• Christianity,  Personal

    Dr. Harold Hoehner (1935-2009)

    I just received word that one of my old professors from DTS has passed away, Dr. Harold Hoehner. The seminary has a tribute posted on their website that you should take a minute to read. Here are some random remembrances of what it was like to be his student. Dr. Hoehner was more than just a professor at DTS. He was an institution. His tenure overlapped that of four different Presidents of the school: Dr. John Walvoord, Dr. Donald Campbell, Dr. Chuck Swindoll, and Dr. Mark Bailey. Dr. Hoehner taught at DTS for 42 years.

  • Theology/Bible

    Wright’s New Book: This Is Irenic?

    I have recently begun to read N. T. Wright’s new book on justification, Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision. In an earlier post, I noted that this is the book in which Wright responds to John Piper’s book on the same topic. I am not posting a full review here. I only want to make an observation about the book’s tone thus far. Last month, there was quite a bit of discussion about IVP’s release of the endorsements of the book (see also Justin Taylor’s discussion). Though endorsers touted the book as an “irenic” response to Piper, we found the endorsements to be anything but “irenic.” We withheld judgment about…

  • Culture

    Abortion Outrage: Face to Face with a Human Being

    I just read a report in the Associated Press that is too awful to believe. But it is true nevertheless. An 18-year old girl went to an abortion clinic near Miami, Florida to abort her 23-week old unborn baby. After the procedure had begun, the abortion doctor did not show up in time to kill the baby before it was delivered. Here’s the description from the AP.

  • Christianity,  Music

    Keith & Kristyn Getty

    Keith and Kristyn Getty are probably best known for their song “In Christ Alone.” It’s already become a modern day classic and is sung in churches all over the world. The Getty’s song-writing, however, goes far beyond just this one song. They are on a mission to write gospel-centered, bible-saturated, doctrinally-sound hymns for the Christian church. You will not find any “Jesus is my girlfriend” type songs with the Getty’s. They are producing God-exalting material, and I think their ministry is a great gift to the church.

  • Christianity

    Is Your Worship Music Too Loud?

    John Stackhouse penned an article this week for Christianity Today with the apt title, “Memo to Worship Bands: Five sound reasons to lower the volume.” Stackhouse’s central concern is summed up in this sentence: “I find almost every worship band in every church I visit to be too loud—not just a little bit loud, but uncomfortably, even painfully, loud.” He then goes on to give five reasons why worship leaders should turn down the volume.

  • Theology/Bible

    Newest Issue of SWJT

    The latest issue of the Southwestern Journal of Theology is now available. The theme of this issue is “The Bible” and is dedicated to the late L. Russ Bush. Three of the articles are available for free download, including one by me. Here is the Table of Contents: Issue Theme: “The Bible“ “Editorial,” by Malcolm B. Yarnell III “In Memoriam,” by Mark Leeds “Luther Russell Bush III,” by Jason G. Duesing “Understanding Biblical Inerrancy,” by L. Russ Bush “The Issue is Truth,” by Paige Patterson “Is Inerrancy Sufficient? A Plea to Biblical Scholars,” by Denny R. Burk The article that I wrote is an adaptation of a paper that I…

  • Christianity

    Celebrating the Ministry of John MacArthur

    John MacArthur’s The Gospel According to Jesus: What is Authentic Faith? was probably the most important, theologically formative books that I read as a college student. The Lord used that book in my life to free me from the “easy-believism” gospel that I had unconsciously imbibed from the pervasive cultural Christianity that surrounded me. Long before I ever heard MacArthur preach a sermon, I read this book. And it changed me forever.

  • Humor,  Sports

    Let’s Abolish the Super Bowl

    I just finished watching one of the most exciting Super Bowls I have ever seen. The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the final seconds of Super Bowl 43—a contest that will surely go down as a game for the ages. Even though it was a great game, I have a complaint to make. Tonight’s game brought this NFL season to a far too definitive conclusion. It’s the same problem every year. The NFL ends the season by requiring the teams with the best records to play one another in a single elimination playoff. Only the winners advance, and the final game always features the champions of the two…