I served for a few years as a youth ministry intern while I was in college. One of the primary aspects of youth ministry is the need to listen to your students. By far, the greatest challenge brought out on a daily basis was listening to those students with a straight face. Sadly, when I survey the fun-house landscape of modern parenting, I struggle with the same problem.
Just Thinking
Tid-bits and Trifles on Faith, Culture, and Church from Whitney Clayton
Author Archives: Whitney Clayton
Starting a New School Year
Every year the school year brings new excitement, shopping trips, and new worries about the demands of new classes. Leading up to the faithful day are days of clothes shopping, binder buying, and pen testing. There are book lists to fret over, teachers to dread, and last minute summer activities to squeeze into the schedule. All in all, the transition into a new school is really exciting for the whole family. With all of the excitement, it is only a little embarrassing that all of this fuss is about daddy, the 29 year old, well-employed pastor. I am starting school next week.
Things Worth Watching
Most of the things you watch on a television or computer will be of little worth to your life. These things are different.
Good Thinking 4/12/2013
If you know nothing about Dr. Kermit Gosnell, check out this video at The Veritas Network.
Here are a mild article stating the facts about Gosnell, his practice, and his trial without gory details.
Check out this brief article by Trevin Wax if you wonder why you have not heard of this monster of a human being.
Here is a short article about a 15 year old who helped Dr. Gosnell kill the babies born in their clinic.
Here is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist’s take on the media black-out concerning Gosnell.
Please share these links in your social media circles. It is time to start a conversation about the morality and legality of abortion even if the powers that be want to ignore it.
Compliments of my friend, Greg Gibson, at The Veritas Network, I leave you with a quote from William Wilberforce:
“Having heard all of this you may choose to look the other way, but you will never again be able to say you did not know.”
Steady Faith in a Shifting Culture
Times are changing in our culture. In the past few months we have seen major media outlets demonize a fast food chain president for his Christian beliefs. We have seen a pastor forced out of a national prayer meeting after teaching Biblical values in a sermon delivered twenty years ago. Last week, a professional football play was bullied into canceling an appearance at a church, because the church is on record as supporting a Biblical sexual ethic. It is no longer cool to be Christian.
When the winds of change are howling, it takes deep roots to remain upright.
Good Thinking 2/22/13
- 10 Sure Signs We Have Lost Our Minds – Trevin Wax highlights some trendy logical absurdities in western culture.
- Why the Afterlife Bores Us – Russell Moore provides some quick insight into why many Christians secretly dread heaven.
- On Tim Tebow’s cancellation at an “anti-gay” and “anti-Semitic” (read conservative) church in Dallas:
- Denny Burk provides a good perspective on the state of the culture in his post Why is Tebow’s Cancelation Significant?
- Carl Trueman helps calm the storm and give regular Joes like you and me some practical application in his post Keep Calm and Carry On.
- I think Rick Warren captures the situation best when he tweeted:
https://twitter.com/RickWarren/status/304727493288534016
4. Greg Gibson points out an incredible new rule being put into place in Massachusetts schools: “transgender” boys are allowed to use the girls bathroom and locker room.
The Trouble with the Church
There is a lot of conversation going on right now about what is wrong with the church today. The various conversations rarely take such a direct route, but if you ignore the conversations tacking back and forth like a sailboat into the wind, you will see the conversations are heading in one particular direction. The conversations are about this simple question:
In the current age of global connectedness and inconceivable amounts Christian theological resources, why is there not a global revival? What is the problem with the church?
Faith as Trust
How do you define faith?
As I read, think, and write about Christian apologetics I find this question to be a central issue in the minds and hearts of those who struggle with the idea of God. This only makes sense. Salvation comes through faith, but people I rarely meet someone struggling to receive salvation from God; they usually just struggle to believe in Him.
It is in these instances, when someone wants to believe in God, that we need stop discussing faith, and start discussing God. Faith rarely comes by hearing evidence. It sometimes comes by understanding propositions. It usually comes by experience. It always comes with a love for a person – that person is God.
Just Thinking 