Near-death Experiences?
How should a person view death? Paul says death is the “last enemy to be destroyed” (1 Cor. 15:26). The writer of Hebrews says that Christ came to “deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (2:15). For some, the fear of death can be overwhelming, but Christians know that Christ defeated the “last enemy to be destroyed” This gives us hope. We often think about dying well. However, what does Scripture...
Jane Austen, the Christian
Since their publication in the early nineteenth century, Jane Austen’s brilliant novels have been read and enjoyed. They are often viewed as the ultimate examples of romantic literature. Though they certainly model true love and good marriage, Austen has much more to say to her readers, particularly in regards to faith and good living. Since Jane Austen’s death in 1817, scholars and critics have shown great interest in the religious...
The Vine Project: A Review
Does church make you tired? By this I don’t mean do the sermons make you sleepy. But are the programs, events, and demands too many, and the laborers too few? From my experience, many pastors, deacons, and laymen feel this way. They’re overworked, underequipped, and a bit distressed by the seeming lack of success that their church is experiencing. The problem may be that twenty percent of the members are doing eighty percent of the...
New Guides in Familiar Territory: The Division of Knowledge in Lewis, Chesterton, and Green
Contrary to popular opinion, most people consider their history an important element for understanding their present. Knowing what happened in the past offers landmarks and signposts for navigating the present.[1] Christians especially are interested in history. If the Gospel isn’t historical, then we’re of all people most miserable (1 Cor. 15:1-20). When we look into history we see that God is sharing His work with us. Since creation...
Are You Ministering to Humans?
In the 1982 blockbuster Blade Runner, (or its literary precursor Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, is assigned to track down bio-engineered replicates and “retire” them—that is, kill them. Of course, the duplicates and humans look and sound exactly the same. The only way to distinguish between a human person and a facsimile is to use a test, the Voight-Kampff, which focuses on their...
Church Music and Insomnia
by Daniel Webster Weekly since I was sixteen years old, I have stood before Christ’s church and led music within the worship service. Needless to say, while in this position, I have been learning throughout the process as much as I have been leading. I have said lately that many of the decisions I’ve made through the years in the area of music have caused me to lose sleep. While such a statement may actually be an overstatement, there...
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