A Conspicuous Absence In Pastoral Training!

If you spent even a little time looking over the required curriculum for M.Div. students at most evangelical seminaries, you will notice a heavy emphasis on Biblical languages and Scripture exegesis. In my former denomination, this emphasis is reflected in their ordaining process, which pushes candidates to memorize Scripture for each doctrine of interest to the … Continue reading “A Conspicuous Absence In Pastoral Training!”

Update: Freed Pastor Saeed Abedini Files To Divorce Naghmeh Abedini

Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable … not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. I Timothy 3:2a,3b (NIV) Related Post: “Naghmeh Abedini And Sorting My Painful History” Pastor Saeed Abedini is one of the five captives freed from Iran this past January. His … Continue reading “Update: Freed Pastor Saeed Abedini Files To Divorce Naghmeh Abedini”

Money Struggles Stress Test

  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. -I Timothy 6:10, KJV Not having money is stressful! This is true individually as well as for marriages and families. It is difficult to deal … Continue reading “Money Struggles Stress Test”

Pro Tip: If another dude’s feelings are more important to your wife than yours…

He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church…. –Ephesians 5:28b-29, NIV PRO TIP: If another dude’s feelings are more important to your wife than yours, then that is a clear signal that your … Continue reading “Pro Tip: If another dude’s feelings are more important to your wife than yours…”

On Songs and Scents

This song by Josh Turner came on the radio the other day. Like songs and scents are liable to do, it transported me to another time. It reminded me of my first honeymoon. You see, we drove to our honeymoon location while this and other songs from this new-at-the-time album from Josh Turner played. It … Continue reading “On Songs and Scents”

Catchy Tune About Recovering…”It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To”

While I do not condone or recommend using alcohol to deal with heart-break, I appreciate some of the lessons this catchy tune from Billy Currington highlights about recovering.  Two points I particularly appreciate: The singer refuses to lie about the pain.  The pain and grief is worse if we refused to acknowledge the obvious: It hurts … Continue reading “Catchy Tune About Recovering…”It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To””

DM Processing Recent RNS Tullian Tchividjian Interview

On Thursday, an interview was published between Tullian Tchividjian and Jonathan Merritt on the Religious News Service. The interview is entitled, “Billy Graham’s grandson on his near suicide and whether he’s planning a comeback.” To begin, I want to be clear that I am glad TT did not die by suicide. Human life is a … Continue reading “DM Processing Recent RNS Tullian Tchividjian Interview”

Repentant or Rebranding? Tullian Tchividjian in the news, again.

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral…—not even to eat with such a person. -I Corinthians 5:11, NKJV Disgraced Pastor Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of Reverend Billy Graham, is back in the news again. This time he wrote a piece on a website … Continue reading “Repentant or Rebranding? Tullian Tchividjian in the news, again.”

Sick Secrets…

On my commute into work, I listen to a local radio station that dispenses relationship advice. This segment on KS95 is called “Love ’em or List ’em.” Today’s situation involved cheating and the advice given was mostly awful. A quick recap of the situation: Angela is the caller. She just got engaged but is sick … Continue reading “Sick Secrets…”