POC Blog

The random technotheolosophical blogging of Reid S. Monaghan

Cranach -- The blog of Gene Ed Veith

A new blog on Christianity an Culture...I believe Veith is an evangelical Lutheran. Cranach -- The blog of Gene Ed Veith
--------
In
2 Comments

You Are Bringing Strange Things to Our Ears: Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age

Al Mohler is running a three-part series on the task of Apologetics in our day. Instalment one is an indication that this will be a thoughful and engaged series. I look forward to the read Link - "You Are Bringing Strange Things to Our Ears:" Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age If time permits I may try to run a parallel series here at Power of Change on Apologetics in Our Day... May God multiply the time .
--------
In
Comment

ESV Bible Blog

Crossway Books has just published a really unique Children's Bible. It has illustrations and supplemental materials which teaches some theology to kids. I preordered this months ago for my 4 year old (yes, I know - that seems a bit ambitious - but we have fun talking about all this stuff) and can't wait for it to come. Many exciting lessons ahead for bed time with Daddy! Link - ESV Bible Blog
In ,
Comment

Intellectuelle: The Postmodern Medium-Length Catechism

This is pretty good - and indicative of our times... Link: Intellectuelle: The Postmodern Medium-Length Catechism HT - A Practice in Belief
--------
In
Comment

The Dark Side of Faith? Here We Go Again

Research? Yes, unbiased scientific statistical research...or maybe not... The Dark Side of Faith? Here We Go Again
--------
In
Comment

Very Good Comments by Greg Koukl on John 14:6

Justin Taylor at Theologica has linked to a good little discussion the the Stand to Reason Blog Link - Way, Truth, Life
--------
In
Comment

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey - Study Guide Now Available

Study guide now available for a really good book... Nancy Pearcey is a fine thinker and a great contributor to current discourse of many topics. Link - Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey Official Site: Home .
--------
In
Comment

The A-Team Blog :: Avoiding the Seminary Trap

Great advice from "Face" over at the A-Team blog...being both in vocational ministry and in Seminary and a blogger - this advice is fresh water reminding me of the dryness I know too well when time with God is scant. Oh to find the grace to sit, pray, delight, take a walk, dream, read and reflect upon the excellencies of He who has called us from darkness into his marvelous light - 1 Peter 2:9 Link: The A-Team Blog :: Avoiding the Seminary Trap .
--------
Comment

This is a must read for our generation....

This is one of the best things I have seen come through the pages of Relevant Magazine A New Kind of Hipster Also, see my mini-review of the book referenced at the end of this article. I highly recommend the book: Prophetic Untimeliness - A Challenge to the Idol of Relevance by Os Guiness
--------
In
Comment

Fear and Comfort in the Wind

I feel my chest move in and out, in and out

The expansion of my lungs, I feel it…breath

I can hear nothing but the breaking of silence

Nothing, but yet something moves

A sweet breeze, a slow wind coming, yes coming, coming to me?

Oh, I feel a presence, Oh, something real – NO, someone is here

I fear, no I need, I long, I desire…but I fear

Comfort, yes, it is with Him, but yet I stay here

The wind blows…yet I know not where it goes

The wind blows…it is rushing into my soul

I fear, no I need, I long, I desire…but yet I fear

Comfort, yes, it is with Him, yes, I shall come to Him

Move towards Him, Yes, now! Move, now

But no, what will that mean?

But yet he calls, he moves, he breathes

So that in the wind I might hear

I will come – thank you, thank you

Breath to Dust – I am alive again

-- Reid S. Monaghan - September 2005

.

--------
In
Comment

iiiiiiii

Yes, someone is paying to put this web site online - too funny! iiiiiiii
--------
In
Comment

LibraryThing | Catalog your books online

LibraryThing | Catalog your books online This looks very tasty - but what if they go out of business? Hmmm.... HT: Theologica, in turn from Evangelical Outpost .
--------
In
Comment

Start a Revolution--Eat Dinner With Your Family

Al Mohler cites some interesting research - Together is better...Start a Revolution--Eat Dinner With Your Family .
--------
Comment

Inversion Podcast

What is that? Aw, Yeaaaah! The Inversion Podcast is up and running. All of the teaching from the Inversion Gatherings will be pushed out to iTunes and other Podcast Aggregators from this day forth. Podcast Podcast file - www.inversionfellowship.org/inversion_podcast.xml or just connect through the iTunes podcast directory. .
--------
In
Comment

Katrina...

