’s no secret that I work for a pro-life organization– one that, albeit, is on the care side of the issue rather than ... Read More

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that ... Read More

Hi friends, I wrote the following poem 20 years ago the day after Christmas. It’s called “Christmas Truth” and I’ve packaged it here between two great verses of Scripture. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6, ESV Wise men left their homes ... Read More

There are certain brands of fundamentalism that encourage men and women to be morally flawless based on a literal and surface reading of Matt. 5:48: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (ESV) As I said last week, I think verses like this—especially in red letters—are one of the reasons passages like Eccl.7:16 are not taken ... Read More

Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of ... Read More

Hi friends, this week I thought I’d share a version of an article I just wrote for Care Net. Not only might some of you find it interesting to see how I talk about the life issue, but some of you may also find some of the linked resources valuable for your own purposes. Blessings and the beautiful pic is ... Read More

Well, Friends, It has been a long-time coming but my book Irreplaceable: Recovering God’s Heart for Dads is finally finished and available for purchase on Amazon! In many ways, this represents the center of my life’s work to date. Not only do I hope this book blesses you and yours, but I would be so grateful for your help in getting ... Read More

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to ... Read More

This post was originally published on October 6, 2017. I’m reposting it again in honor of my friends at Mantua Creek Church and the study we’ve begun on the book of Ecclesiastes. There’s nothing new on this earth. Year after year it’s the same old thing…. Much learning earns you much trouble.  The more you know the more you hurt.  ... Read More

Happy Fall, Friends! I hope you and yours are well. Here’s our latest: Personal Our biggest news happened earlier this week and is certainly worthy of being the featured image above. On Monday, Kade Thomas Austen, grandchild #7, was born. He was 6 lb., 14 oz. and everybody is doing great. “Mimi” Pam got to see him along with his ... Read More

Here’s a four-minute clip of Pastor Tim Hawks of Hill Country Bible Church in Austin, TX trying to help some in his congregation understand why women have abortions. What I love about it is he uses Planned Parenthood’s own research and helps us all start with empathy. Again, I encourage you to watch the clip, but I have also written ... Read More

Hey Friends, Well, you never know what you are going to wake up to… My son, Tim (above with his son Caedmon), who is doing the final type-setting for the book had a business trip to Phoenix this week and came back to a sick family. Although fevers and symptoms have started to resolve, it has delayed the book’s release. ... Read More

Hey Friends, I made a couple of tweaks to the intro to the “Irreplaceable” playlist (see Spotify link at the end of this post) and thought it best to re-publish it as part of this series. If you have any favorites that aren’t on this list, please let me know. Also, in sharing them, I would love to know how ... Read More

Irreplaceable: Recovering God’s Heart for Dads— is now just three weeks from release! Over the weekend, we finished edits and designed the cover. Over the next two weeks, we hope to finish all formatting issues and get it ready to upload for printing. Also, here’s the description that will be uploaded to Amazon’s site: Irreplaceable: Recovering God’s Heart for Dads ... Read More

Irreplaceable: Recovering God’s Heart for Dads— in many ways, a summary of my life’s work and the most important thing I’ve published to date— is a month from release! In anticipation and to share in the excitement, here are a few of the endorsements that have come in over the last few weeks: Greg Austen has been a fierce advocate ... Read More

What does character and internal beauty look like– especially for a Christian? In truth, it is the same for men and women, and there is no better mirror of what internal beauty and godliness looks like than the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Here Jesus gives his disciples eight characteristics to pursue or that evidence being in a state of blessing ... Read More

“I’d rather focus on heart than head, the practical rather than the intellectual”—Sometimes, especially in reformed circles, there is a tendency to elevate head knowledge—including catechesis—over topics like relationships, healthy marriage, vocation, emotional health, or a heart for God. That’s why for some “attention to doctrine is sometimes actually avoided, lest it induce contention and cold-heartedness and thereby diminish devotional ... Read More

Not everyone is a fan of catechesis—or even intentional Scripture memorization—and in what follows, I’d like to address seven common concerns, four this week and three next, concluding with a personal confession and some practical guidance:  “Catechesis is brainwashing”— British philosopher and author A. C. Grayling said that “Religions survive mainly because they brainwash the young.”[1] Is he right in ... Read More

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes ... Read More

Even extraverts need regular times of solitude to stay spiritually healthy. Ian Marcus Corbin, philosopher and research fellow at Harvard Medical School, reminds us: “…Befriending oneself is a prerequisite for becoming a true friend to others. We do this by sitting quietly alone, coming to terms with who and what we are, forging some order out of the riot of ... Read More

Listening is rudimentary to being a good human; it’s one of the most fundamental forms of respect. Further, it’s a basic signifier of our humility. And our wisdom: Proverbs tells us it’s only the fool that utters all his mind[1] and “He that answers a matter before listening it is a folly and shame to him.”[2] The fundamental loss of ... Read More

One of the many things I’m grateful to my mom for is passing on some of her dad’s books and correspondence to me. My grandfather, Ralph Whitson Seaman, was a Lutheran minister with excellent diction, a gift for learning languages, and a fascination for words. He also had a good sense of humor.  At that time, his denomination and others ... Read More

Hi Friends, I hope your summer is going well. Pam and I are in St. John on vacation and I wanted to share an update with you. Care Net: Care Net’s pace has not let up this year and, on this side of the pandemic, I have been doing a lot of speaking and traveling. Most recently I have done ... Read More

The answer to this question may be partly cultural and due to “Israel’s temptation to follow after fertility Gods.”[1] Missiologist and Fuller Theological Seminary professor Scott Sunquist also notes: “Why not Mother?” The simple answer is that we are not given “Mother” as a name for God. The deeper reason may be that “mother’ or “mother earth” were designations for ... Read More

Hey Friends, The book is almost finished! I appreciate your prayers regarding the logistics of pulling everything together in the next few weeks. Here’s a peek at the Introduction: I wasn’t into zombies or The Walking Dead franchise as much as my kids were, but I have enjoyed other post-apocalyptic expressions like The Terminator, The Hunger Games, and Cormac McCarthy’s ... Read More

To all the fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day! In the Bible, what is said about God often makes use of what theologians have traditionally called anthropomorphic language; that is, language that speaks of God in human terms. For example, we might talk about “the eyes of the Lord” or “the long arm of the Lord.” Other places in Scripture ... Read More

It was the morning of July 19, 2014—the day after my oldest son’s wedding—and I was lost in thought. Just the night before, at the glorious end of a full day of celebration, Pam and I had watched as he, his beautiful bride, and many friends danced with all their hearts to Coldplay’s “Sky Full of Stars.” Standing there, watching ... Read More

Dads who come out of their caves learn to care about their communities. They are like the dad connected to the virtuous woman in Prov. 31: “Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land” (23, ESV). To sit by the city gates was to sit among the civic leaders: listening, discussing problems, ... Read More

“I knew he loved me… but he would lock himself away.” I’ve heard many versions of this in my pastoral ministry over the years and it’s a real problem. Batman may do some of his best work in his cave, but hero-dads need to think through the healthy and unhealthy parts of isolation– including our legitimate need for solitude, quietness, ... Read More