Now…I know that this technically doesn’t fit in the purposes of Traditores but: (a) I’m a proud dad (b) My son is a gift from God (c) His talent is also a gift from God Here is his euphonium solo from his last high school concert (June 2, 2012)… [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKJO-XC4cFM&w=480&rel=0] And a bonus video…Mikey playing…
The Best of the Christian Twittersphere
Now, I’m not saying that I recommend you follow everyone on this list, but if you were looking for Christians to follow on Twitter, please check out Nathan W. Bingham’s “The Best of the Christian Twittersphere.” Sadly neither I (as @alancult) or Traditores (as @traditores) has made it yet, but there is still time. 🙂
Facing God and the Face of God (Part 1)
Seeing What We Haven't Seen Before I just wrapped up a four-part series at the Pleasant View Church of Christ…and after it I find myself returning over-and-over-and-over again to one Scripture in the Bible. It's a verse that I've read multiple times previously without it fully registering in my psyche. I'm assuming that experience is…
What If’ing the Lord Almighty
The Book of Ezra starts of with some great news: Cyrus (king of Persia) proclaimed that the exiled Jews can return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. Not only that, but he encouraged those around the Israelites to donate everything from gold to animals "for the house of God that is Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:4,…
What Now?
Quick Review Three sermons have led up to this final talk in my "What" series: "What Went Wrong" — Where we learned that what originally went wrong up in heaven and was tragically repeated down here on earth by its original human inhabitants wasn't some arbitrary rule being broken. Instead, there was a breakdown of…
What Finally Worked
What Finally Worked Quick Review Before I begin the third talk in my four-part "What" Sunday-evening series, I figure it makes sense to quickly review the first two sermons… #1 was "What Went Wrong"…where we learned that sin didn't start here on earth and that what originally went wrong up in heaven (and then went…
My Close Personal Friend Penn Jillette
Okay, I'll be up front…I have never even met Penn Jillette…so the title of this article might be considered a wee bit of an exaggeration. 🙂 No, he isn't a close personal friend, but I have had a couple times where Penn has responded to me on Twitter…and considering he's got over 1.7 million followers,…
What Was Tried
Dispensationalism How many people here have heard of the term "dispensationalism"? My short definition of it would be "God dealt with people differently through the ages." However, I don't have the intelligence gained from a Masters of Divinity, so I suspect that won't show up in any scholarly work, whereas this definition from There Really…
Compassion for I-580
As I type this I am listening to the greatest negative my apartment has—the constant, fairly loud sound of traffic (often very heavy traffic). I've basically gotten use to it, but I still notice it…especially at places in my abode that have reduced sound proofing (for example, the huge door to the outdoors just before…
What Went Wrong
Lame Movie Plot Devices Friday night Barry Junior joined me watching a movie that Barry Senior had brought up after I did my sermon, "Heaven…This is Heaven." For those who caught that, you may recall my mention of the Valkyries (val-`keer-ees)…babes on white horses who collected those who died on the battle field. Barry Senior…
Batter my heart, three person’d God; for, you
From Bartleby.com, this classic by John Donne (I believe the underlying work is public domain): Batter my heart, three person’d God; for, you As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend; That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow mee,’and bend Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new. I, like an…
Creation Belief = Bad Commencement Speaker
"What worried me the most was the fact that he said if you do accept evolution that you’re somehow ethically lacking." First, I don’t know if Dr. Carson actually said that, but, theoretically, if materialistic evolution (no God) is right, there is no real foundation for ethics. That doesn’t mean atheists are less ethical, but…
Oaths Gone Bad
Have you ever promised something, only to regret it afterward? When you were a kid, did you ever assure someone with the words, "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye"? Do you ever swear by anything? ("I swear on my mother's grave that…") Between Bible studies and reading, I've been…
The Result of Double Faith
Between a couple trips through all 66 (and Bible studying) I've read every word in Scripture more than once, yet I still run into stuff I don't ever remember seeing before. Sure, it could just be that I've got an awful memory, but instead it seems to me that God's written word is like a…
Tuna Macaroni Salad
Okay, I know it is fair for someone to ask, "Why are you putting a recipe on a religious site?!" Well, 'cause a few weeks back I made two full recipes of it for a church pot luck! 🙂 Just ask my kids…it may have simple ingredients and sound boring, but it Ingredients: One pound…