Features
2022 Wasn’t So Bad
The new year is almost upon us and boy am I delighted that the old one is almost over. 2022 hasn’t been, by any means, a thoroughly bad year, not like 2020 or anything. But, like all of them, it is well nigh full up to the brim of trouble and anxiety. It is time to trade it in for a bright, shiny new one.
The Data Is In: It’s Better to be Rich and Healthy than Poor and Sick
Those are the people who can’t know things until they find a bunch of data to explain it to them.
In Which I Spend A Week Watching A Lot of Hallmark Movies
Whenever you hear the phrase, “the Universe or God or whoever” when you’re pursuing the content of people like Gabrielle Bernstein or Oprah or Rachel Hollis you should replace the “whoever” with “Santa” and in this way you will have plumbed the depths of American Religion TM.
Try Saying Yes
And then, one mustn’t forget the ever-present anxiety of every age, but particularly this fractured one, where ordinary human tasks and institutions are maligned, unsupported by famlilial and common life because there are no robust, as they say, ‘thick’ communities to join themselves to the efforts of online people
#128: Easy Like Christmas Morning: Feast Days, Heaven & Hell, and an Eternal Perspective
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about whether or not to have church on Christmas Day, the importance of remembering the reality of heaven and hell, and how eternity affects the here and now.
#127: And Again We Say Revoice: A Conversation with Bethel McGrew
Matt, Jady, and Nick are joined by Anne Kennedy and special guest Bethel McGrew to discuss all things Revoice, Spiritual Friendship, and “Side B.”
It’s Advent. Prepare for … Opposition
When He returns, the rulers of this world will not form a welcoming committee.
To Our Shame
They sought to sin without the consequence of being known and humiliated for those sins, but shame is stronger than anything, and they could not outrun its reach. What now? Where will they go? What will they do?
Believe in God
And saying that the early church adopted a Belong, Behave, Believe model of communal life is a fatuous thing to say. Pull yourself together and bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
#126: (Dis)Respect for Marriage: Ordered Loves, Civilization, and the First Institution
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent passing of the so-called Respect for Marriage Act, the societal implications of attempting to redefine marriage, and why marriage is so important in God’s plan for men and women.
Why We Call Out Deceivers
…and are not very winsome about it.
Anne’s Advice For How To Be Thankful
But what if you have spent your whole life “living in the moment,” and never contemplating the moment to come?
Behold The Days Are Coming
At the very least, I think the lines ‘create space,’ ‘doesn’t solve every issue in America’s culture war,’ and ‘pluralism has life left in it yet’ are three of the most fatuous things I’ve read online this week.
Five Crazy Things for Friday
Don’t ever do anything reasonable and sane with your children—like set limits, but also have a fun time at Christmas. Don’t do either of those things. Hashtag the Apocalypse.
#125: The Best of What’s Around: True Love, Tough Love, and the ACNA
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about why they love the ACNA, why they sometimes critique the ACNA, and why the ACNA is worth fighting for.
Too Weak To Save
I seem to be caught in a loop watching more of the podcasts by the people who interviewed Brandon Hatmaker. I think I linked it last week. I’m only halfway through this particular episode because I haven’t had time to really sit down and concentrate. I’m not saying...
#124: Conscience Claws: Confessions, Stand-Offs, and Cowards
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the new “conscience clause” in the Calvin University statement of faith, talk about the midterm elections and abortion, and decide that institutions need strong leadership to survive.
Stickers, Ribbons, and Flair
Super late this morning because I'm 1. Taking my life in my hands teaching yet another child to drive and 2. Shoving children through six weeks of backed-up stuff before the quarter ends for school. Why didn't they do their work in a timely manner? That's always the...
Love and Spiritual Friendship
The book has a surprisingly modern feel. Aelred, writing in the 1160s, lived at a time when sexuality wasn’t, yet, the telos of human identity. Love was still contextualized by self-sacrifice. What should we make, then, of his description of the “kiss of the flesh”?
Anne’s Guide to Happiness and Figuring Out Who to Vote For
If you want the Tolerance of yesteryear, you’re going to have to bite the bullet and become an actual Christian because the foundation of a liberal and tolerant society that includes women’s empowerment is Penal Substitutionary Atonement, the Forgiveness of Sins, Reconciliation of the Sinner to God, belief in the historicity and veracity of the Bible, and the ability to read texts without being obtuse about it and trying to change the meanings of all the words.
Podcast
#6: A Whole New World: SCOTUS, Self-Definition, and the Christian Life
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the Supreme Court’s recent Bostock decision, continue their exploration of the world’s anti-Gospel, and consider what the Christian life will look like in a world that, more and more, rejects Christ.
#5: Bad to the Bone: Good News and Original Sin
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about one of Christianity’s core doctrines, original sin. How does a proper understanding of sin make the Gospel news sound all the sweeter?
#4: Race, Justice, and the Gospel: Beginning the Conversation
There’s a difficult national conversation around race and justice happening right now. What is the Good News for this divided time?
#3: Feeling All the Feels: The Holy Spirit and You
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the Holy Spirit, some common misunderstandings, and how the Spirit connects to the Good News about Jesus.
#2: Silence of the Lamb: Atonement Theories and the Justice of God
What does Jesus’ death on the cross mean? Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the atonement on this episode of The Stand Firm Podcast.
#1: The Stand Firm Podcast
Jady Koch, Nick Lannon, and Matt Kennedy discuss the leftward theological and ideological drift on the part of a number of highly platformed ACNA clergy, how this drift affects the proclamation of the Gospel, and what type of Church it could produce.