Last week in a Sunday school class I was teaching, someone asked about being delivered from depression. I noted that God is surely able to do so. But I tried to give another perspective on this—that pain may actually be a means of blessing. As C.S. Lewis observed, pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a dulled world.

In our culture, we have a tendency to be preoccupied with the alleviation of pain. But there is a danger: we can become so absorbed with “recovery” from pain that we make this a higher priority than knowing Christ or being delivered from sin.

Do we find ourselves more upset with our discomfort than with our lack of Christ-likeness and sin? Our main problem is not pain; alienation from God and idolatry and sin are. Once we realize that God is not obligated to take our pain away (as Paul experienced with his “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12), our relationship with God can be enriched and deepened. Continue Reading »

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The Credo House of Theology is well on the way. Get the latest updates here.

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Well, I am not just trying to just pick on the Emerging church (especially since I am always being accused of being a part of it!), but I wrote the original ten as twenty. I did not want the last ten to go to waste. In fact, I think they may be better than the first ten! 

10. You start a Christian blog, but leave it blank, fearing that you might offend someone.
9. You are not any good at art, yet you continue to present the Gospel by painting stick figures on recycled paper.
8. When you present the Gospel, Heaven is renamed The Matrix and you call yourself Neo. Continue Reading »

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Most of you did not know, but I am at Camp Kanakuk in Branson MO this week speaking. It is their family camp. I am teaching for five days on grace. I started Tuesday introducing the need for grace in our postmodern culture. I then defined grace from a biblical perspective. Yesterday we began what we will try to conclude today: “How do we give grace to others.” Oh, how hard this is. It is really hitting home for all of us. As I told the group of 25 families, I just don’t feel comfortable teaching this anymore. I am really good at receiving grace, but I have such a hard time giving it. I defined people who are “un-gracious” as those who spend their time criticising others, especially those who they are closest to. Ouch! God forgive me for teaching on a subject that I fail at so consistently. Continue Reading »

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In a previous post I put this question forward: Would Christ have died had he not been killed? The question is brought about by our pondering upon Christ’s identification with humanity and humanity’s identification with sin and death. Since Christ did not sin, and death is a result of sin, then wouldn’t it be systematic to believe that Christ would have lived forever in his unresurrected body had He not been 1) killed or 2) relinquished His spirit from His body? Continue Reading »

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The emperor has no clothes. You all know the story. When people have an influential belief, there are reasons why it is influential, right? Of course, or it would not be influential. But the “what” of these reasons is always a case of hit or miss apologetics where consideration of their view is either asked for based upon the evidence, or demanded by a passionate appeal. Those who use the latter to argue their case have little recourse other than emotions. Continue Reading »

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[audio:http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/CWS/jpmorelandkingdomtriangle.mp3] 

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One of the most neglected aspects of the Christian faith within Protestantism is communion. Some churches observe it only once a year; most, once a month. But in the beginning of the Christian faith, it was observed daily. After abuses, the practice fell to once a week, the Lord’s day. Many churches still observe the Eucharist weekly. This is the biblical pattern, and I believe that it is one that should be continued even now.

One theologian noted, “Christians must attend [the communion]; and this they do not as a duty, but as a distinct privilege. They may feel unworthy to attend it, and yet they know that they are welcome by our Lord, Who numbers them among His chosen people….” No, this wasn’t written by John Calvin, Martin Luther, Charles Hodge, or even John Wesley. It was written by Nicholas Elias, a Greek Orthodox priest. Continue Reading »

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[audio:http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session1/IT1a.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session1/IT1b.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session1/IT1c.mp3, http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session1/IT1d.mp3]
Note: there are multiple sessions that will play back to back. Total time is just over 1 hour.

(what is this all about?)

