Features
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.
As Long As
It’s two bubble people banging their plastic circles against each other, screaming through a microphone, and then being angry because both the universe and the relationship have failed them.
The Law of the Self
In the final few minutes of the program, the therapist says something that I find, frankly, demonic. She says that if you can’t first trust yourself, you can’t trust anyone. Trust in the self is primary, it comes before all other trusts.
#123: Hard to Say I’m Sorry: Covid Errors, Repentance, and Forgiveness
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about binding the consciences of believers, discuss how to admit when you’re wrong, and why we should be careful adding on to “love thy neighbor.”
Amnesty, Accountability and Forgiveness
A certain Atlantic article has revealed some confusion about the proper place of forgiveness and accountability.
Heaven Is Real
That so many people insist that what happens now–who you are and how happy you are now–is the most important thing indicates that those people don’t believe in a consequence-laden eternity.
Too Little Too Late
But when push comes to shove, and usually it does mean a shove, the truth will give way to those more tantalizing hedonistic feelings called love. You won’t tell the truth, finally, because you love yourself more than the other. Your love for yourself will be the measure by which you measure the truth. What you end up saying to the other will be what you want to be true, not what is.
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.