Observations within Christian subculture in South Orange County. What does Jesus and SOC have in common?
Engage the contemporary culture with Christian apologetics and aesthetics!
From the beginning of time, gold has held an almost magical hold on people. Since the time of the Pharaohs, this yellow metal was used as a form of currency, as well as to adorn the capstones on the pyramids of Giza. In grade school we learned about the Egyptian royal burial of King Tut…
Don’t get stuck in the rut of seeing the forest from (the perspective of) the trees. If you get close enough to any tree you will see blemishes, imperfections, and problems. Stand back and see the trees from (the perspective of) the forest and watch your worries decrease and your joy grow. When you see…
On a recent trip with my wife to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, we got to experience most of what makes this town so charming. Besides being known for its celebrity-influenced politics–Clint Eastwood as former mayor and Doris Day as animal welfare activist–Carmel is world famous for its European-style architecture. Below are some personal pics of our short…
I am sharing with you what is now Chapter 7 of my book Biblical Ethics. This happens to be my favorite chapter because it’s chock-full of vivid explanations of God’s emotional life and flourishing. It’s also a topic that is not talked about much from the pulpit, which I believe needs to be discussed in…
Hillsong United has come out with a relatively new song (2017), entitled “So Will I (100 Billion X).” Its songwriters are Joel Houston, Benjamin Hastings, and Michael Fatkin. I am personally a big fan of the song, particularly its melody and lyric. Click here to listen to it for yourself on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLURTvUQoTM VERSE 1 God…
This is one of my favorite stanzas (V) from Wordsworth’s romanticized poem, better known as “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood.” This poetic paragraph takes for granted a biblical (or Platonic) pre-existence, which mourns the loss of a child’s vision of an ideal world fading away “into the light of common day,”…
Nietzsche once said that life would be meaningless without music. Actually, he said, “Without music, life would be a mistake” (Twilight of the Idols). I would have to agree. But I would also add that life without art would be absurd. Art is the soul articulating itself in living color! Preparing for this blog entry…
“The Holy Theophany (Epiphany) of Our Lord,” in the Greek Orthodox Tradition. Photo taken by Emmanuel Petkas. “The Sea” in the “The Holy Theophany (Epiphany) of Our Lord,” in the Greek Orthodox Tradition. Photo taken by Emmanuel Petkas. I don’t how I came across this picture, but, when I first saw it, I fell in…