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Government Of, By, and For Expediency

After my earlier post about Judge Lamberth dismissing the case seeking to enjoin government funding of ESCR, The Corner asked me to weigh in.  I decided to focus in part on a pet peeve of mine—how policy today too often is decided by expediency, redefining terms, and refusing to enforce . . . . Continue Reading »

John R.W. Stott: Defender of the Faith

If you entered the evangelical world when I did, in the 1980s, you were immediately introduced to a Hall of Fame whose inhabitants, some living, some dead, and representing a variety of denominations, had a somewhat uniform presence in the various churches: C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, J.I. . . . . Continue Reading »

A Friend’s Tribute to John Stott

A good friend of mine wrote today of John Stott’s profound impact on her life: A good friend [not me—Tom] introduced me to his book, “The Cross of Christ”. I read it, begrudgingly. I didn’t want the things that Stott wrote about, to be truth. For if things that Stott . . . . Continue Reading »

John R W Stott (1921-2011)

Never mind the radio and television preachers we hear so much about. The two most influential figures on English-speaking evangelicalism in the 20th and 21st centuries were, not Baptist or Pentecostal, but  members in good standing of the Church of England: C. S. Lewis and John R. W. Stott, the . . . . Continue Reading »

GKC the Possible Saint

A book recommended for admirers of G. K. Chesterton: The Holiness of G. K. Chesterton , edited by William Oddie (Gracewing, 2011). It includes essays by the eminent Dominican theologian Aidan Nichols, who writes on Chesterton as a possible Doctor of the Church; equally weighty theologian John . . . . Continue Reading »

As Two Years Arrive

As two years arrive before your anniversary Mostly I think of you, my darling, With love and gratitude Yet sometimes I am overwhelmed with sorrow. I am so sorry, darling. I am so sorry. I regret every word that caused you pain. I know I did. Three times those last few years you dissolved In . . . . Continue Reading »

How Our Suffering Glorifies God

I’ve been reading Richard Wurmbrand’s Tortured for Christ, a book about the sufferings of Christians under the Communists, particularly Wurmbrand’s own suffering in Romania. This book puts some flesh and bones on what we read about suffering in 1 Peter, enabling us to see with our . . . . Continue Reading »

Civilized Mysteries

Our friend and “First Thoughts” contributor Shmuel Ben-Gad has a suggestion for the summer reading of those of you who read mystery stories: Elizabeth Daly: One of the Last, and Best, of Golden Age Mystery Writers . Her novels, written in the 40s and 50s when she was in her 60s and 70s, . . . . Continue Reading »

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