tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346763952011-07-30T21:18:03.414-05:00A stab at blogging with an emphasis on theology, culture, and personal musings.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-19065880937963741222009-10-23T12:28:00.001-05:002009-10-23T12:30:52.968-05:00

The website Devotional Christian is being relaunched. It is meant to be a one-stop shop for daily devotional reading and resources.

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-35834759626206800262009-02-26T08:30:00.002-06:002009-02-26T08:34:39.262-06:00

David Porter is offering a free Calfskin ESV Study Bible. Check it out.

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-59345525662454390632009-02-04T13:30:00.001-06:002009-02-04T13:32:32.404-06:00

Living among Image bearers:“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree,

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-48222863113254408662009-01-14T13:02:00.003-06:002009-01-14T13:09:36.957-06:00

Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, the son of missionaries, recently used his platform as Heisman trophy and BCS National Championship winning quarterback for Gospel witness.During last weeds BCS Championship game against the University of Oklahoma he wrote John 3:16 on his eye black.Result:According to World Net Daily, John 3:16 became the hottest search on Google that night.

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-80519603718466867902009-01-13T10:45:00.004-06:002009-01-13T11:06:07.641-06:00

Tony Dungy, the first African American headcoach to win a superbowl, retired today as coach of the Indianapolis Colts.He retired at 53 years young, in his prime and at the top of his profession. But Dungy, as a committed Christian, isn't retiring to the golf course or television booth. He's retiring to spend more time with his family and continue his prison ministry. He is the very definition

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-36555251232843592672008-12-27T15:33:00.002-06:002008-12-27T15:38:11.290-06:00

Karl Rove has provided us with a list of some of President Bush's reading material from the past several years. Regardless of your political affiliations, I think we'd all agree it is commendable and necessary that people in positions of great leadership be well read, aware of both the contemporary and historical contexts they lead in.HT: Justin Taylor

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-21131419771048819882008-12-27T14:46:00.005-06:002008-12-27T14:57:31.008-06:00

A fantastic article by the Star Tribune, "Division III: Playing for the love of sports, not money" details the joys and hardships of Division III athletics, the last vestige of the pure "student athlete" and amateur sports.

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-21056101415924347152008-12-10T14:19:00.003-06:002008-12-10T14:51:30.627-06:00

New blog idea:Periodically I'm going to post quotes that I've found particularly thought provoking. I'd love to hear your comments or responses to them.Our first quote came from Church History class here at the Pastor's College.“The Church persecuted has always been the Church pure, and therefore the Church powerful. The Church patronized has always been the Church in peril, and very often the

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-92013568532873468762008-12-10T13:50:00.002-06:002008-12-10T13:54:21.546-06:00

Interesting list from Google Zeitgeist about the top searches in 2008: Fastest Rising (U.S.) obamafacebookattiphoneyoutubefox newspalinbeijing 2008david cooksurf the channel Fastest Rising (Global)

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-17257753612218788472008-12-10T13:06:00.002-06:002008-12-10T13:20:24.199-06:00

Full Disclosure: This post is a totally selfish plug for Christmas gifts...but then again, you have not because you ask not!!Just a reminder about my favorite gift: BooksSo a quick reminder about my wish lists (always displayed on the right of the blog) at Amazon.Theology & Non-FictionFiction & EntertainmentMerry Christmas

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-69181770357666316362008-12-05T08:48:00.002-06:002008-12-05T08:54:19.458-06:00

An interesting article at ESPN.com by Gene Wojciechowski.His advice to Charlie Weis, now that he didn't get the axe for a lackluster first 4 years at Notre Dame: "Learn Humility"One caveat, I'm not sure Gene's tone is exactly what we'd call humility in action.

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-13085007713062441702008-11-19T09:30:00.002-06:002008-11-19T09:56:25.649-06:00

In a recently posted interview Obama gave to Chicago Sun Times columnist Cathleen Falsani in 2004 about his faith he made the following comment:FALSANI:Do you believe in sin?OBAMA:Yes.FALSANI:What is sin?OBAMA:Being out of alignment with my values.FALSANI:What happens if you have sin in your life?OBAMA:I think it's the same thing as the question about heaven. In the same way that if I'm true to

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-72303026352285119642008-11-14T14:24:00.006-06:002008-11-14T14:36:43.058-06:00

Some of my favorite pics of Case!Happy Halloween!!Smile for the Camera...

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-25753307778740930122008-11-03T07:31:00.002-06:002008-11-03T07:34:56.302-06:00

Hilarious video, seriously incomplete theology. But hey, their suits have to count for something right??HT: Eric Patenaude

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-73813201163706324792008-10-29T13:25:00.003-05:002008-10-29T13:35:58.698-05:00

I was reminded today that how we speak can often drown out the truth of our message."The temper and integrity with which the political fight is waged is more important for the health of a society than any particular policy." ~ Os Guinness and John Seel, ed., No God But God: Breaking the Idols of Our Age“He who has the greatest truth has the greatest love which is the greatest proof.”

