Posts Tagged “holiness”
Taking Correction
I got the chance to preach at Crossroads this morning! I ended up talking about how hard it is for me to take correction, even from God. Maybe you can sympathize?
Taking Correction
I got the chance to preach at Crossroads this morning! I ended up talking about how hard it is for me to take correction, even from God. Maybe you can sympathize?
Encumbrance
We had another great XLM Bible Study last Saturday. Here’s the audio. The background noise is the Magic players from the next table over.
Encumbrance
We had another great XLM Bible Study last Saturday. Here’s the audio. The background noise is the Magic players from the next table over.
Unintended Consequences
Sometimes, we think of sin like candy: a little bit is arguably good for you. It’s only a problem if you have too much. If you eat nothing but cheesecake all day, your pancreas will eventually give out, but a little indulgence here and there isn’t bad.
Unintended Consequences
Sometimes, we think of sin like candy: a little bit is arguably good for you. It’s only a problem if you have too much. If you eat nothing but cheesecake all day, your pancreas will eventually give out, but a little indulgence here and there isn’t bad.
Life is Co-op
If you haven’t seen The Avengers yet, do. It’s smashing. Joss Whedon has once again done what he does best: thrown a team of weirdos with supernatural powers at a seemingly insurmountable problem so we can watch them tear it up.
Sunday School Spoiler
Why it's Good
In the end, Good Friday is not about guilt and shame. It’s about hope and love.
Christianity 101: The Church
Here’s the last lesson in the series. Hope it’s been useful!
Christianity 101: Personal Disciplines
[This is actually a bonus lesson! I didn’t teach this lesson at Crossroads because I was at my Grandma’s memorial. The incomparable Pastor Ashley Jennings filled in for me. These are the notes I would have taught from. Enjoy!]
Christianity 101: Personal Disciplines
[This is actually a bonus lesson! I didn’t teach this lesson at Crossroads because I was at my Grandma’s memorial. The incomparable Pastor Ashley Jennings filled in for me. These are the notes I would have taught from. Enjoy!]
Christianity 101: Holiness
Christianity 101: Jesus & the Cross
Christianity 101: Jesus & the Cross
Christianity 101: Sin
Christianity 101: Sin
Christianity 101: God
Christianity 101: God
Christianity 101: The Bible
For the next week, I’ll be posting the audio and my notes from a Sunday School series I recently taught at Crossroads. It’s a review of the basic beliefs of Christianity, but I tried to make it useful to longtime believers and noobs alike.
The Voices in Your Head
Some people say they hear messages from God. I am one of those people.
The Best Gear
One of the best parts of roleplaying is when your characters get new gear. After slogging through a baddie-infested dungeon or weathering a big boss fight, you get the payoff: loot. And every so often, your character gets that one weapon they’ve been waiting for, that one magic item they’ve needed – the thing that’s gonna get the job done.
The Best Gear
One of the best parts of roleplaying is when your characters get new gear. After slogging through a baddie-infested dungeon or weathering a big boss fight, you get the payoff: loot. And every so often, your character gets that one weapon they’ve been waiting for, that one magic item they’ve needed – the thing that’s gonna get the job done.
Ancient Rules Lawyers
You know, they had real life rules lawyers in the first century.
The Real Story
Maybe it happened in a comic book. Maybe a TV series. Maybe even within a movie. You find a character you like, someone you identify with. You get to know how they work. Then, suddenly, they say a particular line or make a particular choice, and it just feels wrong. They would never do that, you think. You can tell the writer forced the moment in for convenience, or because they were pressured into it. It just doesn’t work.
How to Grow
The last XLM Bible Study was great. Thanks to everyone who came out! And thanks once again to Adventures in Comics and Games for hosting us!
How to Grow
The last XLM Bible Study was great. Thanks to everyone who came out! And thanks once again to Adventures in Comics and Games for hosting us!
New People, New Places
Below are the notes from today’s Bible study.
Heroism
I’m very pleased. City of Heroes is now free-to-play, and it runs on my wife’s computer. This is good news because it runs very poorly on my aging laptop. Looks like I’ll be making my way back to Paragon City and the Rogue Isles once again. Woot! I’ve updated the “Game With Me!” page with the servers I play on.
Heroism
I’m very pleased. City of Heroes is now free-to-play, and it runs on my wife’s computer. This is good news because it runs very poorly on my aging laptop. Looks like I’ll be making my way back to Paragon City and the Rogue Isles once again. Woot! I’ve updated the “Game With Me!” page with the servers I play on.
Why the Cross is the Most Epic Thing Ever
This last Saturday was the first Extra Life Ministries Bible Study. We’re off to a good start.
Blasting Bad Guys
I’m just now playing through Fallout 3, and I’m enjoying it a lot. I love post-apocalyptic fiction. It’s also been a while since I played through an RPG, so it’s a nice change of pace from my usual shooters.
