Where did God go when He left His throne? December 21, 2007

I don’t know about you, but with all the demanding ‘to-dos’ surrounding this season, Christmas can easily fall into a yearly routine which does little more than mark the end of my calendar year and run up my credit card bill. Fortunately, I’ve been able to find, from time to time, those little gems of inspiration (a book, a quote, a sermon, a conversation, an experience, a thought) which renovate and rejuvenate my encounter with Christmas each year. I know in my mind that the reality of the event behind what we’re celebrating each Christmas is the most startling and scandalous affair to have ever happened on this dirty little planet. However, the commerce and routine of “Christmas” tend to smooth over this miraculous scandal of a King stepping from his throne and into the “dark, wet womb” (as Lucado puts it) of a Jewish peasant in the enemy occupied territory of 1st century Palestine.

So, let me suggest to you one of those little nuggets of inspiration which yearly wrenches me back into seeing the events of that first Christmas with new eyes. (more…)

Is God against Christmas? December 17, 2007

I think nearly all Christians feel the Christmas tension around this time of year.  Not so much because we just can’t find the right gift for that “hard to shop for” person, but because we struggle to keep an appropriate Christ-centered focus.  We remind ourselves of the proper focus by saying things like, “Jesus is the reason for the season,” or “Keep Christ in Christmas.”  Yet, with all the decorating, shopping, parties, and general seasonal excitement, we stop, pull back into those quite moments of reflection, and remember Jesus, the God-man, who is at the center of it all. (more…)

Universanity Conference: “Responding to the New Atheism” (Jan 25-26, 2008) December 14, 2007

A weekend Conference in Ft. Collins presented by Dayspring Center for Christian Studies, and co-sponsored by Timberline Church’s EQUIP ministry.

A RESPONSE TO THE NEW ATHEISM
Have the answers you need when your faith is being challenged!

WHAT: A conference promoting thoughtful Christianity for adults, and college and high school students
WHEN: Jan. 25-26 (Fri-Sat)
COST: FREE
WHERE: Faith Evangelical Free Church
(more…)

Abortion Debate (Jan 18/19, 2008), CU Boulder December 13, 2007

Abortion Debate

WHAT: A debate on abortion between Dr. Peter Kreeft of Boston College and Dr. David Boonin of University of Colorado

WHEN: Jan. 18-18 (Fri-Sat)
COST: FREE
WHERE: University of Colorado

For more information contact Matthew.Boettger@thomascenter.org or (720) 564-1111, ext. 265. 

CSU Faith Seminar (Tue, Feb 5 @ 7:00pm)

WHAT: CSU Faith Seminar (Christian Faculty Panel Discussion)
“The Christian Life: How It Integrates our Personal, Public and Professional Lives”

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb 5, 7:00pm

WHERE: CSU, Lory Student Center
North Ballroom

HOW MUCH: Free

Listen to and ask questions of seven local Professors from CSU’s Christian Faculty Network (CFN) on how they have integrated their Christian faith with their particular disciplines.  Join us as we discuss the relevancy of the claims of Christ in our modern times.

Faculty members on the panel will include Professors Edwin Chong, Aaron Sholders, Matt Kipper, Brian Dik, and Matt Hickey.

The Darkness of Christmas

I love nearly all Christmas songs.  I enjoy listening to the ones about reindeers, snowmen, and sleigh bells whether I’m doing the last minute shopping, decorating the trees at home, or trying to keep my car on the arctic roads.  However, at times these songs are too sterilized for me.  They are too cheerful.  Or maybe I should say, they are cheerful for no good reason.  The one thing I like much more about those Christmas songs sculpted by the church is that many recognize the darker side of Christmas.  They recall the darkness embedded within that very first Christmas.  You may be wondering, “Darkness, in Christmas?”   (more…)

Does “The Golden Compass” point true north? December 9, 2007

If you’re “lucky enough” to receive the all-too-often forwarded emails, then I’m sure you’ve seen the one sounding the alarm for parents to be aware of a new children’s movie coming out this Christmas (2008). The Golden Compass is the first installment in a trilogy, and is based on Philip Pullman’s children’s books, His Dark Materials (consisting of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass). There is also a companion volume by Pullman called Lyra’s Oxford. If you’re not familiar with it, this series has been a huge publishing success. In a 2003 article appearing in the “Christians Research Institute” (referred to below), the author points out that while Tolkien’s classic The Lord of the Rings sold 900,000 copies in 2002, Pullman’s writings were a close second with nearly 750,000 (the Harry Potter books came in third through sixth in sales). So, what’s the big deal about all this? (more…)

Must there be punishment in hell? December 2, 2007

I don’t know if there’s any element of Christianity which is more unpopular and unpalatable than the doctrine of hell.  And I think this could be said for both Christians and non-Christians alike.  I would agree with C. S. Lewis who wrote that there is no other doctrine of Christianity which he’d be more desirous to do away with than the teaching of the eternal lostness of some people in hell.  The notion that even one of the billions of immortal human beings will not become in eternity who he or she was intended to be is the one of the greatest of all possible tragedies.  It would not be so grave a tragedy if we were like mere animals or some inanimate thing such as a tree.  But since we are made in the image of God, and are destined to be fully restored to that image by being transformed into the image of Jesus, to fall short of that destiny is disaster and heartbreak of the highest degree.  Nevertheless, the Bible (and more specifically, Jesus) taught the reality of hell and so we are forced to accept its existence.  (more…)