Considering the Meaning of Righteousness

In chapter 3 of The Future of Justification, John Piper pretty much dismantles N.T. Wright’s views concerning law-court dynamics and the meaning of God’s righteousness.
Wright tends to prefer  that justification, and the law-court imagery, refer primarily, though not exclusively, to the final law-court.  He does tie this to what has happened in Christ.  The issue [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering All Kinds of Things

We are currently on vacation here in the Adirondacks.  Another snowy day, but I can’t enjoy it out there.  I’m stuck inside with an injured knee.  I wish I had a great story- snowboarding, wrestling with a wild animal, something, anything other than merely shoveling snow and trying to turn while knee deep in a [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Piper, Wright and Chalke

Chapter 2 of Piper’s The Future of Justification is on The Relationship Between Covenant and Law-Court Imagery for Justification.  Here Piper begins to address Wright’s definition of justification and his use of law-court imagery.  In the process we find places where N.T. Wright is right, and places where he is not so right.
N.T. Wright says [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Reading Into the Text

Chapter One of The Future of Justification by John Piper is called Caution: Not All Biblical Theological Methods and Categories are Illuminating.  He notes how we often hear warnings about reading our systematic theology into a text.  I was talking about that with some family members last night as we discussed, among other things, Covenant [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Pastoral Polemics

I began reading The Future of Justification by John Piper yesterday.  So far it is very good.  In his introduction, Piper confesses “we all wear colored glasses” and that his “temptation is to defend a view because it has been believed for centuries.  His (Wright’s) temptation is to defend a view because it fits so [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Running Scared

It was a bit more than 30 days, but I finished Running Scared: fear, worry, and the God of rest by Edward Welch this morning.  Though the book was a tad uneven, overall it was a very good book providing meaningful help for all who struggle with fear and worry (which would be all of [...]

Read Full Post »

Fantasy Goes Down the Drain

It was looking good for a Fantasy Football Championship, until about 5 pm.
My opponent had 2 guys in the games Thursday and Friday, and they turned in subpar performances.  Sunday morning I swapped out Plaxico and Reggie Williams for 2 guys I picked up on the waiver wire (dumping Donte Stallworth and the “finally on [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Blue Like Jazz, the Movie

Former CCM “bad boy” Steve Taylor will get his second opportunity to direct a movie.  And it will be one of my favorite books of the last few years- Blue Like Jazz.  How, you might ask, can you turn a collection of essays into a movie?  I wondered too.  Donald Miller answers that and other [...]

Read Full Post »

Moving Beyond the 8 lbs. 6 oz. Baby Jesus

My first Advent sermon on Matthew 1:1, Moving Beyond the 8 lbs. 6 oz Baby Jesus, is now available on line.  There is one part where I forgot to put the reference in Galatians 3 in my notes (initially there was supposed to be a powerpoint slide) and saw a jumble of black, white & [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering The Great Exchange

I haven’t finished The Great Exchange: My Sin for His Righteousness by Jerry Bridges & Bob Bevington yet.  But I’ve read enough to get this review out of my head and off my desk.
This book was “inspired” by George Smeaton’s classic work on the atonement, The Apostles’ Doctrine of the Atonement (or as my copy [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering the Fantasy Football Finals

Well, despite Larry Johnson and Roy Williams being hurt, and on my “No Cut” list, I was able to make the playoffs.  I also overcame a big injury-inspired slump by Plaxico Burgess.  But some late season pick-ups including Fragile Freddy Taylor and Earnest Graham have been a big help.
I nearly conceded round one of the playoffs [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Work Conditions

While reading Crichton’s The Great Train Robbery, I was amused to discover the work conditions for the clerks of the bank which held the gold prior to shipment.  Here are the “Rules for Office Staff” posted in 1854:
1. Godliness, cleanliness and punctuality are the necessities of a good business.
2. The firm has reduced the working [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering I am Legend

I saw The Omega Man when I was a kid.  Pretty much a B-movie.  It was scary because their were so many “Dark Seekers”.  There weren’t scary so much as creepy.
The newest version, which returns to the title of the book, is downright scary.  The “Dark Seekers” are rabid, fast and dangerous.
Will Smith plays soldier-scientist [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Crime

I’ve been reading The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton.  In the Introduction, he mentions that serious academic inquiry about crime began in the 1870’s.  What he found the experts to say bears repeating, since we often hear contrary statements made.
“First, crime is not a consequence of poverty.  In the words of Barnes and Teeters [...]

Read Full Post »

Pettitte Comes Clean (Sort of)

Andy Pettitte’s agent released an admission that he used HGH 2 times while rehabbing his elbow in 2002.
“If what I did was an error in judgment on my part, I apologize,” Pettitte said Saturday in a statement released by his agent. “I accept responsibility for those two days.”
IF?  Yes, Andy, it was an error in [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering the Twins’ & Santana’s Demand

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Dec. 14): “The agent for Johan Santana has told the Yankees, Red Sox and other teams interested in Twins star pitcher that the price to sign him is a minimum of seven years at $20 million per year, for a total of $140 million guaranteed. The Twins definitely will not [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Myself a Bruised Reed

Got some less than stellar news last night.  Another interview that didn’t result in a new position.  It was very discouraging.  I’ve seen lots of guys with lots of baggage get new calls reasonably quickly.  I seem to keep coming up short- despite a number of people who value me as a brother and pastor. 
One [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering the Mitchell Report

It is D-Day for the Mitchell Report.  There has been lots of speculation going on.  Some find it less than coincidental that 2 of the names leaked are those of Yankees (Clemens and Pettite) since former Senator Mitchell is on the Red Sox board of directors.  Well, according the Boston Herald ….
“Mitchell, the former U.S. [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Jesus, the son of David & son of Abraham

I’m currently preparing my 2 advent sermons.  Only 2 since I’m only doing some itinerent pulpit supply this year.  That is a big switch.  But it works well for my plan.  I’ll be preaching on Matthew 1:1.  Yeah… Matthew 1:1.
Matthew 1:1 is really the Big Idea for the rest of Matthew’s Gospel.  Matthew sets out [...]

Read Full Post »

Considering Great Boston Sports Seasons

Boston.com decided to post the numbers for some of the greatest seasons in Boston Sports History.  The reason?  The potential record-breaking seasons by Tom Brady and Randy Moss.
Tom Brady: 45 touchdowns (a mere 5 interceptions) with 3 games to get 5 TDs to set a new record.  If he gets 1,000 more yards, he will [...]

Read Full Post »