Accountability: Rough, but Necessary
I hate being wrong. Even so, I know I sometimes need people to call me out when I am.
Fail Better
I tried recording a podcast this morning for my day job. I moved our Mac Mini to an empty office, plugged in our shiny new Blue Snowball, and fired up Garage Band. My subject matter expert did great: very articulate. Good info. It looked like we were on our way to a respectable episode one.
Authenticity with God
When we pray, I think we sometimes try to think of the most holy thing to say. For some of us, there are certain subjects that just don’t come up when we talk to God.
Apologetics Double-Feature!
No Rocky Horror reference intended.
Apologetics: The Problem of Evil
In this morning’s Sunday School class, I tackled one of the most troublesome questions in religion and philosophy: why is there evil in the world?
God's Presence isn't Always Comfy
I taught the Bible study at Crossroads last Wednesday.
God's Presence isn't Always Comfy
I taught the Bible study at Crossroads last Wednesday.
Apologetics: Intro
I’m teaching a class on apologetics at my church. It’s Sunday morning at 9:15 am, for the next few weeks. Here’s the first lesson!
The Point
Christians, pray for tomorrow morning.
The Cost of Mercy
The name Good Friday bothered me for a while after I learned what it was all about. It offended my sensibilities to call such a horrendous day “good.”
The Mandate
When you think of Christians, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
How (Not) to Roleplay a Christian Character, Part II
Here are a few ideas for bringing Christianity into gaming.
Final Boss Syndrome
It’s a staple of the Final Fantasy series. It’s happened in several pen-and-paper roleplaying games I’ve played with friends. And I’ve seen it in several movies, most egregiously in Equilibrium and Resident Evil: Afterlife.
FAIL.
Missed a post! Lapse in discipline. Devotion fail.
Transformation Hurts
In Highlander, when one immortal kills another, there’s an event called the Quickening. There’s lightning and explosions. Energy roars into the victor, who lifts off the ground, racked with pain. But they end up stronger.
The Razorclown vs. Jericho
I taught the Bible study tonight! It was on the first part of the book of Joshua.
Apologetics is Not the Art of Saying Sorry
Ravi Zacharias is a genius. No exaggeration.
Things I Wish I'd Learned Sooner
Writing is hard work. If you want to be a professional writer, you have to be professional.
The Playlist
“Merit for Sadness” by Haste the Day popped into my head the other day, and I put together a playlist around it. I realized that the end of the song would transition seamlessly into “Existence” by August Burns Red. After that metal onslaught, I thought a slower-paced song would do, so I threw in a low-tempo Demon Hunter song. I had “Artist in the Ambulance” stuck in my head soon after, and added “Injection” as a bridge.
Still Growing Up
I just got to hang out with a good friend of mine. We’d seen each other at church a bunch, but we hadn’t had a good, long conversation in a while. It seems like I was in his wedding, then a few years passed, and here we are.
Love Comes First
God is not an old white guy with a long white beard and a long white robe, sitting on a little white cloud and judging you.
Help Japan
We geeks are used to watching disasters befall Japan in animé. It happens so often, it’s a cliché.
Lent, Razorclown Style
For the past two years, I’ve done most of my writing for the year in one 46-day span.
On Pretending to be Evil
Distant Silence is a bad, bad man. And so are his friends.
How I Met Her
Two years ago today, I met a cute little Italian girl at a church event.
Scream at the Devil
Don’t get me wrong. There are some contemporary worship songs I genuinely love.
Hypocrisy!
Anyone remember my rant on achievements? How I said they’re not to be taken seriously? How they’re not that big a deal?
Stay Thankful
A critical attitude can ruin anything. Trust me, I know. When I see a glass that’s either half-empty or half-full, I think, that’s not even the right kind of glass.
I Like My Vampires Dark and Brooding
Pastor Michael will tell you that vampires are supposed to be hideous, irredeemable beasts. The Dracula from the novel? A wild-eyed monster trying to pass for a man. Nosferatu? A walking nightmare. None of this sparkly stuff.
Pick a Deity
I miss Dungeons & Dragons. It’s been way too long since I’ve played.
Love a n00b
My daughter Addison is finally here, and she’s teh cuteness.
Unlockables!
This little spoof goes out to my churchgoing friends. Up your Christian cred with these achievements!
Sin and the T-Virus
[Everyone] is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. -James 1:14-15
Fear, Love and Responsibility
Pastor Bill Wickham invited me to fill in for him at Spring Valley Church this morning. Here’s an mp3 of my sermon:
(We Pray) You Will Be Assimilated.
Much love to E for the premise of this post, and several of the analogies.
Achievements Aren't
I admit, I get a little thrill when I hear that little pa-pluck sound.