Category: The Christian Spirit

Reflections on living as a disciple of Christ.

Chambers, Reagan, & the Spiritual Crisis

  

I finished another semester last Friday. The goal of my teaching is always to point students to Biblical truth; history is the vehicle. At the end of my course covering the second half of American history—after I’ve spent weeks showcasing the loss of Biblical principles in America over the last century or so—I like to close the course with a couple of quotes from those who clearly witnessed this loss and sought to reverse it. Whittaker Chambers and Ronald Reagan… Read more »

The Thanksgiving Lifestyle

  

I spent most of my Thanksgiving Day by my wife’s hospital bed. She had an unexpected surgery the day before. The normal reaction is to say that’s not the way to spend Thanksgiving, and I would agree. Yet even in the midst of a trial, we should never lose sight of the many ways God has revealed His love and mercy throughout our lives. How does one measure the value of God’s forgiveness? What price tag can you put on… Read more »

Being Faithful unto Death

  

Yousef Nadarkhani lives under a sentence of death. Iran plans to execute him for the crime of being a Christian pastor. It all began in 2009 when Nadarkhani objected to his children being indoctrinated into Islam in the school they were required to attend. He was standing for parental rights as well as the Christian faith. His outspoken views led to his arrest and the eventual death penalty sentence. This has created a furor in what could be called the… Read more »

A 9/11 Reflection

  

My church last night held a superb 9/11 remembrance. The video clips were familiar but always sobering as we relived the events of that day. The personal testimonies were compelling. Remarks by the mayor, chief of police, county sheriff, and fire chief were not only appropriate but inspiring. The music, professional yet heartfelt, led us all into the presence of the Lord. The pastor’s message was perfect for the evening. It’s nice being part of a community where the various… Read more »

Christian School Graduates: What Are They Like?

  

I just read through the results of a recent survey of Christian school graduates [pre-college] that sought to determine whether graduates from those Christian schools were achieving the goals of the schools—academic excellence, spiritual formation, and the engagement of the larger culture. Some of those results are heartening, while one in particular is discouraging, to me at least. The positives for Protestant Christian schools, the ones with which I am most familiar and am closer to in spirit, can be… Read more »

Location, Location, Location

  

I have no problem with presidents taking vacations. With modern communications technology, no president is out of touch with world events or incapable of fulfilling the mandates of the office, no matter where he may be. Therefore, I don’t criticize President Obama for taking a vacation at this time, particularly in the last part of August when Congress is in recess. But if he is not out of touch with the world at large, his choice of vacation spots reveals… Read more »

Jefferson’s Definition of “Christian”

  

Yesterday I pointed out false quotations attributed to Washington, Henry, and Madison with respect to their linkage to the Christian faith. Now, that doesn’t mean they weren’t Christians. My only purpose in highlighting those false quotes was to caution us to be careful, and to be sure we are accurate when we show how America was founded on Biblical principles. I have another example today of how well-meaning Christians can convey a false impression—well, actually it borders on an outright… Read more »