Aaron Armstrong's Blog, page 393
January 4, 2012
Book Review: Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian
Do you ever feel like you're just spinning your wheels in terms of your relationship with Christ? You're trying, trying, trying to "go deeper," to serve well, to do all the things that we're supposed to do as Christians—and you're just stuck? Why does this happen to us? Why do we feel this constant need to do-do-do, as if we're trying to impress someone?
Is it because we are?
Tullian Tchividjian wrestled with this question when he was named the senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presybterian Church i...
January 3, 2012
Marriage, Mystery and the Gospel in Real Marriage
Real Marriage by Mark and Grace Driscoll is now available (and was the number one book on Amazon.com on January 2, even!)—and already the controversy has started, particularly if you've seen some of the comments offered in response to my generally positive review of the book (particularly the TGC edition) and those to Tim Challies' overall negative review.
Reading the book, I knew that Real Marriage was going to be divisive. I just wasn't sure to what degree. As I feared, the chapter on sex...
January 2, 2012
The Backlist: The Top Ten Posts on Blogging Theologically
Let's take a look back in time and see the most-read posts from December. Go check them out:
A Personal Evaluation of 2011
With 2011 officially gone today, I wanted to take one last look back on the year that was. This time I'm focusing more on a few of the experiences I've had in this past year and what God's been teaching me through a number of these events. The short version is that 2011 was without a doubt one of the most peculiar years of my life so far. A lot of amazing events, more than a few frustrations but… as far as I can tell, it's all been worth it.
Here are some of the highlights (and lowlights):
...
January 1, 2012
Want to Be a Writer? Then You Have to Be a Reader
Stephen King:
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut. . . .
It's hard for me to believe that people who read very little (or not at all in some cases) should presume to write and expect people to like what they have written, but I know it's true. If I had a nickel for every person who ever told me he/she wanted to become a writer but didn't have time to read, I could...
Around the Interweb
Small Changes With Big Results Next Year
Stephen Altrogge:
There is something about goal setting that gets me fired up and excited. Maybe it's the prospect of doing something awesome in the upcoming year, like running a marathon, or reading through the entire Bible, or finally writing that book I've been thinking about. Or maybe it's the prospect of finally kicking those bad habits I have, like getting up too late, or regularly eating things that will probably shorten my life in the long run...
December 31, 2011
Christ, the Procurer and Giver of Peace
"…his name shall be called . . . Prince of Peace" Isa. 9:6
But Christ, as the "Prince of Peace," is not only the Procurer, He is also the giver of peace. Before He ascended into heaven, He bequeathed to His Church this sacred legacy of peace. How precious and significant the terms of this bequest! "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you." And when He would forearm by forewarning His disciples of the trials and privations they should find in...
December 30, 2011
Three More Books I'll Be Reading in 2012
A few weeks ago, I shared three reasons for diversifying our reading habits in 2012. Over the course of the ensuing conversation, a number of people asked if I'd share what books I'm going to be reading. Here are three I'll be reading:
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion...
December 29, 2011
The Top 10 Posts of 2011
Continuing the 2011 wrap-up, here are the top ten posts on bloggingtheologically.com for 2011. A couple of items to note:
I have removed two pages (not posts) from the list. Had I left them in, they'd be in between numbers 5 and 6 on the list.
This list is based on WordPress' page view statistics (is the case with the regular monthly reports).
I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has engaged with the content on this site over the past year. Thanks for taking the time to read this site...
Were the Puritans Prudes?
Whenever we hear the term "Puritan" we typically get images of cold, repressed, prudish people who didn't know how to have a good time. In light of yesterday's review of Real Marriage and what's sure to be a common complaint that those who are concerned about some content are prudes should know that this is a fairly new phenomenon. Would that we regain the wisdom of the Puritans:
Marital love must be sexual, so that both marital partners can give themselves fully to each other with joy and...
