Considering the topic as of late, I thought that this might even be better to lighten the mood a bit before round two (I have no idea where this comes from, but have been using it for years.)

Let’s say a guy named Roger is attracted to a woman named Elaine. He asks her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves. They continue to see each other regularly, and after a while neither one of them is seeing anybody else.

And then, one evening when they’re driving home, a thought occurs to Elaine, and, without really thinking, she says it aloud: “Do you realize that, as of tonight, we’ve been seeing each other for exactly six months?”

And then there is silence in the car. To Elaine, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: Geez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he’s been feeling confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I’m trying to push him into some kind of obligation that he doesn’t want, or isn’t sure of.

And Roger is thinking: Gosh. Six months.

And Elaine is thinking: But, hey, I’m not so sure I want this kind of relationship, either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space, so I’d have time to think about whether I really want us to keep going the way we are, moving steadily toward … I mean, where are we
going? Are we just going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together? Am I ready for that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person? Continue Reading »

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I am the product of a sub-emerging evangelical theological conversation which recognizes the validity of both the postmodern and modern ethos.

Go ahead, label me!

But read me first.

Those who are like me find themselves in an ocean of hope and despair holding on to two anchors at once. The modern anchor sinks because of its reliance on absolute certainty in all things. The postmodern anchor sinks because of its lack of certainty about anything. We hope to keep both anchors from setting so that theological progression can continue, all the while trying to keep themselves from going down with either (which is not easy).

You might be a like me if . . .

1. You don’t take yourself too seriously. Continue Reading »

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Seeker-sensitive or not, some things are just too funny not to post. (To those who will get offended—lighten up! Take Michael Spencer’s advice and don’t take yourself so seriously because—as Chuck Swindoll says—nobody else does.)

HT: Damian M. Romano

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Or “Top Twenty Signs you are moving from emerging to Emergent!” 

Now maybe you will appreciate this more (I have made a few changes).

20. You only curse around fundamentalists.

19. You leave your church because the sermon was not obscure enough.

18. You refer to your local assembly as “church,” “synagogue,” or “mosque” depending on who you are talking to.

17. Your blog is a rant about how everyone else rants too much.

16. You brag that you have never been pinned down theologically on any issue. Continue Reading »

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I will probably get in trouble for these, but they are too funny! The third is my favorite. 

For those of you who think I am emerging, I ask you this: Would an emerger post these pictures?

Enjoy!

   

  

Continue Reading »

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For those familiar with Christian apologetics you will know of the long standing arguments that are often employed to argue for the existence of God.

The Kalaam Cosmological Argument impossibility of an infinite regress of physical causes and effects.

The Teleological Argument The glaring evidence of design within the universe, the world, and the human body (not just the “appearance of design” as Richard Dawkins asserts to his embarrassment).

The Moral Argument That mankind is governed by an objective morality that with which we seem to innately identify.

The Ontological Argument This one is tough - God is the greatest conceivable being therefore because we can conceive of Him, it stands to reason He does in fact exist.

Well seeing as how the above arguments are quite convincing it is understandable that the lesser known arguments go unused and even unnoticed.

It is often said that the best way to go about the study of God is by studying man. I feel that the arguments listed below accurately reflect the human condition and subsequently point to something outside of ourselves to which we often appeal. So I think they are at least worthy of consideration.

10. The Road Rage Argument That more people not succumbing to road rage is evidence of God existence. That I don’t succumb to road rage personally is evidence of His existence. Have you ever been stuck behind a long line of soccer moms creeping along in their SUVs drinking Starbucks and talking on their cell phones in Peachtree City? Oh I have, and the fact that I haven’t climbed out of my vehicle (Dukes of Hazzard style) to pummel them is evidence that God exist. (Evidence of common grace as well but I digress…)

9. The Stop Looking at Me Argument again, this is to do with mankind’s ability to constrain their wrath. How many times a day has a mom or dad heard one of their children say to another “Stop looking at me”? It isn’t simply the words said but the sound that accompanies it. A sound which echoes throughout the house or car with such volume, that it has been know to draw blood from even the most resilient ear drum. That parents don’t lose their sanity completely from such things is evidence that God exists.

8. The Stop Touching Me Argument - this mimics the Stop Looking at Me Argument. (These two can be used interchangeably.)

7. The Post Office Argument Standing in line at the post office as apathetic postal workers shuffle back and forth at a sloth like pace can try even the most patient of souls. That we can do this and still avoid jumping on the counter and wrapping their heads with packing tape and bubble wrap whilst screaming WHY ARE YOU SO SLOW is evidence God exist. Continue Reading »

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10. It’s in my genes and upbringing from my mother and grandmother—both nature and nurture; I couldn’t be otherwise.

9. Woman was created equal with man in Genesis 1; only the Fall put her under the rule and dominance of the man.

8. The devil made me do it.

7. It’s how I position myself far opposite on the issue from Wayne Grudem, John Piper, James Dobson, Beverly LaHaye, and Rush Limbaugh. Continue Reading »

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Okay, Carrie, you provoked me into posting this! I composed the following last year, also sung to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”:

On the first day of Theology my professor gave to me atonement on an old tree.

On the second day of Theology my professor gave to me two Testaments and atonement on an old tree.

On the third day of Theology my professor gave to me three divine persons, two Testaments, and atonement on an old tree.

On the fourth day of Theology my professor gave to me four Gospel books, three divine persons, two Testaments, and atonement on an old tree.

On the fifth day of Theology my professor gave to me five points of Calvinism! Four Gospel books, three divine persons, two Testaments, and atonement on an old tree.

On the sixth day of Theology my professor gave to me six days of creation, five points of Calvinism! Four Gospel books, three divine persons, two Testaments, and atonement on an old tree. Continue Reading »

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Well folks it’s that festive time of year again. We are just over one week away until the big day. I know everyone is looking forward to watching “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “A Christmas Story”, or one of 542 versions of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. We here at RMM however have our own tradition and it is found in the following song: Reformed and non-reformed alike get to chirping to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas…..

On the first day of Christmas my Calvie explained to me, the fallen nature of man.

On the second day of Christmas my Calvie explained to me, called and chosen and the fallen nature of man.

On the third day of Christmas my Calvie explained to me, John chapter six, called and chosen, and the fallen nature of man.

On the fourth day of Christmas my Calvie explained to me, Synod of Dordt, John chapter six, called and chosen, and the fallen nature of man.

On the fifth day of Christmas my Calvie explained to me 5 GOLDEN POINTS! Synod of Dordt, John chapter six, called and chosen and the fallen nature of man. Continue Reading »

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I remember one of my professors at Dallas Seminary talking about the future of “doing” church. He said that we had better get ready for virtual churches and decide whether or not we felt that these could constitute legitimate churches. My thoughts were that this would never happen. How can people “do” church online?

Well, it is happening. Many churches are beginning to hold services online. While the majority of churches now post the MP3’s of their sermons online, others are taking virtual prayer requests, and some are actually holding online services. How? Some open up virtual chatrooms where the sermon is streamed through a live feed. In these rooms, congregation members can chat with one another about the sermon, give prayer requests, and even be lead by an “online pastor” (a new pastoral position that many churches are now hiring for!). Continue Reading »

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A student was kind enough to sketch us out. Rhome is on the left and I am in the middle. The guy on the far right is Timon Bingtson. He was an intern for The Theology Program.

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With all the rioting Michael has incited the past few days, I thought I would let everyone in on the reason behind it all. The method to the madness. It is because Michael Patton is a heretic! The following are the top ten reasons why… Continue Reading »

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Continue Reading »

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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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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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