So Now What? Addressing Practical Question from My Music Posts
In my last post in my ongoing music series, I made the case for the classical tradition. I also argued that the persistent syncopation common in most modern genres is detrimental to our mental and emotional wellbeing. Those are two significant, rather controversial claims to make and they are sure … Read More
How Do We Assess Value in Music?
If you’ve been reading my music series, I started by contending that we should be talking about music, then wrote a second post explaining why I think musical style matters. Now I’d like to share some of what has helped me in forming my own values in music. We begin … Read More
The Great Divide: Is Music Morally Neutral?
There’s a severe divide in the music debate. We can’t decide if music is morally neutral. Most disagreement points back to this question. Depending on how we answer the question, music could be a free-for-all, where personal preference dictates all we do, or our musical choices could actually be a … Read More
Should We Be Talking About Music?
Music is an amazing gift from God. I’m not sure what would have happened to me if I hadn’t found it. I was a rambunctious, high-strung little boy who couldn’t stop asking questions and jumping off the walls. I needed an outlet for all this built-up energy. When I started … Read More
Wedding as Divine Drama
Weddings are beautiful; something about them moves us. But if you think about it, they’re also a bit strange. Think about it: a man and a woman decide to start a life together, but to do so the woman has to wear a brand-new solid white dress (which she won’t … Read More
The Smell of Smoke: Fear, Anxiety, and the Truth of God’s Character
There it was again. A whiff of smoke – someone cooking maybe? A BBQ from outside? I stood up from my desk. Where was it coming from? I paused, sniffing the air. Oh, well. It probably wasn’t a big deal. But I couldn’t stay focused. What if it was something … Read More
Fellow Heirs, Kings and Queens
Immediately after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, God rather cryptically foretold that from then on, the relationship between man and woman would be fraught with attempts to dominate and subvert each other (Gen 3:16). Well, sure enough. Mainstream society today is trying very hard to push back against … Read More
Persecution: What Do You Mean?
Every now and then I hear the phrase that American Christians need persecution. I find it interesting that, with few exceptions, it comes from those who have not seen or experienced real persecution themselves—persecution that resulted in bodily harm, financial devastation, or forfeiture of life itself. Sure, most of us … Read More
How Should We Get Angry?
“Righteous anger is being angry at what makes God angry. And ‘righteous anger’ is the right word order. Because God is not fundamentally angry. He is fundamentally righteous. God’s anger is a byproduct of his righteousness.” -Jon Bloom¹ Yes, God’s anger flows from his character. And as we are … Read More