Donate to Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts. The following are recommended by Desiring God Ministries to assist victims of Hurrican Katrina:
  • Castle Rock Community Church and Urban Impact Ministries exists together to transform the Central City of New Orleans through Spiritual Development, Christian Community Development and Strategic Partnerships. Last summer, Bethlehem’s Youth Pastor, Brad Nelson, brought a short-term mission team to assist with the summer outreach. Now the ministry staff and church people have scattered. Seventy have evacuated to Arkansas.
  • Desire Street Fellowship and Desire Street Ministries are located in New Orleans. Pastor Mo Leverett and his wife moved into the Desire neighborhood and founded DSM in 1990, a time when the Desire project was ranked the worst in the country. The ministry has planted a church, Desire Street Fellowship and a school, Desire Street Academy. In the wake of the hurricane, the staff has been scattered taking with them many of the 200 boys from the school. For the time being they are planning to set up a temporary school in Atlanta. They tell us, “Our greatest immediate needs are for prayers and funding.”
  • The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Missions Board has a Disaster Relief section on the website. There you will find several ministry avenues for disbursing relief through Southern Baptist churches and affiliations.
  • World Relief can also be supported directly with an online donation or by mailing a check to: Katrina Hurricane Relief Effort, World Relief, 7 E Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21202 or call (800) 535-5433.
  • Prison Fellowship is gathering critical supplies—toiletries, blankets, etc.—to truck down to Louisiana’s prisons. You can donate online or by calling (800) 206-9764.
An interesting essay by John Piper is available from Desiring God Ministries as well. In times of tragedy, crying out to God, repentence, trust in the Cross of Christ is the only way. Katrina has reminded me of several things in the human condition. Here are some things I have learned:
  1. The pride of man to build a city in a bowl, protected by levees, a disaster waiting to happen...Pride goes before destruction,and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
  2. The kindness of human beings. The compassion of people on their neighbors has been an amazing thing to observe. Particularly the rallying of churches and believers to give, go, pray, open homes, has been a testimony to the God worshipped by these people.
  3. The depravity of man. Beyond race, color, creed, or political persuasion, people have evidence the truth of Scripture - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The reports of rape, looting, violence has brought discouragement to many - oh how much more to live through this on the ground. Many brave souls have seen such depravity, yet held on to hope.
  4. We are not as strong as we think we are. In the last 100 years the wonderful technological advancement has given the illusion of stability and the easy life to far too many. The reality is that we are but dust, a fraile creature, each of our deaths certain. Those who perished in Katrina passed on in a drastic, tragic fashion. The rest of us have the same appointment, whether quickly or in a few score years from now, slowly dying with tubes and machines hooked to our bodies. The end is the same.
Who can escape this body of death, who can escape this body of sin - but by the grace of God in the person of Christ - we live and then die without hope. In the midst of great suffering, the ancient patriarch Job cried out "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him" Such is our only recourse - our God is a present help in a time of trouble. An old hymn comes to mind:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. It is Well with My Soul by Horatio Spafford
Such was written in tragedy by a man who had just lost his children in a shipwreck. Such is the soul established on the rock of Christ and a life built on his words (Matthew 7:24, 25) .
--------
In
Comment

Louisiana's Wetlands @ National Geographic Magazine

Reading this article - which ran in Oct 2004 - is a bit spooky... We are not as strong as we think we are...we think we are the masters of our world. We are not...we are not... Gone with the Water
--------
In
Comment

Biblical Perspectives on Sex and Autoeroticism

Challies is running an interesting series on sex and Autoeroticism (yes, you can figure that one out for yourself). He begins with a disclaimer:
I am not aware of a large number of children that read this site, but despite that I'd like to begin this article with a quick warning. What I am writing about in this short series deals with a subject that is best-suited for adults. So if you are still young, I'd prefer you had your mom or dad read it first and decide if this is something they would like you to read. Fair enough?
Fair enough...He then continues with an overview of some material from Sex and the Supremacy of Christ - a new book edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor...he goes on to the "auto" stuff in part II - just so you know...but don't read Part II first...smile. Biblical Perspectives on Sex and Autoeroticism
  1. Part I is Here
  2. Part II Here
.
--------
In
Comment

Between Two Worlds: Christian Beliefs: 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know

Justin Taylor has an entry about a new version of Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. First there was "big Grudem" then there was "little Grudem" now there is a "tiny little Grudem"
Taylor has a breakout of the chapters of this book at the link below: Between Two Worlds: Christian Beliefs: 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know
--------
In
Comment

god-casting, Podcasting

Interesting article on the New York Times on the use of Podcasting in pushing teaching out to people - We will be podcasting our Inversion messages this fall as well :) ht - Theologica.blogspot.com
--------
In
Comment

What is Truth?

I recently taught a short two part series on Truth on Sunday mornings here at Fellowship Nashville. In two short Sunday morning messages, you cannot possibly touch such a topic this complex with any rigor, but it was a great challenge which was a lot of fun. Below are my notes from the two messages, links to audio and video, as well as a reading list for further study. Series Title: What is Truth? We pray these are an encouragement to love the one who is the Truth, who reveals Truth, calls us to live the Truth... .
--------
In
Comment