Continue Reading »

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Well, maybe not a year. In fact it will be 60 weeks. Starting today (June 24), those of you who have desired to become a part of The Theology Program of Reclaiming the Mind Ministries, but but do not want to be a formal student will have this new opportunity. Continue Reading »

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This is an interesting question to ponder. I believe that it is more than just pure speculation, but has implications on how we view Christ and His identity with mankind and how you view the effects of sin on man. I will leave this up here and then blog on it soon to defend my proposition of its importance. Continue Reading »

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I thought that I would continue with the blogging fun. Here are the top ten signs that you are taking this blogging thing TOO far. 

10. You blog on blogs.
9. Your username on other blogs is one of the following: blogforhim, semperblogging, jediblogger, blogaphobia.
8. You send the XML of your own blogs to your PDA

Continue Reading »

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Not really 101. My brief six months of blogging does not quite qualify me to teach this level of blogging education. Either way, I thought that I would give you some of my thoughts, colored with shades of green as they may be.

I like blogging. I don’t really know why yet, but it is fun. It is a chance to share, teach, fellowship, and have fun all in one venue. The blogsphere seems to be tolerant to my blogging so far, crazy as some of them may be. I have been pleasantly surprised by regular attendance of the blog. In fact, of all the ministries we offer at Reclaiming the Mind, the blog has the most “attendance.” Internet marketers call this “stickiness.” I guess one would expect such since it is updated so regularly. I am learning, and the learning curve is modest, yet full of interesting nuances. Anyway, thanks for your interest.

Here are some things that I have learned thus far (and this is NOT blogging Gospel): Continue Reading »

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Question/Answers Segment: Romans 7, Are we slaves to sin or free?  Thanks Steve Moore!

[audio:http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TUP/TUProgram67_Listener_Questions_4.mp3]

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First Things is brought to you live on Connection Gate

Join us as we discuss the subject of healing and review J.P. Morland’s presentation of Converse with Scholars last night.

[audio:http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/FirstThings/FirstThings_2.mp3]

Mentioned on Broadcast:
Internet Monk
Coffee Cup Apologetics #11: Do Christians Make the World Better?
Volunteers Needed:Facilitate The Theology Program in your church or area

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Will large evangelistic “crusade” type events finally come to a conclusion as our hunger for depth and drama increase? Does the postmodern demands for authenticity make large group revivals passé? Has money seeking charlatans made the Christian message not worth the time in this setting? Continue Reading »

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 Brought to you on Connection Gate
 

Join us as we discuss the seeker sensitive movement.
Mentioned on Broadcast:
Desiring God STAND Conference
Purpose Driven Church
Volunteers Needed

  

  
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Today was supposed to be a melancholy day for us: saying goodbye to the Monastery of St. John the Theologian. But we were too rushed to be very melancholy. We will have one more day on the island, but we had planned on actually seeing the island instead of working 12-15 hours as we have been doing. Last night we finished burning the DVDs for the monastery (76 total!), prepared a PowerPoint presentation in Greek and English, labeled the DVDs, and did miscellaneous preparations for the meeting with the Abbot today. Continue Reading »

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What do you see when you look at this picuture? You may have seen it before in a previous blog, but describe what you see. Get out a piece of paper and write down the first five observations.

If I were to ask you this question again, what would you say about this picture? Continue Reading »

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It is rare that a mainstream band . . . wait, let me start over for this is already lending toward an understatement. U2 is a mainstream band. They have been called, “The most important band in the world,” “The greatest rock and roll band ever,” and “A band that has lasted longer, led longer, and set the bar higher more consistently than any other band – ever!” Yes, most of those quotations come from me, but I know what I am talking about. Continue Reading »

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Our postmodern world has many allowances. Free thinking individuals have been set free from the constraints of rationality. No longer does one have to have consistency or coherence in their beliefs or practice. Cognitive dissonance is a thing of the past being such that cognition need not create problems with regards to your faith or practice. Syncretism is in. You can take “the best of” from the various belief systems at the smörgÃ¥sbord of reality. Continue Reading »

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