I was excited to receive an Osprey Arcane Small Dayback for Christmas this year, and couldn’t wait to take it out for a spin today to the movies. This is going to be one of my favorite packs for these kind of outings. Great organization, and the perfect size for me when I don’t need to be hauling all my work gear. I had a cotton hoodie, water bottle, and my “extras” pouch (meds, external battery, earphones, etc) loaded with plenty of room to spare. I could have easily have added my tablet and Bluetooth keyboard, with space left for assorted sundries.

The materials feel great, I love the understated design, and man is it comfortable!

Merry Christmas, all!

What a beautiful celebration of the birth of our Lord tonight with these awesome people along with many of the rest of our family in Christ. It was my honor and joy to give first Communion to my youngest daughter, Gwyneth this Christmas Eve!

Opinion – How Do Christians Fit Into the Two-Party System? They Don’t – The New York Times

“…while believers can register under a party affiliation and be active in politics, they should not identify the Christian church or faith with a political party as the only Christian one.”

This article has popped up for me a few times now. I think Keller is a wise and thoughtful pastor/theologian whose life exemplifies faithful Christian leadership.

While I would personally (of course) nuance some of Tim Keller’s thoughts on politics (and maybe even the quote above), it seems to me that we can’t be reminded enough as Christians that our ultimate loyalties are to Christ and his church.

From my vantage point, I see things thoroughly anti-Christ in each major party’s culture and platform. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with identifying the positive or prudential in either, or even to carefully consider which is “least-bad” when it comes to how to exercise your civic duties.

Nevertheless to find in those parties any part of my identity at all is, I think, asking for trouble, given the morally corrupt and divisive nature of the two-party system, and the trans-national character of the Church. I can only participate at a distance, commending the good and condemning the evil in each as best I understand them.

Christianity Today sure kicked the hornet’s nest. I have a hunch that stating whether or not I agree with Galli’s opinion on the impeachment of the President probably won’t be helpful right now, so I won’t.

Nevertheless I must say as a long time CT reader and current subscriber, and as someone who listens to Galli’s podcast (without always agreeing with him, I might add)—I trust this is a considered, thoughtful opinion.

Yes, it is a relatively strong statement on an important matter, yet it is also well within the bounds of topics on which Christians may disagree and still love and support each other…and even worship together each Sunday! The brigade of mean, divisive, and ignorant comments by those that disagree is profoundly discouraging.

Christ calls us to a better way.

Was glad to get new 2019 BCPs along with ESV w/Apocrypha pew Bibles for the church today!!

St. Paul says he wants harmony in the Body of Christ so “that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:6, ESV)

This harmony with one another, where we treat each other as Christ has treated us, allows us to—even as we disagree—call attention to the goodness of God in Christ. This is the purpose of peace. If we love each other through disagreements, we show that world how salvation works. It is pure, self-sacrificial love, not simply being right, that makes things right.

When we are at peace with each other because of Jesus even when we disagree about important things, we directly confront the original lie of Satan in the Garden of Eden: “if only you knew what God knew, then you’d be like God, and God doesn’t want that!”

No! First of all, Adam and Eve were already like God, having been made in his image! It has never been about what you know.

If only we love as God loves, then we will be like God. And God absolutely wants that…for everyone!

When we live in light of the Cross, in dependence on the Holy Spirit, God restores his image in us. He unifies his church and manifests true peace. This is real spiritual warfare against that ancient serpent, and our worship and fellowship is part of that!

Food for thought