YouTube Channels and Podcasts have things called "playlists" where videos and audio tracks are organized according to topic. My blog has something like that, too. I call them "Topical Tracks," and you can find them at the top of the page whenever you are on my blog site. So far there are five of them. … Continue reading Blog Announcement: A New Topical Track
Pastor Note #136: Cable News Networks Are Evil
What follows will read like a rant. I’m sorry about that. Try not to traffic in rants. So, let me ask that you take it as a plea—a plea from the heart of a pastor who is concerned for your spiritual well-being. If you watch more than an hour or so of some 24-hour cable … Continue reading Pastor Note #136: Cable News Networks Are Evil
Quote of Note #180: The Christian & Partisan Politics
"In culturally polarized times, it can be tempting to find comfort in a partisan Christ who will place a halo over our politics. But the biblical Jesus calls us to renounce the world and follow him--to allow the gospel to lead us." Jonathan K. Dodson, The Unwavering Pastor: Leading the Church with Grace in Divisive … Continue reading Quote of Note #180: The Christian & Partisan Politics
Quote of Note #179: Spiritual Wisdom and Justice
"Spiritual wisdom is false unless it goes beyond pious sacrifices and regulated worship services and enters into the bloodstream of society by giving justice to the downtrodden, the lonely, and the destitute, and ending the oppression of social outcasts (Isaiah 1:10-20; 29:13-24; 58-59; Amos 5-6; Micah 2-3, 6)." Calvin G. Seerveld, Biblical Studies and Wisdom … Continue reading Quote of Note #179: Spiritual Wisdom and Justice
Pastor Note #135: A Pro-Life Voter Votes Democrat
A Pro-life Voter Votes Democrat Why would a pro-life voter vote for Democrats? I’ll explain. The Republican Party portrays itself as the “pro-life” party. I would note, however, that the term “pro-life” never appears in the Republican Party’s official 2024 platform. But in the section of the platform that addresses the issue of abortion, we … Continue reading Pastor Note #135: A Pro-Life Voter Votes Democrat
Quote of Note #178: Our Broken Selves
"I understand why people work so hard to conceal their suffering. They don't want other people to think something is wrong with them. But, beloved, there is something wrong with all of us. We live in a fallen, sin-stained world, we all suffer its effects--yes, even those of us who call Jesus Christ our Lord … Continue reading Quote of Note #178: Our Broken Selves
Quote of Note #177: True Christian Discipleship
"Orthopraxy. . . is demonstrated in relationship to God, his word, and people who are made in his image. Becoming an expert in doctrine does not make one a disciple. On the contrary, Jesus taught that the clearest evidence that we are truly disciples is when we 'love one another' as he has loved us … Continue reading Quote of Note #177: True Christian Discipleship
Quote of Note #176: Drawing People to Christ
"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." Madeleine L'Engle, Waltking on Water: Reflections on … Continue reading Quote of Note #176: Drawing People to Christ
Quote of Note #175: Christlike Living, the Cruciform Life
"Jesus calls his followers to a countercultural, sacrificial, and cruciform life. Christianity is not about internal morality or rigorously keeping a list of commandments. It is about becoming more like Jesus. As we grow in Christlikeness, our lives will become more reflective of the love, mercy, and justice of Jesus." Dominique Dubois Gilliard, Subversive Witness: … Continue reading Quote of Note #175: Christlike Living, the Cruciform Life
Quote of Note #174: Christlike Cultural Engagement
"Among the most countercultural things Jesus ever said, no matter the culture, were his commands in the Sermon on the Mount: 'But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also,' and 'You have heard that it was said, "Love … Continue reading Quote of Note #174: Christlike Cultural Engagement
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 