RoundupEach fall all across the west roundups take place. In the spring cattle are turned out on the range to fatten and grow on the grass. On many of these ranges cattle from various ranches will mingle as they graze away the lazy days of summer. As days shorten and shadows lengthen it eventually becomes time to gather the ranges and bring all the cattle to large sets of corrals where they are sorted by brands and taken back to their home ranches for fall work and winter feeding.
To the Rescue?In her seminal work, How the West Really lost God, Mary Eberstadt wrestles with the reasons for “trickle down secularism” that have eroded western civilization. She makes some interesting assertions in the book.
In one chapter she wrestles with Fredrick Nietzsche’s postulates about the death of God.
As she does so she develops one of the most important theses of the book: The privatization of religion always leads to its erosion.
Religion in and of itself demands community. The more individualistic we become, the less Christian we conversely are. View full article »
On The Lord’s DayThe first day of the week was hallowed for the Christian by the resurrection of Jesus. On Easter we celebrate the resurrection in a special way. However, we celebrate the triumph of the resurrection every Sunday when we gather as Christians to remember and proclaim His victory over death. The Sabbath (7th day) was set apart by God at creation as a day to remember what He had done in 6 days. After He worked, He rested. For the Christian, we remember before we go to work. We rest in Jesus’ finished work and that rest then translates into faithful service all through the week. View full article »
A Pastor’s Heart“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.”
Romans 1:8
In the Lord, I could not be prouder of a church than I am of EBC. I know I’m a little bit partial, but seriously I thank my God through Jesus Christ for each of you and all of you. You all are my joy and crown! View full article »
Narrow Terms“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” I Timothy 3:14-15
Bruce Shelley in his excellent work, Church history, begins by telling a story. At the Seminary where he taught he posted a comic strip of Peanuts on the door of his study for many years. It brought many an uncomfortable chuckle from those who passed by. View full article »
The Praying ChurchThe early church remained constant in prayer. These prayers were for many things: relief from persecution, boldness to testify, power from on high, the conversion of the lost and the return of the Lord. No doubt, some of these prayers were for their homeland- Israel. The early church saw God move in power because it was a praying church. God is a God who loves to answer prayer. View full article »
Creeds
Without a doubt, perhaps the most important creedal formula that emerged from the early Church is what we call the Nicene Creed.
With Constantine’s gradual acceptance of Christianity and eventual stamp of approval on it, the persecuted church slowly crept out of the shadows and emerged as a public front.
As it did so, and disparate groups from across the empire began to interact, View full article »