Author Archives: Chaplainmike

The Music Debate at our House: Does it have an influence on what people do? We have this continuous simmering disagreement in my household over music. I love music, and enjoy all different kinds. My kids are a lot like me, though they like Christian music a lot less (and I don’t like it much)Continue reading “The Music Debate at our House”

Advice to My Daughter: GOP or Libertarian? My daughter struggling with whether she is a Republican or a Libertarian. Here’s her post. Here’s my answer. Dear Noel, First of all, remember that your political principles are your own. I can influence you, but it is your vote. You are a citizen. It is your privilegeContinue reading “Advice to My Daughter: GOP”

No Room for a Pastor in a School Lunchroom Saw this story about a church I’m very familiar with in the town where I pastored for four years. Seems the local school board has banned ministers from eating lunch with students in the school cafeteria, and the protests are on. Rutherford Institute is on theContinue reading “No Room for a Pastor”

What’s pathetic about this interview with Mel Gibson aren’t his answers- which are simple, not particularly eloquent, and nothing we haven’t heard before- but the brutally stupid questions Dianne Sawyer was asking. I almost typed “Have they no shame?” but that is a laugh line. Al Mohler nailed all this in his killer review ofContinue reading “What’s pathetic about this interview”

The Second Commandment, The Passion, and Evangelical Endorsements “I Think I Need A Stiff Drink” links to this PCA Pastor’s vigorous defense of a strict view of the second commandment. If you want to read a detailed legalistic defense of no images of Jesus in art of any kind, this is your ticket. Part ofContinue reading “The Second Commandment, The Passion,”

Is the gore necessary? Martin Marty- one liberal who has my utmost respect- comments on violence in The Passion, and I must say that I agree with every word. Really, this is perfect. The previewers who like violence if it shows Jesus suffering, on the grounds that savagery moves people to appreciate his sacrifice, areContinue reading “Is the gore necessary? Martin”

Samuel Blackburn on Lust Al Mohler reviews Samuel Blackburn on that most interesting of topics, Lust. Blackburn’s purpose is to overcome all pessimism towards lust. He even defends the use of pornography, which can, he argues, point towards the higher purposes of sex, rather than the lower degradations. He takes on the evolutionary psychologists, arguingContinue reading “Samuel Blackburn on Lust Al”

A thought from my study of Mark 15 today. I doubt if it is totally original, but I can’t recall coming across it before. I’m interested in the flogging of Jesus by Pilate. Mark 15:15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to beContinue reading “A thought from my study”

Jim Carroll, of the Boston Globe, raises the question of whether Christians place too much emphasis on the crucifixion and death of Jesus, and whether this is a distortion of Jesus himself. All of this is to say that death was not the purpose of Jesus’ life but only one part of a story thatContinue reading “Jim Carroll, of the Boston”

There is simply no way to be a competent parent to a 19 year old child on the subject of dating. First, I’m an idiot anyway. Second, I’ve been married for 26 years. Third, dating is inherently confusing, and anyone who thinks it should make sense should be sent to common sense camp anyway. AContinue reading “There is simply no way”