Filed under: Devotions
by Caleb Hancock
So, with Christmas over, everyone naturally turns to the next holiday and wonders what the new year will bring. A new job? A new home? A new relationship? A new weight, or work-ethic?
But what is the Christian man’s hope for change? Is it really as simple as having a new mindset or goal to bring about change?
It’s something that’s been on my mind a little as I’ve prepared for his annual visitation down the chimney at my parents’ house. Think about it:
- For one, what man would be caught dead in red velvet?
- If I had 9 reindeer, 8 would be in the freezer cut into steaks and a good bit of Blitzen would be makin a trip to the taxidermist.
- Sleighs are pretty outdated. I’d recommend a flying one of these.
- I imagine kids would stop writing letters to him when they got their third socket wrench set or 5th Ronco product in a row.
- I’ve yet to find a man that giggles when described as having a “bowl full of jelly”
- Think about all the other mythical holiday Men: Father Time shows up once a year looking scraggly, ominous and ready to open up a can. Definite guy. And heck. Even Cupid packs heat.
A couple things Santa does have going for him though is that he’s got a really stout beard, apparently has a profound sense of direction and can pack a vehicle efficiently–something I don’t think a female Santa could ever do.
Just a thought. Anybody got any evidence in Santa’s character that could readjust my view?
And Have A Merry Christmas!
—by joshcan
by Caleb Hancock
Guys, I was reading this on John Piper’s blog at DesiringGod.org, and was compelled to share it today with you.
John is speaking on the fact that the message of Christmas, that God, Jesus, became Man to take away our sin on the cross, isn’t meant to only be celebrated and known by Christians, but that this message is in fact to be proclaimed by us (like the old Carol quoted in this post’s title).
Here is what Mr. Piper said:
Filed under: Thought Initiative
by Justin Day
So how much is Pi? Since the birth of geometry, mathematicians have found Pi to be a constant value of 3.14… It seems that king Solomon, however, has a bone to pick with this.
In 1 Kings 7:23 we read, “Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference.” Given that π=Circumference/ Diameter, it seems that 1 Kings records Pi as 3 (30 cubits/10 cubits), not 3.14…
1)How should we take this? Since the plain reading of the text is that Pi = 3 instead of the traditional value, does this lead us to believe that mathematics is wrong and Pi is actually 3? Is there another way that this should be interpreted?
2)Does this undermine Biblical innerancy?
Filed under: Devotions
by Caleb Hancock
As we continue to approach Christmas day, I wanted to encourage you all not to waste this special season. Rather, I hope that we would all grow in grasping and celebrating the amazing event of the Incarnation of Jesus.
Towards that end, I have included some killer quotes and texts from Scripture to help leave you in awe of our God’s specific and passionate hatred for sin and love for his glory on display in the salvation of sinners like us.
Filed under: Culture
There’s nothing like the Christmas tradition of Christmas lights, except when you add in some rockin’ TSO and make it the way all things should be…the way a guy would do it! Classic.
Note: While this video is on its 3rd year, there’s just nothing like it.
—by joshcan
At the top of the short list of why cats exist, I put doing things like this.
Just to clarify, this isn’t to say, “Hey look how cute cats are.” But rather, if you have a cat, you might as well do something funny to it.
by Caleb Hancock
As far as I can recall, this is the first time that I have used an old Yosemite Sam play on words for a post title!
However, as we approach the Christmas season, prepare to buy gifts for others, and celebrate the season with the ones we love, let’s look at what an amazing thing it is that we celebrate.
Filed under: Thought Initiative
by Justin Day
Due to a popular youtube video titled “10 Questions Every Intelligent Christian Must Answer,” the atheist website whywontgodhealamputees.com has become very popular recently. Its main thesis, as the url address suggests, is if God is active in the world and is actually healing people then why won’t God heal amputees?
Even though most of the readers of this blog would call themselves continuationists (people who believe the spiritual gifts are still active today), I think every Christian would agree, even cessationists, that God is still actively healing people. The debate over healing would just be the means used for the healing, not the act of healing itself. Given this, why is it the case that so many people claim to be healed by God and yet amputees are never healed?
There is clear precedent in scripture for people being healed in miraculous ways, many of them being just as, or far more, miraculous as regrowing a limb. Christ healed paralytics (Luke 5:18-25; 7:1-10), lepers (Luke 5:12-13), people with withered hands (Luke 6:6-10), regrew ears (Luke 22:49-51), and even raised people from the dead (John 11). Even the apostles healed people (Acts 5:16; 8:5-7).
1) Given that there is clear Biblical precedent for miraculous healing, is it true, as the above website suggests, that God is showing partiality towards non-amputees? If God heals people and, more importantly, is still actively healing people today then why aren’t amputee victims being healed also?
2) Does this lack of amputee healing give credence to cessationism? If God is still healing people in miraculous ways, why is he not doing it in ways which we can all verify? If the point of miracles is to authenticate and draw attention towards the Gospel, what would show the grandeur of Christ’s power greater than healing an amputee?
by Caleb Hancock
In this final installment on Manspeak’s Leadership Devotion Series, it is back to the basics.
As we have looked at the purpose, the power, our precursor, some principles, and the perfecter of biblical Leadership, it is my duty to exhort you, yeah you, reading this and each of the other posts…DON’T STOP! Don’t grow weary in seeking to serve others for the glory of God (the goal of leadership).
Remember Jesus Christ, who did not come to be served, but TO serve, and to become our ransom payment on the cross!
Let this truth motivate you to pursue biblical leadership for the rest of your life! The great news is that your standing before God is not dependent on how well you perform this duty (and it IS a duty). United with Christ though faith, all Christian men will hear the declaration of not guilty! How amazing!
But don’t let this truth (and I don’t believe that the biblical response to the genuine belief of this truth) lead you to laziness. Instead, let us strive forward to lead in a revolutionary way, through service. Let men see our good works and praise our Father in heaven.
Men, it is our responsibility and privilege to be leaders in whatever roles the Lord has for us. I pray that this series has better equipped you in some way to pursue this lifelong goal. I pray that God’s church is filled with men who seek to lead and serve! I pray that you will passionately seek to live for Christ, guided by his word, submitting to the leadership that God has provided for you, and then being ambitious for HIS glory.
Amen.
Manspeak 
