Entries Categorized as 'The Christian Life'
November 19, 2009Posted by David N
closeAuthor: David N
Name:
Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com
Site: http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com
About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:
--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (70)
The earliest Protestant churches (the Reformed ones, not the Lutheran ones) sang only Psalms in their worship services, and they did so a capella (with no instrumental accompaniment). Here is a wonderful quotation from John Calvin on this subject (HT: The Heidelblog):
As for public prayers, there are two kinds: the one consists simply of [...]
Posted in Apologetics, David's Posts, Poetry/Scripture/Liturgy/Etc., The Christian Life, Theology
6 Comments »
Today is the big 2-5-0 for William Wilberforce. He’s been one of my most favorite people ever since I read his book, A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Higher and Middle Classes in This Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity (1797). Okay, yes, they had long titles back then. [...]
Posted in Amy's Posts, Miscellaneous, The Christian Life
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July 22, 2009Posted by David N
closeAuthor: David N
Name:
Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com
Site: http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com
About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:
--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (70)
I’m the sort of person who puts 5 dollars in the offering plate. This is partly because I don’t ever carry much cash on me. If I’m thinking ahead I’ll write a check for 15 or 20 dollars, but that isn’t very often. I’ve been in the “starving student” cruise control mode [...]
Posted in David's Posts, The Christian Life, Theology
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My family and I have been on vacation this week doing the cross-country road trip thing. My two boys, ages 3 and 5, are really great travelers, which makes these trips surprisingly fun. One of the things that a trip like this does, however, is bring out the occasional sibling tensions. We try to eliminate [...]
Posted in Aaron's Posts, Culture, Ethics, Philosophy, The Christian Life
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I’ve never read a book that approached the subject of prayer in quite this way before, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Last year was extremely difficult for me. I became overwhelmed by how much evil, hatred of God, and disregard for the truth we’re surrounded by in this world. This, [...]
Posted in Amy's Posts, Book Reviews, The Christian Life
1 Comment »
First, a specification: this post is intended for Christians, specifically those Christians who are struggling with the issue of faith and reason. Not that it wouldn’t be instructive (hopefully) for our non-Christian readers, but I will be speaking in a way that presupposes a Christian commitment to the God of the Bible and to the [...]
Posted in Aaron's Posts, Main Page, Miscellaneous, Philosophy, The Christian Life
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