Theological Reflections on Being Engaged

Date February 20, 2012Posted by Roger Overton

As I write this, I’m about two months away from my wedding day. I am engaged to a beautiful, godly woman and eagerly looking forward to spending the rest of my life with her. As we’ve been heavily involved in wedding planning and preparing not just for the wedding celebration, but also the spiritual marriage [...]

How We Can Help Those in Japan

Date March 13, 2011Posted by Roger Overton

By now we’ve all seen the images, the videos, the interviews and reports. We know that the devastation in Northern Japan is vast and brutal. Thousands have died, tens of thousands are injured, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. As Christians especially, it’s important for us to reflect not only on supporting the victims, [...]

The Sin of Desiring Eternity?

Date January 24, 2011Posted by Roger Overton

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. [...]

Book Review: Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff

Date January 12, 2011Posted by Roger Overton

Funny. Amazing. Insightful. Important. Honest. Instrumental. Humbling. Quotable. Wise. Relevant. Jovial. Pithy. Remarkable. Satisfying. Life-changing. True. Acclimated. Biblical. Good. Classic. Worthy. Missional. Clarifying. Delicious. Educational. Parenthetical. Grand slam. Revolutionary. Encouraging. If you’re a Christian, you probably like a lot of those words. I bet some of them can be found in Stuff Christians Like by [...]

Book Review: The Lion, The Professor, and the Movies by Mark Joseph

Date December 22, 2010Posted by Roger Overton

When a series as beloved as The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis becomes adapted for the big screen the process becomes a story unto itself. Media guru Mark Joseph seeks to tell this story in The Lion, The Professor, and the Movies: Narnia’s Journey to the Big Screen. The book archives the process from [...]

Poem: The Manger and the Cross

Date December 9, 2010Posted by Roger Overton

Christmas means lights both colorful and bright It means cheerful giving, though budgets are tight For many it means family from both near and far And many a great big tree they’ve topped with a star For some it means a church service followed by presents A time to pause and reflect on Christ’s earthly [...]

God’s Will For Me?

Date November 30, 2010Posted by Roger Overton

A friend recently asked about my beliefs regarding “God’s will.” What follows is my response, adapted for the blog. He asked, “How do you discern His will when it’s not a black and white issue Scripture doesn’t address (ie the choice between two good)?” I assume that by “His will” my friend meant what God [...]

Book Review: The Deep Things of God by Fred Sanders

Date November 24, 2010Posted by Roger Overton

For most Christians the doctrine of the Trinity is believed more on authority than biblical understanding. Yet Christians, and evangelicals in particular, have a deeply Trinitarian theology embedded in their worldview that they’re often unaware of. In The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything, Fred Sanders seeks to bring these Trinitarian beliefs [...]

Once Was LOST: Reflections (Part 3)

Date September 1, 2010Posted by Roger Overton

*If you have not watched the final episode of LOST and don’t want to know how it ends, do not continue reading* Overall, I believe LOST’s narrative narrowly survives the weaknesses of its unsolved mysteries. We are left with nagging questions, even after the bonus epilogue found on the season 6 DVD. But the most [...]

Once Was LOST: Reflections (Part 2)

Date August 31, 2010Posted by Roger Overton

*If you have not watched the final episode of LOST and don’t want to know how it ends, do not continue reading* “The mystery box… stays closed.” The LOST island had mystery boxes everywhere, and the island itself was a mystery box. Some of these boxes were torn open and examined, such as Dharma. Others [...]