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-22060895392677899472008-10-27T13:34:00.005-05:002008-10-27T14:33:32.536-05:00

Below is an interesting email I got from a friend:"Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.The fifth would pay $1.The sixth would pay $3.The seventh would pay $7.The eighth would pay $12.The ninth would pay $18.The

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-69069279931759778002008-10-26T10:47:00.002-05:002008-10-26T11:00:01.249-05:00

The story of Tony Dungy--head coach of the Indianapolis Colts--and his strong Christian faith is well known. Less familiar is the strong faith of University of Georgia coach Mark Richt. The video below highlights the faith of Mark and the Richt family in action, adopting two children from Ukraine. The video is a beautiful example of the obedience of faith, of a family being compelled by the

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-50364150495130066942008-10-23T08:40:00.002-05:002008-10-23T08:46:07.955-05:00

Abraham Piper has an interesting list of things he's glad he's saved from, but don't usually make it into worship songs:STDsPhilosophyFreeloadingIncarcerationVagabondageWhiskey bingesIllegitimate childrenPack-a-day smokingSuccessful rockstardomGetting run over by a trainDoes this mean, "Grandma got ran over by a reindeer" is a song about her lack of salvation?HT: Abraham Piper

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-59992330184803324902008-07-26T18:47:00.003-05:002008-07-26T19:01:29.014-05:00

In a few short weeks I'll be heading off to the Pastor's College of Sovereign Grace Ministries. Some people have found it strange that I'd go out for more training after having just graduated from Bethel Seminary. Explaining the reasons for the decision are numerous, suffice to say my wife, pastors and I think it is God's will.One major reason for attending the Pastor's College is to undergo an

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-57059555549565998042008-07-23T06:46:00.002-05:002008-07-23T06:55:14.231-05:00

Hayibo - a satirical newspaper - has a pretty funny story about Benny Hinn actually performing a miracle. Who'd a thunk it!HT: Challies

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-66647198616489070562008-07-17T14:46:00.002-05:002008-07-17T14:54:15.540-05:00

Translation: "Everything sounds more impressive when said in Latin." To that end, Semper Reformanda has a post giving the meaning to some common Latin phrases.Dominus vobiscum,MatthewHT: Eric "Gunny" Hartman

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-4420777792515264012008-07-17T12:01:00.003-05:002008-07-23T08:10:16.458-05:00

We are officially less than 12 hours away from the opening of The Dark Knight, the newest installment in the revamped Batman series. Critics are raving and this fan can't wait!Wet your appetite with some trailers.

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-47683139322940792582008-07-15T13:38:00.005-05:002008-07-15T14:10:09.953-05:00

One of the most tangible benefits of preaching is that it is helping me to grasp the power of intentional and prolonged meditation on God's Word. A week ago I preached on Hebrews 12:3-11 for a sermon titled "A Father's Discipline." During the time of preparation, prayer, study and meditation God helped me to grasp the powerful encouragement of being disciplined by our Heavenly Father. After

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-31996824364815062962008-07-02T13:48:00.002-05:002008-07-02T13:51:42.982-05:00

There are the prayers of a righteous man and then there is this. I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.HT: Vitamin Z

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-69729884019561438762008-07-01T09:17:00.004-05:002008-07-01T09:46:53.441-05:00

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Psalm 8. It is an instance where the poetic nature of the Hebrew translates very well into our English versions of the bible. It is an eloquent description of the infinite majesty and wonder of our God. All too often I get lost in the awesome visions of verse 1 and 3:Ps 8.1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-44631782821325151492008-06-30T12:06:00.006-05:002008-06-30T12:26:18.664-05:00

My wife and I just bought a new Nikon D60 Digital SLR camera in anticipation of our first baby being born in September. Definitely exciting times!! I love getting new gadgets like this and have been trying to become at least semi-proficient in its use before we have our baby. Fortunately, we got to celebrate Father's day with our little 14 month old niece, Macey Joy. The little bundle of

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-55784758652601474322008-04-30T13:38:00.006-05:002008-04-30T14:26:50.082-05:00

Sometimes providence smiles on you. Last week I arrived at my desk and dutifully checked my favorite blog, Between Two Worlds. There I saw an entry that offered a free copy of A Reader's Hebrew Bible (RHB) from Zondervan to the first five people who committed to review it on their blog. I was sure I was to late, but shot off the email. Low and behold I was lucky number four! On Tuesday when

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-90566134437793887302008-03-20T16:28:00.003-05:002008-03-20T17:00:29.816-05:00

A few months ago I started my internship at Sovereign Grace Fellowship. The mercy of God is a constant reminder as I consider the fact that He would use me, in the midst of countless sins and limitations to advance the Kingdom of God. The opportunity to serve under wise and Godly men like Rick Gamache and Mark Alderton has also been a joy and blessing. All of that to say, one of my new

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-57780040228272147802007-04-27T16:43:00.000-05:002007-04-27T17:23:51.194-05:00

In the process of reflecting the past few weeks I have been struck by the beauty of God's "quiet providence." The depth and intentionality of his love for his children is an incredible thing. In the midst of heartache, triumphs and the mundane he is always actively seeking our greatest good, what an encouraging thought!Recently I was asked by my pastor to preach on the topic of Heaven for our

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34676395.post-1162230628292153712006-10-30T11:31:00.000-06:002006-10-30T11:51:02.016-06:00

Well blogosphere, here is my first official posting.Since setting up this blog it has only taken me a month and a half to get around to my first post. I am nothing if not efficient. This is definitely a work/idea in progress that I hope will take form over the next few months. Until I figure out where this whole thing is taking me it might be a random ride.A few things about myself. My name

Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08000928929736154348noreply@blogger.com0